BSkyB revamps Sky TV Guide

BSkyB is to relaunch Sky TV Guide, its monthly listings magazine produced by Redwood Publishing. It is also considering a news-stand launch for the subscriber-based title later this year.

Sky TV Guide was launched last September and is distributed direct to BSkyB’s 2.9 million subscribers with satellite dishes.

Advertiser interest, although initially low, has steadily increased, according to BSkyB customer marketing director Chris Townsend. The title is now on the way to achieving £5m ad revenue in its first year, he says.

The first issue to sport the new look is the April edition, which is published on March 26. The new format aims to make it easier for viewers to see what’s on across all 21 channels. A key feature will be new US-style TV listings.

“It will be easier to read and free 30 new right-hand pages in which should prove attractive to both brand and response advertisers,” Townsend says.

Plans to put the title on news-stands are understood to depend on the acquisition of terrestrial listings and the cost involved in increasing the title’s frequency. A final decision has yet to be taken.

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