120-427: Immediate Media Company Limited (styled as Immediate Media Co) is a British multinational publishing house that produces a wide range of magazine titles, including Radio Times , BBC Top Gear , BBC Good Food and many others. In H1 2018, the company's titles reported a combined ABC circulation of 1.59 million, including 1.1M active subscribers. In 2018 it reported selling 70+ million magazines. The publishing house
240-646: A 'souvenir' issue) dedicated to royalty which reflects the monarchy of the United Kingdom , as well as other significant events include birthdays, coronations , jubilees, royal weddings , state funerals and various celebrations across the decades. Between February 1952 and September 2022, Radio Times focuses about Queen Elizabeth II was the nation's longest-serving monarch which represented over eight decades during its 70-year reign: John Reith, 1st Baron Reith John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith , ( / ˈ r iː θ / ; 20 July 1889 – 16 June 1971)
360-572: A UK wedding planning brand. In November 2015 Immediate Media acquired its first television property, Jewellery Maker, a TV and online commerce platform, from the Genuine Gemstone Company, adding to its Crafts and Arts portfolio. Jewellery Maker employed over 100 people at the time of its acquisition. It has since expanded into TV, video and e-commerce . Hubert Burda Media acquired Immediate Media in 2017, for £270 million (5-6 x EBITDA ). In 2019, Immediate Media sold Procycling magazine and
480-422: A coloured block, and the primetime television listings went from two narrow columns to one wide column. The warning phrase " contains strong language ", used for BBC television programmes from 9.00pm during the hours of watershed broadcasting restrictions was also implemented at this time, lasting until 2009. This layout lasted until shortly before Easter on 13 April 2001, which saw the new masthead title with
600-472: A combination of various transmitters respectively before the two stations merged into a single service, and included three pages of television listings. When Britain's declaration of war with Germany on 3 September 1939 and the television broadcasting ceased, while radio listings continued with a reduced service. From 23 June 1944, the Allied Expeditionary Forces edition carried details of all
720-495: A commitment to public service. Audiences had little choice apart from the upscale programming of the BBC, a government agency which had a monopoly on broadcasting. Reith, an intensely moralistic executive, was in full charge. His goal was to broadcast, "All that is best in every department of human knowledge, endeavour and achievement.... The preservation of a high moral tone is obviously of paramount importance." Reith succeeded in building
840-548: A four-year absence: On 22 May 2007, two extra pages of television listings per day were added as part of a slight tweak in the publication's format, bringing it up to ten pages of listings per day in total, or five double-page spreads: one page of highlights with daytime listings and regional variations, followed by two pages of evening's terrestrial television listings (with 'at a glance' for nine digital channels until 2010), then six pages of listings for digital, satellite and cable channels. Digital radio listings were integrated into
960-426: A high wall against an American-style free-for-all in radio in which the goal was to attract the largest audiences and thereby secure the greatest advertising revenue. There was no paid advertising on the BBC; all the revenue came from a tax on receiving sets. Highbrow audiences greatly enjoyed it. At a time when American, Australian and Canadian stations were drawing huge audiences cheering for their local teams with
1080-473: A larger character style, and the television listings were also redesigned including the new film icon and the 'today at a glance' sidebar on the far right of pages were added. Starting from 11 October 1986, the new family viewing policy warned readers that BBC Television does not broadcast programmes before 9.00pm which it believed to be unsuitable for children. On 5 September 1987, Radio Times introduces an innovative title called 'Upfront This Week' devoting
1200-442: A major makeover for the programme schedules and the channel headings being visible in greater clarity; BBC1 and BBC2 were once again separated, with the return of the late 1950s/early 1960s layout – television at the front and radio at the back. The week's Radio 1 schedules occupied a single page, followed by Radio 2 (with a facing pair of pages), then several pages of Radio 3 (five pages) and Radio 4 (six pages), and finally
1320-601: A member of parliament (MP) for Southampton . When Chamberlain fell, Churchill became Prime Minister and moved Reith to the Ministry of Transport . Reith was subsequently moved to become First Commissioner of Works which he held for the next two years, through two restructurings of the job, and was also transferred to the House of Lords by being created Baron Reith . During that period, the city centres of Coventry , Plymouth and Portsmouth were destroyed by German bombing. Reith urged
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#17328581728151440-515: A national broadcast about the strike from Reith's house and was coached by Reith. When Ramsay MacDonald , the leader of the Labour Party , asked to make a broadcast in reply, Reith supported the request. However, Baldwin was "quite against MacDonald broadcasting" and Reith unhappily refused the request. MacDonald complained that the BBC was "biased" and was "misleading the public" while other Labour Party figures were just as critical. Philip Snowden ,
1560-409: A new 'pick of the week' with a single third page for previews, before each day's listings; these came before the two pages of television and the four pages of radio. A new bolder masthead was designed by Abram Games (who created graphical designs such as the ' Festival Star ' on the cover of the 1951 Festival of Britain and the 1953 ' Bat's Wings ' ident) and containing the words "BBC TV and Sound" on
1680-617: A post box after re-thinking his approach, guessing that his Aberdonian background would carry more favour with Sir William Noble, the Chairman of the Broadcasting Committee. In his new role, he was, in his own words, "confronted with problems of which I had no experience: Copyright and performing rights ; Marconi patents; associations of concert artists, authors, playwrights, composers, music publishers, theatre managers, wireless manufacturers." In 1926, Reith came into conflict with
1800-464: A reputation for prudishness in sexual matters. There is an old BBC legend that he once caught an announcer kissing a secretary and decreed that in future the announcer must not read the late-night religious programme The Epilogue . In fact, this may have been inspired by his catching the Chief Engineer, Peter Eckersley , not just kissing but being in flagrante with an actress on a studio table. He
1920-500: A selection of new puzzles created by the television producer Clive Doig , such as the trackword (which consisted of nine squares in one word), as well as backstage stories and a comic strip of Peter Lord 's Morph at the bottom of the page. Between March and December 1983, Radio Times had severe industrial disputes when the British Printing & Communications Corporation and the union SOGAT 82 joined forces, and production
2040-422: A separate section at the front with radio listings relegated to the back; a day's listings were sometimes spread over up to three double-page spreads mixed with advertisements, but this format was phased out when independent publishers were allowed to publish television schedules. The new layout was structured thusly: From 8 October 1960, BBC television and radio schedules were re-integrated; the programmes included
2160-483: A stretcher after the shot, he is reported to have muttered "I'm very angry and I've spoilt a new tunic." During Reith's convalescence , E W Moir referred him to a post at Pearson's project constructing the cordite factory HM Factory Gretna , comprising the fixing of contracts, estimating of costs, taking out quantities, and inspection of materials. In February 1916, he went to work at Remington Arms , Eddystone , Delaware County , Pennsylvania who were manufacturing
2280-659: A thing, I leave it," he said. In his later years, he also held directorships at the Phoenix Assurance Company , Tube Investments Ltd , the State Building Society (1960–1964) and was the vice-chairman of the British Oxygen Company (1964–1966). He took a personal interest in the preservation of the early 19th-century frigate HMS Unicorn in 1962. Reith was appointed Lord Rector of Glasgow University from 1965 to 1968. In 1967, he accepted
2400-422: A way of educating the masses marked for a long time the BBC and similar organisations around the world. An engineer by profession, and standing at 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) tall, he was a larger-than-life figure who was a pioneer in his field. The BBC's Reith Lectures were instituted in his honour. Born at Stonehaven , Kincardineshire , Reith was the fifth son and the youngest, by ten years, of
2520-514: A week, as well as weekday billings also used by the same layout which adds 12 extra pages of more articles and detailed programmes bringing up to 40 (or 44 for the television edition) on 1 July 1949. From 18 January 1953, the television listing schedules, which had been in the back of the magazine, were placed alongside daily radio schedules. On 17 February 1957 (shortly after the abolition of " Toddlers' Truce ", in which transmissions terminated between 6.00 and 7.00pm), television listings were moved to
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#17328581728152640-527: A year before the deregulation of television listings as they both had exclusivity of the future BBC and other commercial broadcasters respectively. During a major revamp in April 2010, Radio Times was the third-biggest-selling magazine in the United Kingdom. However, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations , the magazine experienced about 2.2% year-on-year decrease to an average weekly sale of 1,648,000 in
2760-626: Is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in September 1923 by John Reith , then general manager of the British Broadcasting Company (from 1 January 1927, the British Broadcasting Corporation ), it was the world's first broadcast listings magazine. Consequently, in September 2023 it became
2880-505: Is no record of such a thing in Reith's own memoir. He left Broadcasting House with no ceremony (at his request) but in tears. That evening, he attended a dinner party before driving out to Droitwich to close down a transmitter personally. He signed the visitor's book "J.C.W. Reith, late BBC." John Gunther wrote that Reith's "modernist citadel on Portland Place was more important in the life of Britain than most government offices [and] rules
3000-401: Is now on the right page. On 22 March 1997, the programme pages in the television section were restyled often include smaller headings and more billing type with several changes in this layout between the narrower columns for Channel 5 schedules (which launches on 30 March) on the right and regional variations on the left page. Yet another major revamp took place on 25 September 1999, where all
3120-516: Is owned by Hubert Burda Media , and is an agglomeration of Magicalia , Origin Publishing and BBC Magazines , publishing both media content and software platforms. Approximately 85% of its revenue is from content services, with the remainder from advertising. Immediate Media originated from the combined assets of several formerly independent publishing houses, including BBC Magazines, Magicalia, Future plc , Hitched and Jewellery Maker . In late 2011
3240-418: Is these that are here and now at stake. In 1960, Reith returned to the BBC for an interview with John Freeman in the television series Face to Face . When he visited the BBC to record the programme, work was being undertaken, and Reith noticed with dismay the "girlie" pin-ups of the workmen. However, one picture was of a Henry Moore sculpture. "A Third Programme carpenter, forsooth," he growled. In
3360-547: The BBC Local Radio listings; regional features, which had absent from the English editions since the late 1960s, resumed with a localised page. Later on 25 November of that year, the radio schedules were restored to two pages for each day; some of the English editions now had daily editorial features on radio as well. From 2 June 1990, the entire magazine was published in colour for the first time, and another layout began usage;
3480-665: The Baird process" for half an hour every night at 11.00pm. The launch of the first regular 405-line television service by the BBC was reflected with television listings in The Radio Times ' London edition of 23 October 1936. Thus, Radio Times became the first-ever television listings magazine in the world. Initially, only two pages in each edition were devoted to television, which ran from Monday to Saturday and remained off-air on Sundays. After 14 years, from issue 693 (cover date 8 January 1937), that definitive article word " The "
3600-438: The British Broadcasting Company and publishers George Newnes Ltd within the latter typeset, printed and distributed the magazine. In 1925, the BBC assumed full editorial control, but printing and distribution could not begin in-house until 1937. The Radio Times established a reputation for using leading writers and illustrators, and the covers from the special editions are now collectable design classics. By 26 September 1926,
3720-490: The Christmas edition (22 December); while the programme listing pages were largely the same, the colour-coded days of the week were now at the top of the page headings. On 16 February 1991 (the same date for the debut of the new BBC1 and BBC2 idents), the deregulation of television listings began, and Radio Times started to cover all services that include ITV , Channel 4 and satellite networks, an alphabetical list of
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3840-487: The National Film Finance Corporation , an office he held until 1951. The BBC's Reith Lectures were instituted in 1948 in his honour. These annual radio talks, with the aim of advancing "public understanding and debate about significant issues of contemporary interest" have been held every year since, with the exception of 1992. The Independent Television Authority was created on 30 July 1954 ending
3960-834: The Pattern 1914 Enfield Mk 1 rifle for the British government. He spent the next two years in the United States , supervising armament contracts, and became attracted to the country. He was promoted to captain in 1917, before being transferred to the Royal Marine Engineers in 1918 as a major. He returned to the Royal Engineers as a captain in 1919. Reith resigned his Territorial Army commission in 1921. He returned to Glasgow as general manager of an engineering firm. In 1922, he returned to London, where he started working as secretary to
4080-599: The Royal Albert Dock . Reith, who was 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) tall, joined up with the 5th Scottish Rifles early in the First World War and was quickly transferred to the Royal Engineers as a lieutenant. In October 1915, while fighting in France, he was severely wounded by a sniper 's bullet through his left cheek, which nearly cost him his life and left him with a noticeable scar. While lying wounded on
4200-543: The Rugby World Cup ) taking part are often marked with different covers for each nation, showing their own team. To mark the 90th anniversary of its publication, the Museum of London hosted an exhibition lasting several months in 2013, which showed various covers as part of the magazine's history. Doctor Who is the most represented programme on the cover, appearing on 29 issues (with 35 separate covers due to multiples) in
4320-700: The University of Strathclyde ) followed by an apprenticeship as an engineer at the North British Locomotive Company . During this time, he joined the Territorials and in February 1911 was commissioned as an officer in the Scottish Rifles’ 5th Territorial Battalion. In 1913, he moved to London after obtaining a post at S. Pearson and Son through Ernest William Moir , and worked on their construction of
4440-488: The deregulation of television listings, there was strong criticism from other magazines that Radio Times was advertised on the BBC (as well as on commercial broadcasting channels), saying that it gave unfair advantage to a publication and includes the tagline: "If it's on, it's in". The case went to court, but the outcome was that, as the Radio Times had close connections with the BBC, it would be allowed to be advertised by
4560-578: The red button and online for BBC channels with additional broadcasts. Following the closure of the BBC3 channel on 20 February 2016, Radio Times started to include BBC4 in the main channels section, with Channel 5 being relegated to the Freeview section. On 24 March 2020, to coincide with the launch of Disney+ , Radio Times introduced two new sections for podcasts and six pages devoted to streaming and various catch-up services . That same year (8 September),
4680-547: The 49 years since the programme began on 23 November 1963. On 30 April 2005, a double-width cover was used to commemorate the return of the Daleks to Doctor Who and the forthcoming general election . This cover recreated a scene from the 1964 serial The Dalek Invasion of Earth in which the Daleks were seen crossing Westminster Bridge with the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben in
4800-538: The Archbishop to turn him down and explain that he feared if the talk went ahead, the government might take the company over. Although Churchill wanted to commandeer the BBC to use it "to the best possible advantage", Reith wrote that Baldwin's government wanted to be able to say "that they did not commandeer [the BBC], but they know that they can trust us not to be really impartial". Reith admitted to his staff that he regretted
4920-445: The B.B.C. with a hand of granite". He "made the B.B.C. an expression of his nonconformist conscience, and also what is probably the finest broadcasting organization in the world"; Gunther predicted that he "is almost certain to have a big political job some day". The term "Reithianism" describes certain principles of broadcasting associated with Lord Reith. These include an equal consideration of all viewpoints, probity, universality and
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5040-497: The BBC's 100th anniversary celebrations), Radio Times refreshed its format: On 4 April 2023, the radio pages had a major refresh to provide listings by adding three services ( Boom Radio , Greatest Hits Radio , and Times Radio ), as well as a restyled podcasts section to improve pick of the best audio on demand . On 26 November 2002, NTL and BBC Worldwide announced a major new agreement that would offer an exclusive, tailored edition of Radio Times to every NTL customer across
5160-580: The BBC's broadcasting monopoly. Lord Reith did not approve of its creation. Speaking at the Opposition despatch box in the House of Lords, he stated: Somebody introduced Christianity into England and somebody introduced smallpox , bubonic plague and the Black Death . Somebody is minded now to introduce sponsored broadcasting ... Need we be ashamed of moral values, or of intellectual and ethical objectives? It
5280-431: The BBC's corporate typeface Gill Sans (used until the end of 2004, being replaced by Interstate in the start of 2005), while the programme pages with eight pages of television listings reverted to having the day running across the top of the page horizontally, and the satellite listings expanded into four pages, while the double-page movie planner section for 18 different film channels was retained. From 30 October 2004,
5400-433: The BBC's coverage and a comprehensive easy-to-use guide preceded by two pages with 'pick of the action' chosen by various pundits , although this layout becoming slightly different whether listings started on the left page with two columns for BBC1 as a dedicated Olympic broadcaster (including BBC Red Button occupies at the bottom) and BBC2 in the single column, as well as ITV , Channel 4 and BBC4 schedules placed on
5520-704: The BBC's magazine-publishing business was sold to Exponent Private Equity, following clearance by the Office of Fair Trading . Exponent had previously acquired Magicalia Limited, a digital publisher and platform provider based in London. Magicalia was founded in 1999 by Adam Laird and Jeremy Tapp. Its inaugural website was bikemagic.com. In 2000, it began offering B2B publishing services, with clients such as Runner's World magazine. In 2011 Magicalia's assets were combined with those of Origin Publishing and BBC Magazines to form Immediate Media. Tom Bureau, then-CEO of Magicalia, became
5640-461: The BBC; however, from 1992 until 2004, it had to depict a static picture of the cover, and show a clear disclaimer reading "Other television listings magazines are available", leading to the phrase entering common public usage for a time. By the early 2000s, advertisements for the publication had become sparse on the BBC. Radio Times has not been promoted on BBC television and radio channels since 2005, following complaints by rival publications that
5760-531: The Chief Executive of the new company. In May 2014 Immediate Media acquired Future plc's sport and craft titles. The sport portfolio included the websites Bikeradar.com and Cyclingnews.com and the magazines Cycling Plus , Procycling and Mountain Biking UK . The craft titles included Love Patchwork and Quilting, Simply Knitting, and Mollie Makes . In January 2015, Immediate Media acquired Hitched.co.uk,
5880-536: The Cyclingnews.com website to Future plc. Radio Times is a British weekly television and radio programme listings magazine , founded in 1923 by John Reith , the then general manager of the BBC. It was the world's first broadcast listings magazine. The title was published entirely in-house by BBC Magazines from 1937 until 2011, when the BBC Magazines division was sold to Immediate Media. Its peak weekly circulation
6000-660: The Exchequer in the Churchill coalition. Complaints to the latter from fellow ministers and MPs would appear to be the more likely cause of his fall. This came at a crucial stage in Reith's career. After the outbreak of war, several major figures had told Reith that he would soon join the War Cabinet itself, not least Beaverbrook , one of the Prime Minister's closest associates. Reith's animosity towards Churchill continued. When offered
6120-476: The Government, the BBC became a corporation in 1927. Reith was knighted the same year. Reith's autocratic approach became the stuff of BBC legend. His preferred approach was one of benevolent dictator, but with built-in checks to his power. Throughout his life, Reith remained convinced that that approach was the best way to run an organisation. Later Director-General Greg Dyke , profiling Reith in 2007, noted that
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#17328581728156240-593: The London Conservative group of MPs in the 1922 general election . That election's results were the first to be broadcast on the radio. Reith had no broadcasting experience when he replied to an advertisement in The Morning Post for a general manager for an as-yet unformed British Broadcasting Company in 1922. He later admitted that he felt he possessed the credentials necessary to "manage any company". He managed to retrieve his original application from
6360-664: The Nazis will clean things up and put Germany on the way to being a real power in Europe again. They are being ruthless and most determined." Following the July 1934 Night of the Long Knives , in which the Nazis ruthlessly exterminated their internal dissidents, Reith wrote: "I really admire the way Hitler has cleaned up what looked like an incipient revolt. I really admire the drastic actions taken, which were obviously badly needed." After Czechoslovakia
6480-666: The Proms ) or new series programmes are marked by producing different covers were actually used for other collectors: Each year, Radio Times celebrates those individuals and programmes that are featured at the Covers Party, where framed oversized versions of the covers are presented. Radio Times had several sporting events with more than one of the Home Nations (such as the Six Nations , UEFA European Championship , Commonwealth Games and
6600-499: The United Kingdom and following deregulation, new listings magazines such as Mirror Group 's TV First , IPC Media 's What's on TV , Bauer Media Group 's TV Quick and Hamfield Publications' TV Plus began to be published; several newspapers were also allowed to print television schedules for the entire forthcoming week on a Saturday (or a Sunday), where previously they had only been able to list each day's programmes in that edition. With another major refresh on 31 August 1991,
6720-400: The United Kingdom every week, it would be delivered directly to subscribers' homes. The special NTL edition of Radio Times replaced the monthly Cable Guide magazine (which ran from September 1986 to December 2002) and contained programme information for NTL channels, including all terrestrial services; Front Row 's pay-per-view movies and events were also included. Subscribers were offered
6840-544: The Wind Will Listen by Andrew Boyle (1972), and a volume of his diaries edited by the Oxford academic Charles Stuart (1975). It was not until The Expense of Glory (1993) by Ian McIntyre that Reith's unexpurgated diaries and letters were published. In 1975, excerpts from Reith's diary were published which showed he had, during the 1930s, harboured pro-fascist views. On 9 March 1933, he wrote: "I am pretty certain ... that
6960-641: The absence of direct contact between the two men during Reith's period in several ministerial positions, this is unlikely to be the true reason. More plausible, is the explanation given above, and the cleavage between Reithian management methods: energetic, thorough and highly organised, and the established style of the British civil service at that time: at best, calm and deliberative; at worst, ponderously slow. Reith also frequently references in his autobiography departmental jealousies resulting from his ministerial activities, reported to him by colleagues such as Sir John Anderson , wartime Home Secretary and Chancellor of
7080-626: The background, and also the cover text read "VOTE DALEK!". On 29 September 2008, in a contest sponsored by the Periodical Publishers Association , this cover was voted the best British magazine cover of all time. Five years later (on 17 April 2010) before the next general election , three special covers depicting the Daleks invading the capital once more within showing their colours of red, blue and yellow as one of several Britain's political parties for Labour , Conservative and Liberal Democrats were used individually. Throughout
7200-518: The broadcast of baseball , rugby and hockey , the BBC emphasised service for a national, rather than a regional audience. Boat races were well covered along with tennis and horse racing , but the BBC was reluctant to spend its severely limited air time on long football or cricket matches, regardless of their popularity. In 1940, Reith was appointed Minister of Information in Chamberlain's government. So as to perform his full duties, he became
7320-504: The broadcast, but would prefer it not to happen. Reith later wrote: "A nice position for me to be in between Premier and Primate, bound mightily to vex one or other." Reith asked for the government view and was advised not to allow the broadcast because, it was suspected, that would give the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Winston Churchill , an excuse to commandeer the BBC. Churchill had already lobbied Baldwin to that effect. Reith contacted
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#17328581728157440-469: The changeover meant 8 October 1960 was listed twice, in successive issues. Since Christmas 1969, a 14-day double-duration issue has been published each December containing schedules for two weeks of programmes. Originally this covered Christmas Day and New Year's Day, but on some occasions those have each appeared in separate editions due to the two-week period ending just before the New Year. The Radio Times
7560-538: The channel headers, and the inclusion of director and year of production details for films throughout the day. For the London 2012 Olympics , the listings for three terrestrial channels ( BBC2 , ITV and Channel 4 ) temporarily moved onto the right page and Channel 5 was moved to the next page on the left, as to provide enough space for BBC1 and BBC3 / BBC4 as the Olympic broadcasters, which also reminded viewers of using both
7680-433: The commercial radio stations available with the frequency and a two or three-word summary of that station's output which was added to the local radio page. Full complete listings of the four main channels and satellite began on Friday 1 March. Prior to deregulation, the five weekly listings magazines were as follows: Today, both publications carry listings for all major terrestrial, cable and satellite television channels in
7800-428: The day's listings began with a single page of highlights that included 'at a glance', followed by the double-page spreads of BBC television channels (BBC1 always occupied the left page and BBC2 for the right page, without advertisements interrupting the listings) and BBC radio stations , now enlivened with colour logos at the top of the pages. This layout only lasted for six months, when a new refreshed format debuted in
7920-484: The decades, Radio Times had covers for various television specials and anniversary editions: The cover of the 'Christmas Number' (as this issue came to be called) dating from the time when it contained just a single week's listings, usually features a generic festive artwork, atypical for the magazine, which since the 1970s has almost exclusively used photographic covers. In recent years, Radio Times has published and sold packs of reproductions of some of these covers of
8040-526: The first broadcast listings magazine to reach and then pass its centenary. It was published entirely in-house by BBC Magazines from 8 January 1937 until 16 August 2011, when the division was merged into Immediate Media Company . On 12 January 2017, Immediate Media was bought by the German media group Hubert Burda . The magazine is published on Tuesdays and carries listings for the week from Saturday to Friday. Originally, listings ran from Sunday to Saturday:
8160-438: The first four weekly issues of the new title for the same price as the existing monthly magazine, delivered free to homes in time for the first programme week of 4 January 2003; both companies actively and jointly marketed the new edition. In 1934, Radio Times achieved a circulation of two million and its net profit in that year was more than one quarter of the total BBC licence income. By the 1950s, Radio Times had grown to be
8280-411: The first three pages of illustrated snippets to provide the latest programme highlights from all BBC television and radio networks . On 19 November 1988, Radio Times launched a new weekly back page section called 'My Kind of Day', which was devoted to the latest star interviews with various special guests. On 25 March 1989 (during Easter ), a general overhaul of page layout and design took place, with
8400-420: The first three pages were devoted to an abbreviated listing of all the week's BBC television and radio programmes in a simple condensed form, within major changes were noticeable on the feature pages as well as the colour ones were spread out to accompany rather than the centre page. The look of the magazine initially became far more restrained, with less white space between columns and headings. More significantly,
8520-498: The former Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer , was one of those who wrote to the Radio Times to complain. Reith's reply also appeared in the Radio Times , admitting the BBC had not had complete liberty to do as it wanted. He recognised that at a time of emergency the government was never going to give the company complete independence, and he appealed to Snowden to understand the constraints he had been under. The Labour leadership
8640-470: The four extra pages of satellite television listings and one page of the highlights section were scrapped and replaced by a number of ten satellite networks (with two more includes Comedy Channel and CNN International were added) from top to bottom; the daytime schedules for BBC1 and BBC2 flanked the satellite listings on the left, with ITV , Channel 4 and 'at a glance' on the right; the main evening schedules for terrestrial television channels retained
8760-529: The government during the 1926 general strike . The BBC bulletins reported, without comment, all sides in the dispute, including the Trades Union Congress 's and of union leaders. Reith attempted to arrange a broadcast by the opposition Labour Party but it was vetoed by the government, and he had to refuse a request to allow a representative Labour or Trade Union leader to put the case for the miners and other workers. Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin made
8880-555: The interview, he expressed his disappointment at not being "fully stretched" in his life, especially after leaving the BBC. He claimed that he could have done more than Churchill gave him to do during the war. He also disclosed an abiding dissatisfaction with his life in general. He admitted not realising soon enough that "life is for living," and suggested he perhaps still did not acknowledge that fact. He also stated that since his departure as Director-General, he had watched almost no television and listened to virtually no radio. "When I leave
9000-403: The introduction of a weekly crossword puzzle heralded as popular as ever within the publication making its first-ever appearance. From 5 January 1934, the three-column programme pages were expanded to include a fourth column with the BBC's television programmes given a new section layout (on 8 January), and The Radio Times announced a regular series of "experimental television transmissions by
9120-425: The lack of TUC and Labour voices on the airwaves. Many commentators have seen Reith's stance during that period as pivotal in establishing the state broadcaster's enduring reputation for impartiality. After the strike ended, the BBC's Programme Correspondence Department analysed the reaction to the coverage, and reported that 3,696 people complimented the BBC and 176 were critical. The British Broadcasting Company
9240-489: The latest reviews and highlights ('choices') somewhat akin to the TV Times , while the daytime listings moved onto the evening section having the full day's output for the five main channels on one double-page spread, other changes saw listings start at 5.00pm rather than 6.30pm (sometimes earlier than 5.00pm for weekends, bank holidays , Easter , Christmas and New Year ), the addition of electronic program guide numbers into
9360-514: The left side, was introduced with this revamp; it became one of the shortest-used designs in the magazine's history. On 4 August 1962, when Radio Times was again revamped, the masthead was replaced with one incorporating the words in the Clarendon typeface ; while the main change was the reduction of BBC radio schedules for three stations to a double-page spread brought down into size, the magazine now generally had between 60 and 68 pages, as compared to
9480-454: The lifestyle section (which covered motoring, gardening and cookery) and the crossword were completely dropped, and the highlights section was scrapped. The front cover was surrounded by a black border and italicised its masthead (now in the Caslon typeface with swash capitals; this logo remained until April 2001), in an attempt to emphasize the "R" for radio and "T" for television. From 5 July 1975,
9600-462: The local authorities to begin planning postwar reconstruction. He was dismissed from his government post at a very difficult time for Churchill in 1942, following the loss of Singapore . Pressured by Tory backbenchers who wanted a Conservative in the Information role, Reith was replaced by Duff Cooper . It has been claimed that the sacking was due to Reith being difficult to work with. However, given
9720-493: The magazine as Christmas cards . The 1988 Christmas double issue (dated 17–30 December) had a panto -themed cover illustration by Lynda Gray, with its popularity climaxed when the publication sold an astounding 11,220,666 copies, and the Guinness Book of Records certified it as the biggest-selling edition of any British magazine in history. Over the past years, Radio Times published special majestic covers (often marked as
9840-495: The magazine was a BBC publication, the covers had a BBC bias (in 2005, 31 of the 51 issues had BBC-related covers) and consisting of a single side of glossy paper , however the magazine often uses double or triple-width covers that open out for several large group photographs. While the major events (such as Remembrance Day , Crufts , the Oscars / BAFTAs , Eurovision Song Contest , Wimbledon Championships , Glastonbury Festival and
9960-647: The magazine was given a refreshed layout which consisted of horizontal black bars from top to bottom with the familiar darker-shaded look; by this time, the BBC's television schedules included a ' colour ' annotation which was dropped eight years later, as well as programmes in black and white were never indicated with the exception of feature films originally made for the cinema. Another major change occurred on 18 November 1978, in response to wavelength changes (took place on 23 November) that enabled Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland to receive their own separate domestic services in addition to Radio 4 (also known as
10080-583: The magazine with the largest circulation in Europe , with an average sale of 8.8 million in 1955. Following the 1969 relaunch, circulation indeed dropped by about a quarter of a million, it would take several years to recover but the magazine remained ahead of glossier lifestyle-led competitor, TV Times . In the mid-1970s, it was just over four million; but in 2013 it was just over one million. Between January and June 1990, Radio Times had its audited circulation of 2.8 million and TV Times of 2.7 million within
10200-507: The main radio pages, and three new pages of sport, lifestyle and music were added. By 11 April 2009, the digital, satellite and cable schedules were reshuffled (alongside entertainment, factual and children's sections) preceded by 'today's choices' on the left side, and the sport section moves to the right side as well as the films section having also started on the left within the centre pages horizontally. 10 April 2010 saw major changes as Radio Times went through an overhaul, with two pages of
10320-851: The much-cherished post of Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. His final television appearance was in a three-part documentary series entitled Lord Reith Looks Back in 1967, filmed at Glasgow University . He died in Stockbridge Edinburgh , Midlothian after a fall, at the age of 81. In accordance with his wishes, his ashes were buried at the ancient, ruined chapel of Rothiemurchus in Aviemore , Inverness-shire . Reith wrote two volumes of autobiography : Into The Wind in 1956 and Wearing Spurs in 1966. Two biographical volumes appeared shortly after his death: Only
10440-515: The narrow columns of BBC's wireless programme schedules were broken up by the insertion of a photograph or two – relevant to or depicting subjects of the broadcasts. On 1 May 1927, The Radio Times produced an experimental Braille edition under the auspices of the National Institute for the Blind with its success led to a regular weekly version publication costing one penny . From 15 January 1933,
10560-477: The national 'Radio 4 UK' service remained until 29 September 1984), the arrival of these services on the pages forced all BBC radio stations into a six-column grid. On 30 August 1980, Radio Times developed a new double-page spread of Robert Ottaway's highlights from the week ahead, often used for both BBC radio and television programmes. The regular inside back page section for younger listeners and viewers featured content from Newsround presenter John Craven and
10680-435: The nature of Reith's relationship; in the view of both his biographer, and his daughter, it was homosexual . Reith all but severed it, burning the correspondence from Bowser, after he married his wife Muriel in 1921. They remained married until his death in 1971; and Reith recorded Bowser's birthday in his diary for the rest of his life. He and Muriel had two children, Christopher (1926–2017) and Marista (1932–2019). Reith
10800-500: The organisational structure of the BBC, which he had created, had left him with insufficient work to do. He was invited by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain to become chairman of Imperial Airways , the country's most important airline and one which had fallen into public disfavour because of its inefficiency. Some commentators have suggested a conspiracy amongst the Board of Governors to remove Reith, but that has never been proved, and there
10920-461: The pages now proceeded in a particular order, starting with the letters section, followed by film reviews, then the seven-day programme guide with six pages for television (including satellite) and two pages for radio, as well as the single-page crossword and local radio listings with frequencies, and finally the 'My Kind of Day' for the back page which was preceded by classified advertisements . The programme page headings were returned to being inside
11040-556: The post of Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (a position he had long coveted), he could not bring himself to accept it, noting in his diary: "Invitation from that bloody shit Churchill to be Lord High Commissioner." He took a naval commission as a lieutenant of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) on the staff of the Rear-Admiral Coastal Services. In 1943, he
11160-462: The programme schedule pages were revamped again, with the regional variations now at the bottom of the daytime section, as well as the same spread on the five main channels; BBC3 , BBC4 , ITV2 , ITV3 (launched on 1 November) and More4 (from 10 October 2005) now appeared in digital/cable section on the right page, with a children's section in a single page on the left. The category sections for digital, satellite and cable listings also returned after
11280-502: The programmes for the Home Service and General Forces Programme . The same year, paper rationing meant editions were only 20 pages of tiny print on thin paper. Radio Times expanded with regional editions introduced from 29 July 1945, and television resumed once again on 7 June 1946. On 4 March 1948, the weekend listing schedules for three BBC radio networks were doubled together with daytime and evening sections in additional four pages
11400-445: The promotions were unfair competition. For various reasons, Radio Times had suffered printing disputes and other operational difficulties have also led to the magazine appearing in a different formats to the standard, as well as some issues were not printed. These include: An annual was published three times: in 1954, 1955 and 1956. The Radio Times Film & Video Guide by the magazine's film and video editor Derek Winnert
11520-521: The public eye. He personally introduced the ex-King (as 'Prince Edward'), before standing aside to allow Edward to take the chair. Doing so, Edward accidentally knocked the table leg with his foot, which was picked up by the microphone. Reith later noted in an interview with Malcolm Muggeridge that some headlines interpreted that as Reith "slamming the door" in disgust before Edward began broadcasting. By 1938, Reith had become discontented with his role as Director-General, asserting in his autobiography that
11640-511: The rearrangement of Freeview channel listings with Sky Arts moves to the second page, also the three columns in the satellite and cable pages now have on the left side with children's television section, as well as the six film services were also included. During the Tokyo Olympics (which was delayed due to global COVID-19 pandemic ) on 20 July 2021, Radio Times declared its special bumper issue with 212 pages that include 16-day listings of
11760-433: The relaunched format from two years earlier, which contained only 52 pages. From 30 September 1967, Radio Times introduced the all-new colour pages of the magazine's feature sections, including "star stories", Percy Thrower 's gardening, Zena Skinner 's cookery, Bill Hartley's motoring and Jeffery Boswall 's birdwatching , as well as 'Round and About' with up-to-the-minute stories in both television and radio from around
11880-407: The rest of the day broadcast only religious services, classical music and other non-frivolous programming. European commercial stations Radio Normandie and Radio Luxembourg competed with the BBC on "Reith Sunday" and other days of the week by broadcasting more popular music. In 1936, Reith directly oversaw the abdication broadcast of Edward VIII . By then his style had become well-established in
12000-458: The right page. From 25 January 2022, the Freeview schedules have altered once again starting with the return of BBC3 (launches on 1 February after six years since the television channel has moved online ), whether ITV2 's listings now occupies at the bottom, as well as the seven remaining services were also placed in the second and third pages respectively. From 4 October 2022 (three weeks before
12120-426: The same layout. On 5 September 1992, the daytime listings were slightly tweaked, ITV's programme schedules were now sandwiched between BBC2 and Channel 4 within the centre pages, and there were now two pages of satellite and cable channels for each category making up six pages of television listings every day: During 1993, Radio Times used several layouts were altered throughout the year: Radio Times ' design
12240-504: The same typeface simply a bold symbol " BBC TV " to the right of the title – within the price, date and regional edition being overprinted in letterpress at the top of the front page, but the letters section and the crossword were placed inside the back page. On 6 September 1969, Radio Times was given another radical makeover, as they switched the date format from 'month-day-year' to 'day-month-year' and ceased carrying cigarette advertisements after 46 years. The new format inside with
12360-421: The second half of 2009. It averaged a circulation per issue of 497,852 between July and December 2020, versus 1,041,826 for TV Choice and 690,617 for What's on TV . Between April and November 1990, Radio Times began producing four-page previews of British Satellite Broadcasting programmes for five networks which include Sports Channel , Movie Channel , Now , Galaxy and Power Station . During
12480-705: The seven children of the Rev. George Reith, a Scottish Presbyterian minister of the College Church at Glasgow and later Moderator of the United Free Church of Scotland . He was to carry strict Presbyterian religious convictions forward into his adult life. Reith was educated at the Glasgow Academy then at Gresham's School , Holt , Norfolk. He spent two years at the Royal Technical College at Glasgow (later
12600-552: The term Reithian has entered the dictionary to denote a style of management, particularly with relation to broadcasting. Reith summarised the BBC's purpose in three words: inform, educate, entertain ; this remains part of the organisation's mission statement to this day. It has also been adopted by broadcasters throughout the world, notably the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the United States. Reith earned
12720-682: The wedding site hitched.co.uk and the TV shopping arm of Jewellery Maker. In July 2022, Immediate Media launched The Recommended, an internet shopping guide devoted to e-commerce recommendations and buyers' guides. Immediate Media also organises live events such as the Radio Times Festival. Immediate Media sells market research services based around its consumer panel, which the company says has 14,000 respondents. The firm also provides data analytics, loyalty publishing and IP licensing. Radio Times Radio Times (currently styled as RadioTimes )
12840-588: The world. At the same time, the four new BBC radio stations (replacing the Home Service , the Light Programme and the Third Programme ) were launched within the schedule listing pages. The layouts of programme page headings have now restyled as well as the three radio pages had been rearranged with schedule billings for Radio 1 and Radio 2 on the first, Radio 3 on the second and Radio 4 on the third. In future weeks, it would boast another revised masthead although
12960-508: Was invaded by the Nazis in 1939 he wrote: "Hitler continues his magnificent efficiency." Reith also expressed admiration for Benito Mussolini . Reith's daughter, Marista Leishman , wrote that in the 1930s her father did everything possible to keep Winston Churchill and other anti- appeasement Conservatives off the airwaves. Aged 22, Reith met 15-year-old male Charlie Bowser. Reith had what has been variously described as "a deep affection" and "love" for Bowser. Opinions have varied on
13080-504: Was 8.8 million. In 2014 it accounted for 60% of Immediate Media's profit. It is the UK's biggest-selling magazine, with a weekly print ABC of 577,087, and the UK's biggest weekly subscription title, with 271,237 subscribers in 2018. Immediate Media says that it has the largest market share in the UK children's magazines sector, with a total ABC-audited circulation of 780,194. Some Immediate Media brands serve as e-commerce marketplaces. These include
13200-575: Was a Scottish broadcasting executive who established the tradition of independent public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom. In 1922, he was employed by the BBC, then the British Broadcasting Company Ltd. , as its general manager; in 1923 he became its managing director, and in 1927 he was employed as the Director-General of the British Broadcasting Corporation created under a royal charter . His concept of broadcasting as
13320-483: Was affected due to printing problems: On 23 June 1984, the radio listings were redesigned again to improve their legibility and paving the way for a new printing technology. That same year (1 September), web-offset printing was used for the first time, meaning the magazine became brighter and more colourful. Newsprint and sheets of gravure gave way to black ink and white paper , Helvetica replaced Franklin Gothic for
13440-422: Was first issued on 28 September 1923 for the price of 2 d , carrying details of programmes for six BBC wireless stations ( 2LO , 5IT , 2ZY , 5NO, 5WA and 5SC); newspapers at the time boycotted radio listings fearing that increased listenership might decrease their sales. It included a message to "listeners" by the BBC's chairman, Lord Pease . Initially, The Radio Times was a combined enterprise between
13560-410: Was first published in 1994 featuring more than 18,000 films and an introduction by Barry Norman , former presenter of the BBC's Film programme. A second edition was published the following year. In 2000, a completely new Radio Times Guide to Films was published by BBC Worldwide , edited by Kilmey Fane-Saunders, featuring more than 21,000 film titles. The last edition of Radio Times Guide to Films
13680-559: Was no longer used on the masthead within the magazine, and the publication became simply known as Radio Times ; they also published a lavish photogravure supplement in the same issue. Prior to the outbreak of World War II on 1 September 1939, the BBC radio listings provided a National Programme for the whole of the United Kingdom, and the Regional Programme appeared in seven different versions ( London , Midlands , North , West , Wales , Northern Ireland and Scotland ) each with
13800-441: Was not the only high-profile body denied a chance to comment on the strike. The Archbishop of Canterbury , Randall Davidson , wanted to broadcast a "peace appeal" drawn up by church leaders which called for an immediate end to the strike, renewal of government subsidies to the coal industry and no cuts in miners' wages. Davidson telephoned Reith about his idea on 7 May, saying he had spoken to Baldwin, who had said he would not stop
13920-471: Was part-share owned by a committee of members of the wireless industry, including British Thomson-Houston , The General Electric Company , Marconi and Metropolitan-Vickers . However, Reith had been in favour of the company being taken into public ownership, as he felt that despite the boards under which he had served so far, allowing him a high degree of latitude on all matters, not all future members might do so. Although opposed by some, including members of
14040-700: Was promoted to captain (RNVR), and appointed Director of the Combined Operations Material Department at the Admiralty , a post he held until early 1945. In 1946, he was appointed chairman of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Board , a post he held until 1950. He was then appointed chairman of the Colonial Development Corporation which he held until 1959. In 1948, he was also appointed the chairman of
14160-478: Was published in 2018. In September 2023, Radio Times publishes its own 180-page film guide dedicated to reviews and trivia over 1,000 titles with five different star rating systems which include 250 favourites from the beginning of cinema in 1902 to the present day. There are also similar publications, the Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy by Mark Lewisohn and the Radio Times Guide to Science-Fiction . When
14280-408: Was refreshed on 3 September 1994, the television listings now had the day's name written vertically, beginning with the daytime section including 'today's choices' (which replaced 'at a glance' on the left page), followed by the main evening's schedules in an original four-column grid, as well as the highlights section (now occupying the far left page within the satellite listings), and the movie planner
14400-594: Was to be somewhat embarrassed when one of his staff ran off with the quite new wife of the then rising young writer Evelyn Waugh . Reith also had to deal with Eckersley after the BBC Chief Engineer had a rather public affair with a married woman on the staff. Up to the Second World War any member of BBC staff involved in a divorce could lose their job. Under Reith, the BBC did not broadcast on Sunday before 12:30 PM, to give listeners time to attend church, and for
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