radio and TV times

[mimififi]

Umm, just a morning musing for you: With the intenet and everything giving all TV and radio listings for the things that are broadcast, will they be losing money from people not buying the TV and Radio times? Do you think that they will eventually stop printing the magazine and just let people look it up or put it on the phone, like the old dial-a-story thing once upon a time....?

Any thoughts?

[brachiopod]

I have no figures, but I would imagine so.

I was musing a very similar thing this very morning whilst having my cuppa and generally putting off getting ready for work, except I was thinking about Loot, the 'free ads paper'. I wondered how much their circulation figures have been dented by e-bay.

[mimififi]

I had the exact same thought too (obviously, I too am task avoiding; i'm supposed to be tidying up my study and generally cleaning the house ready for week end antics), except, I was thinking about charity shops and wondering how much they have been effected by E-Bay and now people no longer donate to help others, but sell on E-Bay to help themselves....?

Morning musings: one of my favourite past times.....!

[Buenchico]

Hello again, Mimififi!
(We must stop meeting like this - people will start to talk :-) )

The BBC, ITV and BSkyB all retain copyright in their programme listings. Anyone else who wishes to publish the information, either in print or online, has to pay for the privilege. In the case of the BBC part of these payments go towards supporting the Radio Times. (I'm not sure about the current commercial relationship between the ITV companies and TV Times but I believe that a similar arrangement might apply here).

I think that the TV listings magazines will continue for many years yet. Each magazine tries to attract a different market with TV Times (and most of the 'cheapo' listings magazines) trying to attract readers with 'inside news' about the various 'soaps' while Radio Times still has a slightly more 'serious' feel to it. (Radio Times remains popular with many people simply because it stays true to its title and provides the best radio listings).

Anyway, with your complicated life, when do you ever get time to watch TV, anyway? :-)

Chris

[pagey]

A lot of publications are available online that would mean reduced sales of that publication. Even newspapers to an extent. I think they get enough from advert revenue to justify it, as there are obviously very minimal production and distribution costs compared to a magazine or paper.

[oakleydoaky]

you can't curl up on the sofa and read the radio times if its on the internet! (and no, a laptop wont do because you cant fold the page around the back, or bend it, or throw it on the floor when the dog attacks you!).

the internet won't replace a good read for a long time.

the batteries last longer in the radio times as well!