UI too confusing

[meh324]

It is too confusing for the older generation to use the new UI, I have spent hours trying to show them but its just a nightmare to explain. The old UI just worked a lot better for the older people. I personally like it in some ways but the live tv option is the issue.

[ssantanello1]

Agreed. WAY too confusing.

[Nyle3019]

@meh324

Hi there,
Thank you for sharing this—this is really important feedback.

We completely understand your concern, especially when it comes to making the app easy to use for older users. If it takes hours to explain, that’s a clear sign that the experience isn’t as intuitive as it should be. The previous UI was definitely more straightforward, and we recognize that the new layout—particularly the Live TV section—can feel confusing in comparison.

It’s helpful to hear that you do like some aspects of the new design, but we hear you loud and clear that navigation (especially for Live TV) needs to be simpler and more user-friendly.

Feedback like yours is exactly what helps guide improvements, and we’ll be sure to pass this along to the development team.

We truly appreciate your patience and the time you’ve taken to help others use the app.

[meh324]

Before with the favorites on the home screen it was easy for them as soon as the app launched to select the channel they wanted to watch. Now they can remember to go to the menu and select my live and then hit the select button again to find another menu to search for the channel they want to watch. Also marking channels as favorites is a bit confusing for the older generation so having the watched history on the home screen helped.

[Nyle3019]

@meh324

Thank you for explaining this in more detail. it really helps paint a clear picture of the day-to-day experience.

You’re absolutely right: having Favorites and History directly on the home screen made things much more accessible, especially for older users who rely on simple, familiar steps. The new flow-going through multiple menus just to reach Live TV or find a channel-can be confusing and easy to forget, particularly for those who aren’t as comfortable navigating apps.

Your point about the “watched history” is especially important. For many users, that effectively acted as a shortcut to their regular channels without needing to search or manage favorites at all. Losing that visibility adds unnecessary complexity.

We also hear you on how marking channels as Favorites can feel unintuitive now. What may seem like a small UI change can have a big impact on usability for less tech-savvy users.

This is exactly the kind of feedback the team needs—real-world use cases that highlight how changes affect different groups of users. We’ll make sure your suggestions are passed along, especially around:
1.Bringing Favorites and/or History back to the home screen
2.Simplifying the navigation flow to reduce steps
3.Making the “add to favorites” process more intuitive

We really appreciate you advocating for your community and taking the time to share these insights.

[Hawk]

I understand how the new MoaTV app UI and how it loads can be a challenge to those that aren’t tech savvy and used to the simplicity of turning on a cable box, have the guide come up or also having it setup with the last channel comes up first and then going to a guide to select a different channel.

A suggestion to the MoaTV developers:
Instead of having the startup screen be the Home Screen automatically, the one currently launching: MOVIES, SERIES, etc., and having to click the back button to get to the the MyLive option in the top left corner, have the MyLive as the main thing that comes up first like a cable box and if you want to view the Home screen options just click the back button twice like it’s set up now.

For those that are trying to show older less tech savvy people how to use the MyLive option:

1. After startup and the Home screen has loaded, hit the back button once to get to the MyLive option in the top left corner.
2. Use the ring up action on the remote to get to the MyLive option.
3. Click the MyLive option to open the live channel that was last playing on the tv.
4. To get to the guide for other channels: click the (select or ok) center button on the remote to bring up the guide. (A smaller version of the live view will be seen on the right).
5. The guide will have the current live channel highlighted that’s being viewed.
6. To get to the top of the guide, click the left part of the ring on the remote which highlights a top option in the guide.
7. Now the viewer can scroll left or right to highlight a certain category (All, History, Favorites, etc.) and see the corresponding channels below that category.
8. To set up favorites, select the ones that are watched the most first by either using: The search function for a channel or going to a category, scroll down to the desired channel that’s highlighted, push the right side of the ring to highlight the favorite (a heart symbol) option and click on it. The favorite selection (a heart in the highlighted channel) will show as selected and you’re done with that channel. (To remove that favorite selection just click the center button to remove it).
9. Once the favorites (favorite channels) are set up all the viewer has to do after opening the MyLive option to view live tv is to:
   A. click the center button on the remote to bring up the guide.
   B. Click the left part of the remote ring to get to the top category options.
   C. Scroll to highlight the favorites using the ring on the remote (left at the moment).
   D. Scroll down to the desired channel that the viewer wishes to watch and click the center button to view that channel.

[Raejck]

@meh324 This is 100% my experience. I am dealing with an elderly parent and the new app has been a disaster for her. She's frustrated, I'm frustrated. If they would at least add a favorites line on the home screen, that would help tremendously.

[meh324]

@raejck Hopefully something happens soon...

[Hawk]

@Raejck
I understand what you’re going through. What OS version and device is she using? What content does she watch?

[Nyle3019]

@Raejck

Hi there,

Thank you for sharing this—we really appreciate the additional context.

We’re especially sorry to hear how this is affecting not just you, but your elderly parent as well. That kind of experience—where the app becomes frustrating or difficult to use—goes directly against what we want, especially when simplicity and reliability matter most.

Your suggestion about adding a “Favorites” row on the home screen is a great one. Making frequently used channels easier to access would absolutely help reduce friction, and we’ve passed this idea along to our product team for consideration.

We also hear you clearly on the broader issues—stability, buffering, and usability—and we understand how much more impactful they are in situations like yours. This kind of feedback is important, and it’s being taken seriously as we work on improving the app experience.

Thank you again for taking the time to explain your situation.

—ChannelMoa Support Team

[Raejck]

@Hawk She was struggling with version 2.0.11 but after reading about people reverting back to the CatchON app, I did that for her. Her favorite channels are grit, game show network, tennis and two locals.

I am still using 2.0.11 at my house because really like the interface overall and can appreciate the changes. She could use it with a favorites line on the home screen as she only goes between about 5 channels in total.

[Hawk]

@Raejck
Thank you. So, reverting back is helping her now, and it’s not as confusing? Is it stable for her? I’m just trying to confirm that things are going well for her now.

I like the new version as well. The learning curve hasn’t been steep for me as there’s a lot of familiarity with the OS.

[calbysdad]

I think the UI is clunky regardless of age of user. Here are my observations:

1. To get to My Live is tedious - should be the default

2. Once in My Live, it should default to Favorites. Currently, it goes back to the last channel viewed but it you click out of it, it goes to the category even if you selected the channel from Favorites. For example, I am on ESPN which I selected from, the Favorites tab. If I hit back twice then go back in to My Favorites, it will come back on ESPN but from the Sports list, not Favorites.

3. Why would the Home screen just show random Movies, Series, Int'L Movies, etc? It should show those chosen as favorites. The home screen is useless - all it does is create a need to navigate off of it.

I think these are the items most in need of tweaking. Thanks for listening!

[Raejck]

@Hawk Reverting was 100% helping but each time tv is turned on, at some point app asks to update and she accidentally did that (she's 89 so the struggle is real). Now we're back at square one. I am going to try and revert her again. This is just going to be my life for a while. Never a dull moment!

[Hawk]

@Raejck
Yes, I understand. As you mentioned, the updating process can be easily done. I’m glad to hear that it was working for her as it was. I believe the MoaTV app doesn’t have a shutdown feature, so perhaps she could let it play and not turn it off? If necessary, she could turn down the volume. An always-on approach would be ideal. She’s fortunate to be living life and having someone who cares for her like you. I hope things work out for both of you.