With linear broadcasting, the viewer is always at the mercy of the network in terms of choice, but for some reason that relationship has always seemed particularly skewed with Turner Classic Movies. For me, tuning into TCM is generally a random act of viewing, done at odd times of day, often when I am in a weakened state (home sick for instance), and need the comfort of a charmingly insufferable intro by Robert Osborne to whatever random old movie the channel decides to throw at me. But now, with this week’s launch of the new app Watch TCM, that randomness is about to end, and film buffs have a lot to be excited about.

Despite featuring decades-old content that would seem to point to the contrary, TCM is a particularly solid choice for adaptation to a mobile app experience. Through Watch TCM, the network has gathered its extensive backlog of classic films in one place, letting viewers access more than 300 on-demand, commercial-free titles per month, complete with introductions by Osborne and his counterpart, Ben Mankiewicz. This feature alone turns the channel from a hit-or-miss novelty to a vital film resource for subscribers featuring hundreds of curated options.

But TCM didn’t stop there. The app, and revamped website, “will fundamentally change the way TCM fans are able to enjoy their favorite movies,” said Dennis Adamovich, SVP of digital, affiliate, lifestyle and enterprise commerce for TCM, TBS and TNT. “This is simply the most robust collection of fully curated classic-movie content on any platform, anywhere, with surprise and delight on every page.”

Said content includes background info for every movie including cast, related articles and original trailers; alerts that can be tweaked to inform the viewer when a selected star or title pops up in the on-demand collection; image galleries that include rare behind-the-scenes shots; and even a retro TCM-themed clock that pops up when the app is open without a movie playing.

Watch TCM also sports live streams of on-air content, from both the East Coast or the West Coast, in case you feel a cold coming on or simply like watching old-fashioned movies the old-fashioned way.

Images courtesy of TCM.

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