Google Search gains TV show air dates support, saving you from having to check IMDB

Google today announced it has added support for the air dates of TV shows to Google Search. All you have to do is search for the TV show;s name, and Google will do the rest.

The company doesn’t say where this new episode information is coming from, but we’ll bet it’s the company’s Knowledge Graph. After all, Google says that’s where existing TV show details (ratings, cast, characters, and so on) are coming from.

Google’s example to showcase the feature is one that I know too well, having searched for the exact same thing a few weeks ago and again a few days ago: when does the next season of The Walking Dead start? To find out, all you have to do is search for “The Walking Dead TV show and voilà:

All the episodes and their air dates are listed along the right side. The next season kicks off with an episode called “30 Days Without An Accident” on October 13, which follows last season’s final episode, “Welcome to the Tombs.”

If you’re like me, and you regularly check IMDB to see when the next episode is airing, this will save you a lot of time. Navigating IMDB’s site can be a pain, with something like four clicks to find the show and then the right season.

This should just take one click on Google. Now I’m just waiting for Google to bring this to mobile search, or better yet, Google Now. This time next year, I expect to be able to ask my phone when The Walking Dead’s next season starts and get an answer back without lifting a finger.

See also – Google Search gains support for hashtags, but only for Google+ content and Google now automatically shares Blogger posts to Google+, turns feature on by default for linked accounts

Top Image Credit: Kimhiro Hoshino/Getty Images