Updated - Higher price but lower quality (Radio Times)

Member Name: BeckyBee

Product:	Radio Times
Date:	27/05/01 (30 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: getting fewer

Disadvantages: high price, more satellite coverage

We are being forced to watch the slow demise of a giant among British TV listings magazines, for the chance to view the last dying gasps of this overbearing mortal we must forfeit an additional 6 pence each week on top of an already excessive charge of 79p.

So why the outcry I here you ask, it’s only a TV mag after all, a flimsy 50 page weekly publication with complete listings, a dose of showbiz news and a sprinkling of celebrity interviews. How wrong can you go with this standard recipe?

But the mighty Radio Times was much more; every week we were treated to intellectual interviews with the likes of Judi Dench and Tony Benn, opinionated outlooks form Polly Toynbee, quirky tales from John Peel always complete with a moral reminiscent of the Aesop fables, and topical medical advice from the Dr Porter. This was all written with a sense of smug satisfaction that it was superior to any of those other TV listings that are available.

But alas this harmonious scene has been shattered; the Radio Times has been redesigned! Numerous changes in style, format and content have occurred and have been nothing but detrimental.

Among the pages you may no longer find the dulcet tones of Toynbee exclaiming views however controversial, and it seems poor Dr Porter has been somewhat exiled and forced to write only occasionally.

So surely the devout reader has been rewarded with some other exquisite delight or tasty morsel? On greater inspection what do we find? Well there’s a cute article on what they’re watching in…. and increased satellite and digital coverage which is excellent…. if you are one of those blessed with more than 4 channels.

It must be admitted the Radio Times is turning into a run-of-the-mill magazine, clamouring for sales with the usual mix of gossip and shallow interviews, with little substance.

However it has one saving grace; clear and easy to read listings using 8 p
ages per day; half terrestrial, half satellite/digital.

All in all it has become indistinguishable from the rest yet remains to be almost twice the price.

Summary: