|
||||||||
UK TV Magazine Thread (Except for Christmas when we will shut) |
![]() |
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#51 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,539
|
Quote:
TV Times only became a national magazine in September, 1968. Before then many of the ITV companies had published their own listings magazines. But in 1968 TV Times began publishing 14 different regional editions under the auspices of Independent Television Publications owned by the companies.
Quote:
|
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#52 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: York
Posts: 426
|
Quote:
I think the reason for the earlier release dates of TV magazines in the run up to Christmas is because the channels confirm their listings online earlier than normal. Normally the schedules are confirmed on DigiGuide every Thursday but from early November the listings are confirmed on the Monday/Tuesday instead.
From late October, the schedules are made available a day earlier each week to allow the mags to pull forward by a week in time for the double issue. So a few weeks back listings were released on Tuesday instead of Wednesday, then Monday the following week, then Friday and so on until you get to the last week of November when the main channels release their schedules for the double issue on Tuesday night. It currently means the listings mags are now almost a week ahead of where they'd normally be in terms of production, so they get printed earlier and are able to be distributed a bit earlier (but still long after the same week is available to view online). |
|
|
|
|
|
#53 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 31,434
|
I noticed last year that the Christmas TV Times was in the shops several days ahead of Radio Times (I'm in the south of England).
|
|
|
|
|
|
#54 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 374
|
What are peoples views of TV Times? For me its probably the weakest of all magazines for actual listing content.
Most of the articles I enjoy reading and the previews are generally good, I also like the daily highlights double spread but the actual listings are dire - awful font and programme content is difficult to read. Programme info is lacking for so many channels. When you compare the listing layout to say Total TV Guide its pretty poor for such an expensive magazine. WoTV, Total TV Guide and TV Choice have a much better listings layout and programme detail - TV Times is really sadly lacking in what is their most important function - programme info. Just my thoughts - what do others think about actual magazine listing info? |
|
|
|
|
|
#55 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: York
Posts: 426
|
I guess Time Inc want three distinct mags.
TV Times is probably stronger on the features, but the listings are very basic. TV & Sat Week is the most in-depth for listings What's on TV is a happy medium between the two. TV Choice is probably fractionally better than WOTV, but they're much of a muchness, so it depends on which channels you prefer as there's a few differences. Total TV Guide is a direct copy of Choice for 6 of the 10 pages of listings for each day, so it's just a case of whether people consider the extra few satellite channels and radio listings worth the extra cost. Radio Times has in-depth features and the most detail on the main four channels and BBC4 with credits and cast lists. Radio is best covered by far in RT. The rest of the listings pages try to cram in too much in places with tiny fonts, so aren't as nice to look at as the Time Inc and Bauer mags. As far as value for money goes, unless you really need any specific channels that aren't listed in the cheaper mags, there's no reason to get anything other than What's On TV or TV Choice. TV Times is more than three times the cost of TV Choice and nearly three times the cost of What's on TV, it simply isn't worth it. TV & Satellite Week can at least try to justify the higher cost with the number of channels it lists, while Total TV Guide is twice the price of TV Choice but with only a little more content. Radio Times is a waste of money if you only want a basic summary of freeview listings, but if you actually want in-depth radio and casts then it's probably just about worth it. TV Easy never really had much point after it stopped being small as it was more or less identical to WOTV, so scrapping that made sense as it had no unique selling point. TV Quick was scrapped years ago as it was lost between the premium and budget titles and TV Times is in similar territory as it offers budget content for a premium price. |
|
|
|
|
|
#56 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 104,896
|
I remember the time when I got my parents to drive to Chester or Stoke to get the Television Weekly (TWW/Harlech/HTV) and/or TV World (ATV/ABC Midlands magazine). When TV Times went national in 1968, I got ITP to send me on subscription the Wales and Midlands version of TV Times. It was worth it back then as ITV was really regional and had so many different programmes. They used to arrive arrive on a Wednesday in a bundle. I have a photobucket site with some pre 1968 TV mags scanned pages. This is the link, if it still works: http://s251.photobucket.com/user/mrb...?sort=6&page=1
|
|
|
|
|
|
#57 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,539
|
Quote:
What are peoples views of TV Times? For me its probably the weakest of all magazines for actual listing content.
Most of the articles I enjoy reading and the previews are generally good, I also like the daily highlights double spread but the actual listings are dire - awful font and programme content is difficult to read. Programme info is lacking for so many channels. When you compare the listing layout to say Total TV Guide its pretty poor for such an expensive magazine. WoTV, Total TV Guide and TV Choice have a much better listings layout and programme detail - TV Times is really sadly lacking in what is their most important function - programme info. Just my thoughts - what do others think about actual magazine listing info? ![]()
|
|
|
|
|
|
#58 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,539
|
What's On TV's Hot TV for next week (Sat. 19th-Fri. 25th Nov):-
BBC1: Entertainment - Strictly Come Dancing Blackpool, Michael McIntyre's Big Show Comedy - Walliams & Friend Drama - Ordinary Lies, My Mother & Other Strangers, The Coroner, The Missing Documentary - Planet Earth 2, Who Do You Think You Are? BBC2: Comedy - Two Doors Down |
|
|
|
|
|
#59 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,799
|
I know I started this thread but haven't been on it for a few days.
But we had a family death and a funeral coming up on Monday. From Monday Night, I will begin positing in here again. Thanks to Mr Sirs, for letting us know what on TV have covered My views on the TV Times, which I buy once in a blue moon are, I find the text in the articles fairly small, and with the eyes not so good as they should be, it is hard to read |
|
|
|
|
|
#60 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,539
|
Quote:
I know I started this thread but haven't been on it for a few days.
But we had a family death and a funeral coming up on Monday. From Monday Night, I will begin positing in here again. Thanks to Mr Sirs, for letting us know what on TV have covered My views on the TV Times, which I buy once in a blue moon are, I find the text in the articles fairly small, and with the eyes not so good as they should be, it is hard to read ![]() It is my intention (time permitting) to post regular updates for the WOTV Hot TV section if folk find it of interest. |
|
|
|
|
|
#61 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,539
|
With thanks to Kwynne, copied and pasted from the Ratings Thread over on the DS Tv shows forum:-
Proper sign of Christmas next weeks TV and Radio Times's out early on Saturday with much shorter gaps from now on until the bumper christmas ones. Radio Times top 11 Christmas things Doctor Who BBC1 Maigrets Dead Man ITV Inside No.9 The Devil at Christmas BBC2 The Great Christmas Bake Off BBC1 Witness for the Prosecution BBC1 Agatha Christie drama Peter Pan Goes Wrong BBC1 The Bronte Sisters BBC1 according to TV times this is called To Walk Invisible Sherlock BBC1 The Last DragonSlayer Sky 1 Revolting Rhymes BBC1 Alan Bennett's Diaries Also on at Christmas according to TV Times GrantChester ITV Paul O'Gradys Fairytales ITV Paul O'grady for the love of Dogs at Christmas ITV Strictly Christmas Special BBC1 Outnumbered BBC1 Mrs Browns Boys BBC1 Still Open All Hours BBC1 Last Tango in Halifax BBC1 Call The Midwife BBC1 Blankety Blank ITV Birds of A Feather ITV David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey BBC1 Walliams and Friend BBC1 |
|
|
|
|
|
#62 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,539
|
What's On TV's Hot TV for next week (Sat. 26th Nov-Fri. 2nd Dec):-
BBC1: Entertainment - Strictly Come Dancing, The Apprentice Drama - Rillington Place, My Mother & Other Strangers, The Missing Documentary - Planet Earth 2, Who Do You Think You Are? BBC2: Drama - Close To The Enemy CHANNEL 4: Sport - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix CHANNEL 5: Entertainment - Tour De Celeb |
|
|
|
|
|
#63 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,539
|
Despite my previous reservations about it's listings layout/typeface I am getting the TV Times (on an offer) at the moment (!).
Listings issue for 3rd-9th December now on sale, 10th-16th listings issue on sale this Thursday 1st Dec. Here's the TV Times Editor's Highlights for next week:- Mon-Fri: Emmerdale, ITV Wednesday: Six lives with Lucy Worsley, BBC1 England 9pm, BBC1 Scotland 11.45pm & In Plain Sight, ITV 9pm Friday: Ball & Boe, ITV 9pm & Adele in New York, BBC1 11.25pm |
|
|
|
|
|
#64 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Hull, UK
Posts: 7,363
|
Quote:
Autumn 1981 if I remember rightly, just a year or so before they added Channel 4. As I recall, the TV premiere of Jaws on ITV - six years on! - was featured in the first week of the new format.
The masthead went from being all on one line to being a blocky logo with "Times" superimposed over "TV", and that's basically how it remains today although it's now italicised. I think they dropped the "Magazine" suffix after only two or three years, but I'd have to look at pics of the Christmas covers to be sure... http://radiosoundsfamiliar.com/compl...-24th-1982.php |
|
|
|
|
|
#65 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,539
|
Another TV Times on sale today (for 10th-16th December listings). Claims the Christmas double issue will be on sale from Tue. 6th December "or earlier!" - oh and the standard cover price has gone up from £1.60 to £1.70.
Here then are the TV Times Editor's Highlights for 10th-16th :- Sat. 10th & Sun. 11th: X Factor Final, ITV Mon. 12th: When Phillip Met Prince Phillip, ITV Tue. 13th: Royal Variety Performance, ITV Thur. 14th: Who Do You Think You Are? BBC1 |
|
|
|
|
|
#66 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 31,434
|
I see this is turning into yet another thread about TV programmes (haven't we got enough of them ?) instead of about TV magazines as per its title.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#67 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: A maximum-security stockade
Posts: 210
|
Surely it's only a matter of time before TV Times is a thing of the past? I can't really understand why anyone would buy it, other than 'I've bought it every week for 45 years etc'...
It's neither one thing nor the other - as posted above, it's a budget magazine for a premium price. |
|
|
|
|
|
#68 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,539
|
Quote:
Welcome to the UK TV Magazine Thread, except for as I say the Radio Times Christmas Editions to which we already have a well loved thread for, even though some try to ruin it for others.
Please use this to discuss articles from the TV Listings magazines, Helping out others if they do the games and quizzes and need a little help. Or if anybody needs a token for something, and another user does maybe they can be helped. We can discuss Bank Holiday schedules, have a good moan about that they aren't like they used to be. When in like World Cup years, and the TV Listings mags, give a alternative viewing guide depending on what matches either BBC or ITV show But remember NO Radio Times Christmas Discussion, maybe articles from those Editions could be talked about, but im leaving that to you my friends Quote:
I see this is turning into yet another thread about TV programmes (haven't we got enough of them ?) instead of about TV magazines as per its title.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#69 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,539
|
Quote:
Surely it's only a matter of time before TV Times is a thing of the past? I can't really understand why anyone would buy it, other than 'I've bought it every week for 45 years etc'...
It's neither one thing nor the other - as posted above, it's a budget magazine for a premium price. If you compare the readability of TV Times to What's On TV the WOTV listings are much clearer (granted they feature fewer Freeview channels and they bold every title of a programme) so the listings work better for me in WOTV. I'm getting TV Times on a cheap offer just now but for me to stick with it longer term they would need to reformat the Freeview listings and drop the cover price down to about a £1. But a price drop isn't going to happen so I agree the future of it may look uncertain as it sits in this "middle ground". Mentioned before Time Inc. (now publisher of TV Times) has recently closed Essentials after 28 years. |
|
|
|
|
|
#70 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,799
|
Have had a few issues which meant I haven't been online but im back now.
I know I said we weren't going to cover Christmas, but as the Radio Times thread barely covers the overs, We can include them. Post on here, when you get your Double Issue, All he Magazines should be available in London Stores on Saturday, other areas by 7 December. If you cant see a copy ask as some Newsagents don't put them out |
|
|
|
|
|
#71 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: A maximum-security stockade
Posts: 210
|
Quote:
Have had a few issues which meant I haven't been online but im back now.
I know I said we weren't going to cover Christmas, but as the Radio Times thread barely covers the overs, We can include them. Post on here, when you get your Double Issue, All he Magazines should be available in London Stores on Saturday, other areas by 7 December. If you cant see a copy ask as some Newsagents don't put them out
|
|
|
|
|
|
#72 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,799
|
Quote:
WoTV will be out tomorrow in some places.
![]() |
|
|
|
|
|
#73 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: A maximum-security stockade
Posts: 210
|
Quote:
"I never knew there was so much in it!" proclaimed the ad. many years ago. I think the content pre listings pages is actually quite good, easy read and easy on the eye. The 2 pages of highlights for each day is good too. The problem (for me) is when you hit the actual listings pages - the main channel 2 pages are ok but the Freeview listings pages are not easy on the eye (as already mentioned the font/typeface and layout is poor).
If you compare the readability of TV Times to What's On TV the WOTV listings are much clearer (granted they feature fewer Freeview channels and they bold every title of a programme) so the listings work better for me in WOTV. I'm getting TV Times on a cheap offer just now but for me to stick with it longer term they would need to reformat the Freeview listings and drop the cover price down to about a £1. But a price drop isn't going to happen so I agree the future of it may look uncertain as it sits in this "middle ground". Mentioned before Time Inc. (now publisher of TV Times) has recently closed Essentials after 28 years. 1) The readership is basically dying off - literally. It's always been aimed at a certain demographic and these old(ish) readers are clearly not going to be around for ever. 2) The cover price means it's unlikely to attract new readers when TV Choice/WoTV are 50-odd pence rather than £1.70 ![]() 3) Is it actually making money for TimeInc? Put simply, is the revenue it brings in still significantly more than the cost of producing it? It's probably pretty close. The circulation numbers went down - percentage-wise - more than any other TV listings mag in the last quarter. But TimeInc need to be very careful. When they got rid of TV Easy they clearly assumed its readers would automatically migrate to What's on TV. What actually ended up happening was that they seemed to drift to their biggest rivals - TV Choice - instead! The recent price hike seems to confirm it's in trouble. I'd be surprised if it's still around in a year or two. |
|
|
|
|
|
#74 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Hull, UK
Posts: 7,363
|
The price hike confirms nothing of the sort. My local newspaper the Hull Daily Mail went up from 60p to 65p this week, Doctor Who Magazine went up from £4.99 to £5.99 recently, it's publisher Panini also increased the price of it's Marvel Collectors Editions comics from £3.50 to £3.99 a few months ago. I'm sure there's probably others. Yet none of those are in danger of closing any time soon. The problem is the stock markets fluctuating, it's pushing up the production costs of print media.
A better indication would be a website. If something used to have it's own website but no longer does, as was the case with Essentials, it could be a clue that it's days are numbered. Which makes me think the Sunday People might not last much longer. Website is just a single page on the Mirror's, and their sports coverage in the paper is just the Sunday Mirror's with different branding. Does TV Times have a website? |
|
|
|
|
|
#75 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,539
|
Quote:
The price hike confirms nothing of the sort. My local newspaper the Hull Daily Mail went up from 60p to 65p this week, Doctor Who Magazine went up from £4.99 to £5.99 recently, it's publisher Panini also increased the price of it's Marvel Collectors Editions comics from £3.50 to £3.99 a few months ago. I'm sure there's probably others. Yet none of those are in danger of closing any time soon. The problem is the stock markets fluctuating, it's pushing up the production costs of print media.
A better indication would be a website. If something used to have it's own website but no longer does, as was the case with Essentials, it could be a clue that it's days are numbered. Which makes me think the Sunday People might not last much longer. Website is just a single page on the Mirror's, and their sports coverage in the paper is just the Sunday Mirror's with different branding. Does TV Times have a website? |
|
|
|
![]() |
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 09:07.





