TV Guide death watch?

2muchcoffeeman · May 5, 2008

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/source-tv-guide-is-getting-gutted-today/ (LA Weekly blog; I got the link from Media Bistro's Revolving Door Newsletter)

Apparently this was posted Wednesday on the originating site.

Add TV Guide to the long list of publications undergoing massive downsizing. It's yet another sign of the shifting fortunes of TV in general along with the downsizing in network pilots and upfronts etc. An insider tells me that editor Ian Birch and the two managing editors Lois Draegin and Steve Sonksy and several others, including the marketing department, got the word this morning they'd be exiting. I heard that Birch, an editor at Heat (that hot tabloid in the UK) didn't even come in to the building today, while publisher Scott Crystal and a Human Resources henchwoman were "running around handing out the news that TV Guide is getting gutted today." The timing couldn't be worse: TV Guide is holding its annual high-profile "Sexiest Stars" party in LA on Thursday.

Crystal just told the staff they will have a new editor in place by end of next week. (Rumors are it may be Debra Birnbaum...)

News Corp dumped TV Guide last fall and the mag moved out of the NewsCorp building in December. I hear some stockholder meeting by current owner Macrovision is happening today. Word is Macrovision is looking for a new owner for the magazine and, if none is found, the print version could shutter. Supposedly, Macrovision only bought Gemstar-TV Guide for the digital technology. Word is the company will keep the technology and the on-line version of TV Guide and sell the print version which does retain 3.5 million subscribers. But I'm told the print edition had been losing millions every year.
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In the meantime, TV Guide is guaranteeing its advertising clients' ratings will be higher ...

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/05/bold_ad_promise_ratings_will_r.php

While most networks guarantee their advertisers certain ratings, TV Guide Network is guaranteeing its clients’ ratings will be higher.

NBC Universal signed a multimillion-dollar deal with TV Guide to promote shows including “Lipstick Jungle” and “American Gladiators” on TV Guide Network, as well as in TV Guide magazine and on TVGuide.com and TV Guide interactive program guides.

During the first quarter, the NBC shows had higher ratings for the weeks they were promoted on the TVGuide properties than on the weeks they weren’t, as promised.

“We only have one quarter of data in, but so far it looks great,” said Tim Farish, senior VP for brand management and media at NBC. The ratings increases exceeded TV Guide’s guarantee, which he declined to disclose.

“Two things really stand out on this deal. First, the multiplatform nature of how they approached it, and second, that they were willing to put their money where their mouth was,” Mr. Farish said. “They were willing to provide guarantees on our ratings. That’s about as close as I’ve seen anybody get to promising return on investment.”

TV Guide Network does promotional work with all of the broadcast networks, but the deal with NBC came together when TV Guide senior VP/director of sales Richy Glassberg was sitting on the couch in Mr. Farish’s office in August.

Mr. Glassberg was explaining how Nielsen’s N*Power system could track where TV Guide viewers go next, particularly with special commercials that TV Guide calls top spots. Those air for 30 seconds before 8 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. as the only spots in that pod. The show that’s advertised during that spot saw, on average, a doubling of its ratings.

TV Guide magazine also had recently completed a survey showing how ratings in Nielsen homes were 20% higher for shows that advertised in the publication.
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I stopped reading TV Guide a couple of years ago when they stopped running locality-specific TV listing grids. For that matter, I don't even read the local fishwrap's TV section anymore (I just use the DirecTV guide).

GB-Hack · May 5, 2008

I too use the on-screen guide I get with my cable system, which usually runs a week ahead. I think that technology is key to the demise of the need for a TV book.

Moderator1 · May 5, 2008

Hmmm.
Sort of like newspapers?

GB-Hack · May 5, 2008

Moderator1 said:

Hmmm.
Sort of like newspapers?
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Nah, the on-screen guide only tells me the news is on, not what it is.

Like I watch the evening news anyway.

Moderator1 · May 5, 2008

I meant about technology being the key to the demise.

GB-Hack · May 5, 2008

Moderator1 said:

I meant about technology being the key to the demise.
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Man, I need to work on my sarcasm.

finishthehat · May 5, 2008

I just hope they find an outlet for the puzzle.

5 Across: "Bosom Buddies" star ____ Hanks

slappy4428 · May 5, 2008

finishthehat said:

I just hope they find an outlet for the puzzle.

5 Across: "Bosom Buddies" star ____ Hanks
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How many letters?

DanOregon · May 5, 2008

If it dies, it dies...

I still enjoy my collection of Fall Preview issues (amazing to see some of the crap networks actually thought people would watch. But it seemed to be less and less about TV.

Rex Harrison · May 5, 2008

Haven't bought a TV Guide in years. No point when I have Dish. My local paper tossed it's TV weekly tab long ago. Last I remember, they were still running VCR Plus codes.

shotglass · May 5, 2008

Well, if we're losing the TV Guide crossword, at least we have this.

http://www.variety-games.com/CW/Puzzles/386093072-puzzle.htm

93Devil · May 5, 2008

Frank Costanza weeps.

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TV Guide death watch?

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TV Guide death watch?

2muchcoffeeman Well-Known Member

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