R2OK!

Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7181 Location: North Yorkshire

I heard on the news earlier this week that the BBC have sold off some of their magazines, including the Radio Times, to save money. I suppose this will become dumbed down and full of adverts now. Sad

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Pirate Johnnie Walker played my request on 11 April 2009

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I have very happy memories of the Radio Times from my childhood days and used to look forward to it dropping through the letterbox every week but I haven't read it now for at least thirty years quite simply because programme listings are now available so widely in other places that as a magazine to me it's almost become obsolete

However every Saturday I do check the edition from the 60's placed on line and mentioned by Brian Matthew on SOTS - it always brings such happy memories

I think it would be better to close the magazine rather than risk a dumbed down version full of adverts Sad

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Ian Robinson · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 2:47 pm Post subject:

The new Radio Times website is terrible and I stopped buying the mag ages ago. I think the BBC saw the writing on the wall and sold it off while they still could.

ColinB · Guest

The problem is that the BBC is under such heavy political pressure now and they're being forced to engage in what is being described as "core activities" as befits the charter.

When you can get TV and Radio schedule info anywhere these days (there's even several good mobile apps for that) why should the BBC continue to publish an misnamed "Radio Times" anyway?

I can't remember the last time I thumb through its pages.

It will be interesting to see if a new owner retains the title, will it not?

Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7181 Location: North Yorkshire

My O/H buys it every week, he doesn't have a mobile phone, doesn't use a computer and likes to know what is on the radio. I look through it to see what I want to avoid on TV and radio, while he is a big Radio 4 listener. (We would both like to listen to Radio 2 if only there was more on there to our liking!)
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Pirate Johnnie Walker played my request on 11 April 2009

nod · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 3558

It gets very confusing exactly what the BBC, and it's various parts, actually own. I didn't realise they had Lonely Planet etc, and does BBC Worldwide and these others eg BBC magazines, Dave, distribution in India etc actually come under the charter ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14548951

ColinB · Guest

Ian Robinson · Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 8:34 am Post subject:

However, the BBC Charter does forbid BBC broadcasts from doing anything that requires the viewer to purchase something eg Countryfile couldn't say you should buy the mag to specifically find out more about a certain item.

ColinB · Guest

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Certainly that rule doesn't seem to apply with Countryfile when they try to sell viewers overpriced calendars every year

Admitedly the majority of the money is stated as going to Children In Need but the BBC is still selling something as I see it

After all viewers can buy much cheaper similar products from W H Smith
Boots and probably most supermarkets but there's no mention of this as I recall Confused

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ColinB · Guest

The difference is that the Countryfile calendar contains User Generated Content (to use a current web buzzword).

Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7181 Location: North Yorkshire

Cover price up by 20p this week, O/H not amused! No mention inside of the increase or why it has gone up!
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Pirate Johnnie Walker played my request on 11 April 2009