For Creators, Journalists, and Editorial Use

TVI Essential Creator Kit.

Badge files, usage guidelines, and embed code for citing the TVI Essential designation in editorial work. Free for accredited press, creators, and educators.

What This Is

The badge is a cultural artifact, not a brand mark.

TVI Essential is an editorial designation awarded to titles that meet the TVI standard for Cultural Impact, Intellectual Substance, Rewatch Value, and Lasting Significance. Awarded based on the TVI IQ Score.

The badge below is available for editorial use on titles that have received the designation. Three variants are produced for different deployment contexts. The simplified small-size variant exists specifically for sub-80px placements (streaming-app thumbnails, social embeds, favicons) where the standard badge's arc text becomes illegible.

Badge Variants

Three variants. Pick the right one for the size.

Variant A: Standard

Canonical, straight orientation. Full design. Use for 200px and larger.

SVG 2.4 KB · vector PNG 1200px 66 KB PNG 600px 27 KB PNG 200px 10 KB

TVI Essential badge, Rotated variant for hero placements

Variant B: Rotated

Slight rotation. Use for hero placements, press headers, large brand placements.

SVG 2.5 KB · vector PNG 1200px 66 KB PNG 600px 29 KB PNG 200px 9 KB

TVI Essential badge, Simplified small-size variant

Variant C: Simplified

Sub-80px optimized. Drops the arc text and star detail. Use for streaming-app thumbnails, favicons, mobile chips.

SVG 1.0 KB · vector PNG 600px 18 KB PNG 200px 5 KB PNG 80px 2 KB

Size Test Reference

All variants, all sizes, side by side.

TVI Essential badge size tests, all three variants at 40, 80, 200, 600, and 1200 pixels

Usage Guidelines

Five rules for editorial use.

The badge represents the designation, not the score. Use only on titles that have received the TVI Essential grant. Use on titles that have not received the designation is misrepresentation. The current inaugural class roster is published at /tvi-essential/.
Caption requirement. When the badge appears in editorial context, the accompanying caption or alt-text must include the canonical short-form connective phrase: "Awarded based on the TVI IQ Score."
Attribution requirement. Embedded uses (in articles, videos, social posts) must link back to the methodology page at tvintelligentsia.com/methodology/ or the TVI Essential explainer at tvintelligentsia.com/tvi-essential/.
No modification. The badge artwork must not be re-colored, re-typeset, or otherwise altered. Crop or resize as needed.
No commercial implication without permission. Use of the badge does not imply endorsement of any commercial activity (streaming-app inclusion, distribution deal, advertising claim) without separate written permission from the Founding Editor.

Embed Code

Live TVI score chip for any title.

For embedding a live TVI score in an article or page (which updates if the score is rescored under a future methodology version), use the score-chip embed at /embed/. Each title has its own embed slug.

Example HTML for embedding the live The Wire score chip:

<iframe src="https://tvintelligentsia.com/embed/the-wire/"
        width="320" height="180" frameborder="0"
        title="TV Intelligentsia score for The Wire">
</iframe>

Replace the-wire with the slug of any title in the catalog. Browse all titles at /explore/.

What TVI Essential Does Not Mean

Read this before deploying the badge editorially.

TVI Essential is not a guarantee of personal enjoyment. It is a designation of cultural significance, intellectual substance, lasting value, and craftsmanship density. A title can earn TVI Essential and still not be the right choice for your audience's mood, night, or preferences. The designation tells your readers the title is worth your time. It does not tell them the title will feel worth their time to them specifically. That distinction is the entire point.

Questions about editorial use?

Email the Founding Editor for guidance on any usage outside the patterns above. Response window: 48 hours for press.

jordan@tvintelligentsia.com