Ensuring Your Pre-Release Content Gets Reviewed on Time
Building a Better Reviewer Experience
At Screeners.com, we believe that great content deserves timely coverage. Yet, for many creators, studios, and networks, one question consistently comes up:
“How can I be sure that the press actually watches and reviews my pre-release content on time?”
The truth is, getting the content into reviewers’ hands is only half the battle. The other half is making sure it stands out in a crowded queue of screeners, stays top-of-mind, and is easy to access and review before those crucial deadlines pass.
What We Heard: The Challenges Reviewers Face
As we dug into the challenges press reviewers face, three key pain points came up again and again:
1. “Sometimes I forget what’s expiring—I miss it, and that’s it.”
- Challenge: Reviewers juggle multiple deadlines, often losing track of what’s expiring soon.
- Impact: Missing the expiration window means missing coverage opportunities, undermining release strategies.
2. “I’m swamped. It’s hard to stay on top of what I’ve watched and what I haven’t.”
- Challenge: With numerous screeners coming in, reviewers struggle to track progress and prioritize effectively.
- Impact: Content gets lost in the shuffle, delaying or preventing reviews altogether.
3. “Some platforms are just clunky. If it’s hard to use, I’ll skip it.”
- Challenge: Reviewers want to focus on content, not wrestle with a frustrating UI.
- Impact: Clunky navigation reduces engagement and increases the chance content won’t get reviewed.
What We Built: Unveiling the Press Reviewer Dashboard
A successful screening experience starts with eliminating the obstacles that slow reviewers down. Instead of wasting time navigating clunky platforms or hunting for content, reviewers should be able to focus on what really matters—watching and critiquing films and shows. That’s why we created the Press Reviewer Dashboard, a re-designed review interface that simplifies the screening process from start to finish.
The new dashboard organizes content dynamically, surfacing what’s most relevant to each reviewer—whether it’s new screeners, in-progress titles, or expiring content that needs urgent attention. With an interface that feels familiar to industry-leading OTT platforms, the new dashboard ensures a smooth, intuitive experience. A streamlined navigation system makes it easy to find content without unnecessary clicks, while personalized watchlist functionality allows reviewers to effortlessly organize their workflows by saving the screeners they plan to watch to one place.
By eliminating the guesswork of what to watch next and making it effortless to keep up with deadlines, the Press Reviewer Dashboard transforms the pre-release screening process into a seamless experience. Below, we break down exactly how each challenge has been addressed and what makes this new experience different from the status quo.
| The Ask | How it Shows Up Today | What We Built |
| I waste too much time searching for the content I have to review. | Reviewers spend valuable time navigating a fragmented landscape of screening links, emails, and various tools, making it difficult to efficiently surface and prioritize the content they need to review. | Personalized Dashboard:A redesigned reviewer interface familiar to industry-leading OTT platforms, surfacing relevant content faster reducing friction in the review process. |
| I keep losing track of my watch progress. | Reviewers rely on manual tracking methods (spreadsheets, notes) to keep track of what they’ve watched, increasing the risk of missed deadlines. | A Continue Watching section that allows reviewers to pick up where they left off and track their viewing history effortlessly, plus clear indication in the UI helps reviewers determine at-a-glance what they’ve started versus what needs to be reviewed. |
| I need to know when content’s expiring before it’s too late. | Reviewers often lose track of content expiration windows, leading to missed opportunities for timely coverage. | Ability to browse content by an Expiring Soon category that highlights content approaching its expiration date, helping reviewers manage their time effectively. |
| There’s no easy way to organize the content I need to watch. | Many platforms don’t allow reviewers to bookmark content, forcing them to search for titles repeatedly or rely on external tracking methods. | Add to Watchlist functionality allows reviewers to bookmark content for later, empowering them to organize their workflows efficiently. |
Reviewing isn’t just watching—it’s choosing what matters, hitting deadlines, and keeping track of what’s next. The Press Reviewer Dashboard clears the path. See what’s expiring soon. Pick up where you left off. Save what you plan to watch—all in one place. No digging. No second-guessing. Just a faster way to get through what matters. The dashboard’s live: check it out.
