From The Past: March 26, 2008

Once my subscription runs out in August, I do not think I will renew my TV Guide Magazine subscription. Ever since they drastically changed formats, I have been unhappy. They are long overdue for a letter from me. I don’t believe my opinion will matter, but it will make me feel better to clear the air.

These are the things that bother me.

* TV Guide used to be about the actual TV schedule. People bought TV Guide to find out what shows were going to be aired. The book was small, but thick. It was thick because it listed everything a person needed to know about their favorite TV shows. If an episode of Roseanne was playing, the TV Guide would give you a little description of what the episode was about. It didn’t matter if it was a rerun, you still got a description – a much better description than what you currently get.

* Before the changes you knew what was coming on all day at all times. Now they only have a small section for weekdays. I suppose since the shows never change, people are supposed to know what times their favorite show is on. If you watch a certain soap opera, I guess the people at TV Guide assume you will know the channel and time that soap is on each day. I miss knowing what shows will be about each day though. The Ellen DeGeneres Show is a good example. I would like to know what Ellen will be about each day. I should be able to open my trusty TV Guide and find out, but I can’t. I guess they thought no one wanted that information. Regis and Kelly. I would like to know who will be the guests on Regis & Kelly each day of the week. Can I find that in my TV Guide? No! Weekdays and weekend days are no longer available. If I want to know who the guest will be on The View, I have to go to their website. I have to do most of my schedule planning via online help because the subscription for the magazine which I purchased and thought would help me, doesn’t help except for nighttime viewing.

* Before the changes, there were about four pages in the back before the crossword puzzle where they listed all the movies that would air that week. It didn’t matter if it was a cable channel or premium channel. Currently, they have a “Movie Hot List” which lists about four movies for each day of the week. I know there are more than four movies coming on each night and I want to know them all!

* Before the changes, we also knew what was going to be airing late at night. Now, the last listing ends at 10:30. Once 11:00 hits, you are out of luck! I might want to know what movie is on American Movie Classics at 2AM. If there is an infomercial playing, just say so, but tell me. I may want to record a favorite episode of Property Virgins on HGTV at 3AM … if I knew it came on at 3AM!

* If a person wants to know what will air Saturday afternoon, they can forget it! It’s not in the magazine! I guess the people at TV Guide expect people to watch the TV Guide Network. I am supposed to watch the TV Guide Network and then wait five minutes for the grid with the TV listings to scroll up, painfully slow, in order to see what is on. If I wanted to do that, I wouldn’t have bought the magazine.

This magazine was intended to be an aid for people wanting to know the TV schedule. It has now become a magazine filled with interviews, predictions, gossip, and photos. I enjoy those things, but I would rather have the schedule – the entire schedule, not just primetime.

I find that I am constantly turning to the Internet to find schedules. I am consistently disappointed in the TV programming information available in my TV Guide. So, I guess as long as I have the Internet and the magazine stays the same, I no longer need it.