Coffee Table Comfort (Radio Times)

Member Name: oryx

Product:	Radio Times
Date:	05/08/03 (158 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Intelligent, Thorough , Fair price

Disadvantages: Some adverts

Though I didn’t grow up with a copy of RT furnishing the coffee table, it feels like an integral part of my culture and it’s a magazine (which is exactly what it is, rather than simply a ‘listings’ periodical) with which I’m completely at home. Critics may argue that it’s overpriced in comparison with similar products on the market, however I believe that it’s unrivalled in terms of its high quality form and content.

There’s a new issue each week, which typically appears in shops on the Tuesday or Wednesday before the ‘TV week’ begins (running Saturday-Friday). It retails at 88p, which situates it at the higher end of the market – but I believe it is worth every penny. Full of intelligent, witty and analytical discussion, RT provides local and national coverage of programmes on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, Digital, Satellite, Cable and Radio. Besides this core material however, there are several other interesting feature sections – which this week (2-8th August) are:

*Letters
*News
*Education
*Arts
*TV Cops
*Family
*Living
*Soap & Flannel
*Puzzles
*Feedback
*One Final Question (always on the last page)

The listings themselves are split into three branches; TV, Film and Radio. They are not simply listings, but complete with a succinct description of the programme’s content and if chosen as a ‘choice’ are accompanied by an even more detailed review. These ‘choices’ are a selection of programmes which are selected as the best material to watch/listen to that day. I particularly like the Radio listings, as these are just as colourful as those for the TV and are full of pictures – which of course we are not usually treated to with this particular medium!

In short, I would highly recommend the RT to those who enjoy stimulating discussion and don’t want to miss out on the best TV and
Radio programmes. For more information see www.radiotimes.com or for more specific inquiries email radio.times@bbc.co.uk.

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