BEST

The one common factor of all these websites is that they should make you excited about the programming for that network. As usual, the more innovative, usable and aesthetically pleasing along the way the better. I think these are the best:

FX Network

FX has a unique layout while clearly highlighting their unique programming.

ESPN

ESPN is one of the rare cases of being equally dominant on air and on the tubes. Their recent redesign keeps them on top.

FOX

Say what you want about them but their website is clean, sticks out from the other big 5 networks and highlights their shows well.

Discovery Network

They manage to make educational programming look… sexy. At least better than PBS.

TNT

Easy to digest and I love the transitions on the sliding hero graphic. They took a tried and true user pattern and made it work well for them.

Food Network

Similar to ESPN they are big players in the culinary resources available online.

CBS

When a channel goes out to promote a popular show… might as well go all in. I don’t even watch Survivor but I wanted to after visiting,

Bravo

Bravo did a good job of developing a simple, yet unique look. It went a long way in helping their content look fresh to their target demographics.

CNN

CNN is one of the cornerstone news websites on the web.

Cinemax

Cinemax opted to do a fresh layout with interesting typography choices while highlighting popular features — like highlighting current programming on the homepage.

AVERAGE

These networks offer compelling content yet their websites present the programming in a generic way. I’m not very excited by what I see on the homepage and the actual website features are not very compelling considering the content.

PBS

A network with so much history and who us so beloved by their viewers has a very unassuming website. Granted, their demographic may skew mature but I think this is a competent if not generic design.

NBC

I don’t understand the organic swirl background and what the heck it has to do with NBC. This reminds me of a late 1990s portal search engine website.

HBO

This is the BMW of TV networks. All I see is text text text. They couldn’t find a way to bring some of the glitz, glam, guns, sin and sex people love about HBO into the home?

Travel Channel

Travel Channel. Not as popular as the rest of the TV channels but they have a built in excuse and unique programming subject matter to go nuts but they don’t. Let the genie out of the bottle!

WORST

What stuck out the most to me as being “worst” is that channels who have distinct content that can naturally translate to the web don’t stand out.

VH1

VH1 manages to be loud but quiet, bold yet shy… the design could stand to be “chunked out” a little to help visually distinguish sections from each other. All I see is text, text, girl, girl, pink, pink and it feels very chaotic.

MTV

Their contribution to the internet is a huge form field and a Javascript randomizer for their style sheets?

BET

It feels like they’re trying to fill up space. Regardless, very uninspired for a TV network with their cache in youth culture.

ABC

This is the best ABC can come up with? I logged on to your website to watch commercials, get a clue. Those little thumbnails and middling hero graphic are very uninspiring compared to what FX does.

NICK

Another website that can use some “chunking”. It feels like content soup which may not be a great idea considering the demographic for some of the content.

TBS

Going along with their tagline — “very funny”, it looks like a very happy website but the lack of contrast is very glaring. If they had just a bit more white on this website (especially as a background for text) they could be in the “best” category.

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Agree? Disagree? Let me hear it in the comments?

En Fuego

These teams have the best blend of creativity, visual excitement and uniqueness that make them stand above the rest. The NY Knicks for example just give off a “Heart of NY” feel to it that I think all the other cities should try to capture.

The New York Knicks


Charlotte Bobcats

Memphis Grizzlies

Oklahoma Thunder

Portland Trailblazers

Aight

These are competent but have a run-of-the-mill flavor to them. They don’t do anything conceptually unique to their city or team very well.

Chicago Bulls

New Jersey Nets

Detroit Pistons

Los Angeles Clippers

Cleveland Cavaliers

Denver Nuggets

San Antonio Spurs

Phoenix Suns

Atlanta Hawks

Indiana Pacers

Washington Wizards

Scrubs

Just looking for when the next game is can give you epileptic seizures they’re so blatantly loud and flashy. Some are so bad that you can’t even tell what team it is because they don’t feature their logo in a prominent place.

Philadelphia 76ers

Miami Heat

Sacramento Kings

Dallas Mavericks

Minnesota Timberwolves

Milwaukee Bucks

New Orleans Hornets

Los Angeles Lakers

Houston Rockets

Boston Celtics

Utah Jazz

Orlando Magic

Golden State Warriors

Did I diss your team? Let me know where I can go shove it in the comments!