Setting Up Recording Reminders Without the Headache
MeTV's Schedule Now feature is their way of letting cord-cutters and streaming viewers keep up with the network's retro programming lineup without needing a traditional cable box. You set reminders or schedule recordings for specific shows, and the system handles the rest. It's not the most polished interface I've worked with, but it gets the job done if you understand how it actually operates under the hood. The process starts at metv.com/schedule or through the MeTV app if you have a compatible streaming device. You'll browse the 7-day programming grid, pick a show, and hit the schedule button. From there you can choose to get a reminder notification or add it to your personal watchlist, which syncs across devices logged into the same account. Here's where things get specific. The scheduling system uses your local timezone data pulled from your browser or device location. I ran into an issue last month where a show I scheduled appeared at 8 PM Eastern but the confirmation screen showed 5 PM Pacific because I'd just moved and hadn't updated my profile settings. The workaround was going into Account Settings, finding the timezone selector, and making sure it matched my current location rather than relying on automatic detection, which sometimes lags behind actual changes.
Notifications are sent through whichever method you selected during setup — email, push notification on the app, or both. The delay between the scheduled time and when the reminder actually arrives is usually around 3 to 5 minutes, sometimes up to 10 minutes during peak hours when the notification queue backs up. If you're depending on this to catch a specific episode, set your personal expectation at least 10 minutes before the show starts rather than counting on the reminder being perfectly timed. One thing people miss about the system: the recording integration only works with specific connected devices and services. MeTV has partnerships that allow scheduling through certain streaming platforms and digital video recorders, but not every provider supports it. If your service isn't listed on their compatibility page, you're limited to manual reminders and the watchlist feature. There's no way around that limitation other than switching to a supported platform or using a standalone DVR with an antenna. The watchlist feature is actually more reliable than the reminder notifications for most users. Shows you add to your watchlist appear in a dedicated section of the app and on your account dashboard regardless of notification delivery issues. I've found this to be the safer bet for long-form scheduling, especially when planning ahead for entire seasons of classic series that MeTV airs in marathon blocks.
Edge case worth noting: if a show time changes due to breaking news or special programming overrides, MeTV does send an update notification, but it's not always immediate. I discovered this when a scheduled baseball game preempted a show I had on my watchlist, and the update came through roughly 45 minutes after the original air time rather than before it. The system does flag schedule changes, but the timing of those alerts is inconsistent. Account creation is straightforward but requires a valid email address and a password that meets their criteria — at least 8 characters with one uppercase and one number. No social login option, which some people find frustrating. The whole setup takes about 2 minutes if you have your information ready. There's no way to bulk schedule multiple episodes from a series at once. Each show needs to be added individually to your watchlist or reminders. This is a genuine workflow limitation, not a bug, but it adds up quickly if you're trying to track down an entire season of something like I Love Lucy or The Andy Griffith Show across different air dates.
Get the Full Details
Customer support for scheduling issues routes through a general contact form with no live chat option. Response time averages 24 to 48 hours based on my own experience and what I've seen in forum discussions. For most scheduling questions, the FAQ section on their help page covers the common scenarios adequately, so you probably won't need to reach out unless there's a genuine technical problem with your account.
