The Universal Language of Calendars
Have you ever clicked a link that says "Add to Calendar" and magically had an event appear in your schedule? That's likely powered by an ICS file (or iCal feed).
ICS (Internet Calendaring and Scheduling) is the global standard format for calendar data. Think of it like a PDF for calendars. It allows different calendar applications—like Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and Outlook—to talk to each other.
Key Benefits of iCal Feeds
- 🌍 Universal Compatibility: Works with almost every calendar app on the planet.
- 🔄 Automatic Updates: Unlike a static file import, an iCal subscription (URL) keeps your calendar in sync. If an event changes on the server, your calendar updates automatically.
- 🔒 No Account Required: You don't need to create an account on a specific platform to view the events.
How tvcal Uses ICS
At tvcal, we generate a personalized iCal feed for your tracked TV shows.
By subscribing to this feed, all air dates and times appear directly in your personal calendar.
Don't just "download" the ICS file if you can help it. Always look for "Subscribe" or "Add by URL". This ensures you get future updates automatically!
When a network changes a release date, we update the feed, and your phone or computer picks up the change automatically.