SAN FRANCISCO -- TV Guide magazine's already fuzzy future looks even more
uncertain now that the magazine is part of a proposed $2.8 billion sale to
security software specialist Macrovision Corp.

Gemstar-TV Guide International's intellectual property and interactive programming were the magnets for Macrovision's proposal Friday to buy Gemstar--raising questions about whether there will be a place for a 54-year-old magazine that has been losing money and readers.

Macrovision Chief Executive Fred Amoroso didn't provide any definitive answers in a conference call with analysts, saying he didn't know much about
publishing and needed more time to assess how TV Guide could fit into his
strategy.

But some industry observers think the one-time household staple will soon
land in the trash bin of publications that couldn't adapt to the digital age.

I haven't bought a TV Guide in years. Especially since they switched over to the tabloid-style publication. I remember when TV Guide was indispensable in all households, but I guess in the digital, on-demand TV world of today, it just doesn't have as much value.

I haven't bought a TV Guide in years. Especially since they switched over to the tabloid-style publication. I remember when TV Guide was indispensable in all households, but I guess in the digital, on-demand TV world of today, it just doesn't have as much value.
I stopped buying it because they switched over to a tabloid-style publication. They were better off when they had real schedules. A lot of the time, the guides in our cable-TV boxes are either wrong or incomplete.

I don't see a need for any sort of programming guide when my satellite receiver shows what's coming on on every channel we have within the next 48 hours and if I'm looking for more information I could just check online.

my dad just told me about the sale last night at 10:35 pm I just could not belive that TV Guide is for Sale

I had stopped subscribing years ago because of the tabloidesque writing and format. Back in the '70s and even into the '80s, TV Guide had solid TV-oriented journalism that was hard-hitting and gave great insight into the personalities and behind the scenes activities of the stars and shows.

But when the magazine changed format, becoming an all-purpose entertainment tabloid, and abandoned local listings, that's when it, ahem, "jumped the shark" for me. Why should I pay to subscribe when I can go to their website and get my local listings for free??

I get The TV Guide through the mail

I haven't bought a TV Guide in years. Especially since they switched over to the tabloid-style publication. I remember when TV Guide was indispensable in all households, but I guess in the digital, on-demand TV world of today, it just doesn't have as much value.


TV Guide are not supposed to be purchased to see whats coming on TV-lol It's supposed to be purchased to read the TV reviews and articles about the TV season.

I don't see a need for any sort of programming guide when my satellite receiver shows what's coming on on every channel we have within the next 48 hours and if I'm looking for more information I could just check online.


It's not a TV Guide, it's a TV news Magazine. That's what a lot of people don't understand

The reason why People are nolonger buying TV Guide is because DVR's Now show TV Listing

I hope it sticks around. I still read it for episode descriptions and the articles. They need to stop talking about anything movie related...stick to TV ONLY, but other than that it is still okay. Entertainment Weekly doesn't do enough articles about TV shows that aren't Grey's Anatomy, reality garbage, or Heroes.

I hope it sticks around. I still read it for episode descriptions and the articles. They need to stop talking about anything movie related...stick to TV ONLY, but other than that it is still okay. Entertainment Weekly doesn't do enough articles about TV shows that aren't Grey's Anatomy, reality garbage, or Heroes.


What's wrong with movies, Cathy? I'm with you on Grey's Anatomy though. That show is talked about everywhere. You can't open an entertainment magazine without there being an article on that show.

I do still use my tv guide to look at program listings and descriptions. It's usually the most accurate thing of all the things I have access to, which is interesting because it's the one that is the least updateable.
I don't like their new format, however, and I think they made a mistake when they went to the bigger size and really cut back on the listings. They took away what made them special and significant. What that did was make them just another magazine in a crop of other magazines that already existed of the same type that are better than that new Tv Guide format. I understand they were trying to diversify themselves and stay afloat and relevant, but it didn't work, in my opinion.

I absolutely agree. When they changed formats, they became nothing more
than an Entertainment Weekly ripoff and said, in effect, the heck with a 50-
year-old tradition. Yes, it was the digest format that set TV Guide apart and
gave it its own individuality. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." But I guess they
felt they had no choice. The magazine was losing money and it was too
expensive to continue publishing a different edition for each region. I guess
they figured they had to either change or fold. But it appears the magazine
is going to fold, anyway. Another tradition bites the dust.

Wow that surprises me. I knew it was suffering some but I didn't realize it was that bad. I did prefer it when it was smaller and had 24 hours listings. Now there are gaps when I don;t know what is on. At one time it was a very popular magazine. Was in the top five maybe it was number 1 of best selling magazines years ago. I somewhat like the gossip section. But without a guide that does tell me what is on I'd be lost. I don't have a tv that tells me what is on. And I am not fumbling with a computer. I still want a paper guide of some sort. My subscription runs out in 2011. I hope the magazine hangs on til then.

What's wrong with movies, Cathy? I'm with you on Grey's Anatomy though. That show is talked about everywhere. You can't open an entertainment magazine without there being an article on that show.
Nothing, but they shouldn't be in TV Guide. There are plenty of magazines devoted to just movies. Not too many TV magazines.

Nothing, but they shouldn't be in TV Guide. There are plenty of magazines devoted to just movies. Not too many TV magazines.


That's a good point, Cathy. There are quite a few more magazines devoted to movies than there are to television shows. Still, I think that TV Guide should do some movie coverage since there are quite a few movies on televison.

On a funny note, I kept spelling your name wrong. I kept putting the "h" before the "t". :lol:

I stopped buying it because they switched over to a tabloid-style publication. They were better off when they had real schedules. A lot of the time, the guides in our cable-TV boxes are either wrong or incomplete.
I hear that. I remember when TVGuide actually GAVE INFORMATION IN FULL on shows, what guests would appear on a game show, etc. And the guide wasn't in the format that you see now, grid style. I hate that.

I loved the Cheers/Jeers section. Now, they allow people to add their own comments. :rolleyes:

I remember the critics corner (i think that is what it was called).

Back in the days we didn't have the guide information available on screen like we do now, so what is the point of having TVGuide now? I used to love having the information of the shows a week in advance and I would pull out my highlighter marker and highlight the shows I wanted to see.

Those were the days. The TVGuide I see now is nothing what the original used to be like.
:(

That's a good point, Cathy. There are quite a few more magazines devoted to movies than there are to television shows. Still, I think that TV Guide should do some movie coverage since there are quite a few movies on televison.

On a funny note, I kept spelling your name wrong. I kept putting the "h" before the "t". :lol:
:lol: Didn't even notice.

I hear that. I remember when TVGuide actually GAVE INFORMATION IN FULL on shows, what guests would appear on a game show, etc. And the guide wasn't in the format that you see now, grid style. I hate that.

I loved the Cheers/Jeers section. Now, they allow people to add their own comments. :rolleyes:

I remember the critics corner (i think that is what it was called).

Back in the days we didn't have the guide information available on screen like we do now, so what is the point of having TVGuide now? I used to love having the information of the shows a week in advance and I would pull out my highlighter marker and highlight the shows I wanted to see.

Those were the days. The TVGuide I see now is nothing what the original used to be like.
:(



FOR TV NEWS

that what I Mean TV Guide for TV News

:lol: Didn't even notice.

:lol:

Oh, thats probably because I caught the mistakes right after making them. So I was able to change it. :lol: I would spell "Cathy" as "Cahty" and then would think to myself, "that's not right" and would go back and correct it. :lol: I'm pretty lame that I keep spelling Cathy wrong though. :lol: I actually do know how to spell it but I keep making the same typo over and over again. :lol:

I loved the old format also. The smaller version was so much better. I stopped buying them when the went to the magazine. I don't even see them in the grocery store anymore. They would send you tv guide's for weeks without a payment and it was really cheap.

I hop that TV Guide stay's in Business