TV Guide Unveils Full-Color, Larger Format - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

bossradio93 · 10-12-2005, 01:26 PM

TV Guide Unveils Full-Color, Larger Format

Tue Oct 11,10:17 PM ET

NEW YORK - TV Guide released its first issue in a full-color, larger format Tuesday, part of an overall revamp aimed at trying to keep the 52-year-old magazine relevant in an age of on-screen television guides.

The new issue features Ty Pennington of "Extreme Home Makeover: Home Edition" on its cover, as well as a new makeup that emphasizes stories, columns and gossip about TV shows over TV listings.

As part of the makeover, TV Guide's publisher, Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc., is also slashing the circulation it guarantees advertisers by nearly two-thirds, from 9 million to 3.2 million.

The magazine will maintain its weekly publication schedule, but its cover price will drop to $1.99 from $2.49 for the famliar digest-size format. Until the end of the year, though, the price wil be reduced to 99 cents.

TV Guide announced the changes to its format in July.

Yahoo! News/AP-October 11, 2005

The magazine is going to suck now!

I've read it for over 35 years and the best part is the listings.

What are your thoughts of the new, oversized format?

Kay Scarpetta · 10-12-2005, 04:26 PM

Ugly, ugly, ugly.

Mr. Television · 10-12-2005, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bossradio93

TV Guide Unveils Full-Color, Larger Format

Tue Oct 11,10:17 PM ET

NEW YORK - TV Guide released its first issue in a full-color, larger format Tuesday, part of an overall revamp aimed at trying to keep the 52-year-old magazine relevant in an age of on-screen television guides.

The new issue features Ty Pennington of "Extreme Home Makeover: Home Edition" on its cover, as well as a new makeup that emphasizes stories, columns and gossip about TV shows over TV listings.

As part of the makeover, TV Guide's publisher, Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc., is also slashing the circulation it guarantees advertisers by nearly two-thirds, from 9 million to 3.2 million.

The magazine will maintain its weekly publication schedule, but its cover price will drop to $1.99 from $2.49 for the famliar digest-size format. Until the end of the year, though, the price wil be reduced to 99 cents.

TV Guide announced the changes to its format in July.

Yahoo! News/AP-October 11, 2005

The magazine is going to suck now!

I've read it for over 35 years and the best part is the listings.

What are your thoughts of the new, oversized format?

I haven't got it yet but I'm not to happy about the change in format. I agree that the listings are one of the most important things about the magazine. Thats been getting worst the last few years.

Chelsea · 10-12-2005, 05:01 PM

The print version of TV Guide ceased being relevant almost ten years ago. This latest attempt to refocus the point of the magazine is doing nothing but further dragging the once-proud TV Guide name through the mud.

At this point, an ending of the magazine would be a mercy killing where I sit.

musicradio77 · 10-12-2005, 06:09 PM

I was at the Hess station over the weekend that I saw the last of the TV Guide's in a smaller size format. It's very sad to see the smaller size TV Guide go. I missed TV Guide when the magazine was small. I used to have it all the time. I'm not too familiar with the new larger size version. After 53 years of publishing the first TV Guide in smaller size, it's time to say bye! bye! TV Guide, hello to the the NEW TV Guide.

Dr. John Becker · 10-13-2005, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DallasCowboysFanatic

I haven't got it yet but I'm not to happy about the change in format. I agree that the listings are one of the most important things about the magazine. Thats been getting worst the last few years.

Now, they no longer have local listings at all, just national listings for NBC, FOX, ABC and all the national networks. I won't renew my subscription.

Mr. Television · 10-13-2005, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. John Becker

Now, they no longer have local listings at all, just national listings for NBC, FOX, ABC and all the national networks. I won't renew my subscription.

You got to me kidding me.

I still haven't got it yet. I've been collecting them since 1983 and thats the only reason I continue to do it but I honestly don't know if its worth it. TV Guide is probably dead anyhow.

Ronn Harmon · 10-13-2005, 05:09 PM

In 1991 they did a large format for about a year or so, I still have those magazines.

KJH278 · 10-13-2005, 07:25 PM

I lover the new bigger version of the TV guide

Dr. Thong · 10-13-2005, 07:58 PM

After perusing the first issue of the new TV Guide, I e-mailed them the following letter:

Over the years, I've seen TV Guide go from being a
publication with excellent journalism that covered
both TV personalities and the industry with incisive
articles that had depth to an all-purpose
entertainment magazine with gossipy writing.

Even in the face of this, your TV listings were the
magazine's saving grace: Detailed 24/7 local, network
& cable listings. However, with the debut of the
magazine-sized TV Guide, sadly, even that is no
longer.

No more local listings, no 24/7 listings and the TV
coverage is reduced to grids that only cover networks
& cable stations, not local stations and only certain
time periods. This is a shame.

This new format may increase your circulation with
it's bigger size and more room for flashy graphics and
celebrity photos, but it reduces TV Guide to merely
being an entertainment magazine that gives only a
cursory look at the week's viewing.

I meant to add - but didn't - that now the TV supplement that comes with my Sunday paper is now more informative than TV Guide when it comes to local listings. I will not be renewing my subscription next year. In fact, I may seek out vintage TV Guide issues on eBay - so I can read the real TV Guide.

Zebra 3 · 10-14-2005, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth

At this point, an ending of the magazine would be a mercy killing where I sit.

I say let those who listed Hogan's Heroes as the fifth worst TV show of all-time suffer a long and painful death!

TVFactFan · 10-14-2005, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zebra 3

I say let those who listed Hogan's Heroes as the fifth worst TV show of all-time suffer a long and painful death!

Well it wasn;t like they were lying-lol

Chocoholic · 10-14-2005, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Over the years, I've seen TV Guide go from being a
publication with excellent journalism that covered
both TV personalities and the industry with incisive
articles that had depth to an all-purpose
entertainment magazine with gossipy writing.

Even in the face of this, your TV listings were the
magazine's saving grace: Detailed 24/7 local, network
& cable listings. However, with the debut of the
magazine-sized TV Guide, sadly, even that is no
longer.

No more local listings, no 24/7 listings and the TV
coverage is reduced to grids that only cover networks
& cable stations, not local stations and only certain
time periods. This is a shame.

This new format may increase your circulation with
it's bigger size and more room for flashy graphics and
celebrity photos, but it reduces TV Guide to merely
being an entertainment magazine that gives only a
cursory look at the week's viewing.

Dr. Thong, you just took the words right out of my mouth. TV Guide has become just another tabloid, IMHO. They should just change their name to "Entertainment Gossip".

Mr. Television · 10-14-2005, 05:12 PM

I finally went out and got me one and I must say I do like the color photos and the articles...on the other hand although I do like how they got the nighttime shows set up--much better compared to the last few years of TV Guide ( not the grids but the Highlight Pages), I do miss the local listings. If they correct this I would be satisfied.

Dr. Thong · 10-14-2005, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homeriffic

Dr. Thong, you just took the words right out of my mouth. TV Guide has become just another tabloid, IMHO. They should just change their name to "Entertainment Gossip".

I don't know how old you are, but if you ever read TV Guide in the '70s and early '80s, you got to read excellent, well-written articles that weren't fluff pieces. They would cover industry topics like the FCC and censorship and covered many angles that the current magazine doesn't. Of course, they did celebrity profiles, but they were meatier pieces than what the current mag features. They went beyond gossipy gloss, which the current mag doesn't.

And the listings were in-depth. Whenever they did a close-up on a particular show, it was a half-page write up. The quality of writing is nowhere near the level it was in those days.

10-12-2005, 01:26 PM	#1
bossradio93 Game Show Fanatic! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2004 Location: Bellflower, California Posts: 2,392	TV Guide Unveils Full-Color, Larger Format TV Guide Unveils Full-Color, Larger Format Tue Oct 11,10:17 PM ET NEW YORK - TV Guide released its first issue in a full-color, larger format Tuesday, part of an overall revamp aimed at trying to keep the 52-year-old magazine relevant in an age of on-screen television guides. The new issue features Ty Pennington of "Extreme Home Makeover: Home Edition" on its cover, as well as a new makeup that emphasizes stories, columns and gossip about TV shows over TV listings. As part of the makeover, TV Guide's publisher, Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc., is also slashing the circulation it guarantees advertisers by nearly two-thirds, from 9 million to 3.2 million. The magazine will maintain its weekly publication schedule, but its cover price will drop to $1.99 from $2.49 for the famliar digest-size format. Until the end of the year, though, the price wil be reduced to 99 cents. TV Guide announced the changes to its format in July. Yahoo! News/AP-October 11, 2005 The magazine is going to suck now! I've read it for over 35 years and the best part is the listings. What are your thoughts of the new, oversized format?
	__________________ HBO Documentary: Left of the Dial: Grade: B+ "Morals aren't supposed to stop because it's politically inconvenient to continue them." Keith Olbermann - *Countdown with Keith Olbermann* April 22, 2009 (MSNBC) UPCOMING DVD RELEASES June 16, 2009: The Three Stooges Collection: Volume 6 Star Trek coming to KDOC-TV Monday May 4 @ 9:00pm Farewell KNX/CBS Columbia Square (April 30, 1938-August 12, 2005). Thanks for 67 great years of information and entertainment. My DVD Collection

10-12-2005, 04:26 PM	#2
Kay Scarpetta Defy Gravity 8.26.05 Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 04, 2001 Location: La Vie Boheme Posts: 28,013	Ugly, ugly, ugly.
	__________________ The people who think they know everything about Broadway make me laugh. They've never seen a Broadway play in their life. "oh mi godddd RENT's a mooovie! lyke 525600 minuuuuuuutes!" No. To be a Broadway Freak, you must live, eat, sleep, study, devout, think, obsess, dream, believe Broadway. You must know original & revival casts, soundtracks, performance runs, dates, theatres, numbers, how many Tony Awards A Chorus Line won. You must be Broadway. That's right bitches. I AM Broadway.

10-12-2005, 05:01 PM	#4
Chelsea Semi-retired Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Washington Posts: 5,727	The print version of TV Guide ceased being relevant almost ten years ago. This latest attempt to refocus the point of the magazine is doing nothing but further dragging the once-proud TV Guide name through the mud. At this point, an ending of the magazine would be a mercy killing where I sit.
	__________________ Chelsea Former Administrator, 2005-2012 Former Member, DVD Review Team, 2004-2010.

10-12-2005, 06:09 PM	#5
musicradio77 Disney Expert Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 14, 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 6,475	I was at the Hess station over the weekend that I saw the last of the TV Guide's in a smaller size format. It's very sad to see the smaller size TV Guide go. I missed TV Guide when the magazine was small. I used to have it all the time. I'm not too familiar with the new larger size version. After 53 years of publishing the first TV Guide in smaller size, it's time to say bye! bye! TV Guide, hello to the the NEW TV Guide.
	__________________ Musicradio77 Productions

10-13-2005, 07:25 PM	#9
KJH278 Member Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2002 Location: IN A APARTMENT Posts: 1,158	I lover the new bigger version of the TV guide
	__________________ Pins and needles, needles and pins, it's a happy man that grins.-Ralph Kramden I love Kendall Jenner and Khloe Kardashian

10-13-2005, 05:09 PM	#8
Ronn Harmon Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 05, 2005 Posts: 181	In 1991 they did a large format for about a year or so, I still have those magazines.

10-13-2005, 07:58 PM	#10
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	After perusing the first issue of the new TV Guide, I e-mailed them the following letter: Over the years, I've seen TV Guide go from being a publication with excellent journalism that covered both TV personalities and the industry with incisive articles that had depth to an all-purpose entertainment magazine with gossipy writing. Even in the face of this, your TV listings were the magazine's saving grace: Detailed 24/7 local, network & cable listings. However, with the debut of the magazine-sized TV Guide, sadly, even that is no longer. No more local listings, no 24/7 listings and the TV coverage is reduced to grids that only cover networks & cable stations, not local stations and only certain time periods. This is a shame. This new format may increase your circulation with it's bigger size and more room for flashy graphics and celebrity photos, but it reduces TV Guide to merely being an entertainment magazine that gives only a cursory look at the week's viewing. I meant to add - but didn't - that now the TV supplement that comes with my Sunday paper is now more informative than TV Guide when it comes to local listings. I will not be renewing my subscription next year. In fact, I may seek out vintage TV Guide issues on eBay - so I can read the real TV Guide.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

10-14-2005, 05:12 PM	#14
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I finally went out and got me one and I must say I do like the color photos and the articles...on the other hand although I do like how they got the nighttime shows set up--much better compared to the last few years of TV Guide ( not the grids but the Highlight Pages), I do miss the local listings. If they correct this I would be satisfied.