The document analyzes 3 different TV listing magazines priced at 55p, 60p, and £1.70. It summarizes the layout and features of each magazine, including descriptions of the front covers, double page spreads showing TV listings and shows, and highlights sections. For the most expensive magazine, TVTimes, it notes the simple, professional design and unique double page spreads. It analyzes page layouts and how programs, descriptions, channels and times are displayed. Overall, the document examines the magazines' styles and formats to inform the layout of the author's own article and documentary.

1. TV Listings Analysis
Media Studies A Level
Candidate 3035

2. TV Listing Magazines
I have managed to get hold of 3 different TV
listing magazines at my local Waitrose Store.
I got 3 magazines of different price ranges -
55p, 60p and £1.70 and wanted to see the
difference why one is so much more than the
other two magazines.
As well as this, I wanted to see the different
layouts that these magazines have and what
appeals more to my target audience so that I
know how to lay out my article on the
documentary I am making, as well as where
the documentary will be positioned & if it
features on the front cover.

3. TV Times

4. TVTimes
This was the most expensive of the 3 magazines, at
£1.70!
First impressions of this magazine does show that there
is less on the front cover and is more like an
entertainment magazine like OK! Or Hello magazine.As
well as this, there is a sense of simplicity to the overall
magazine with constant themes on each page and
layouts similar.
As well as this, there are highlights double page spreads
which are something that are quite unique and also look
very professional and simplistic.
The following slides analyse the front cover, double page
spread of one TV show/documentary and how the
listings are laid out.

5. The masthead of the magazine is in the top
left corner, easily grabbing the audiences
attention.The layout of this masthead,
especially because it is in the colour red,
reminds me of the music magazine Q.
The main image is
using the technique of
the triangle shapes to
draw the attention in,
and the use of direct
mode of address is
evident.
The tagline shows a question which
can make the audience think and can
also entice them into picking up the
magazine.
This front cover is very simple and concise which
relates to the in-house style of the rest of the
magazine as it does not over do it with the
amount of text on one page, much like other TV
listing magazines that I have seen before.
I like the overall style of this magazine as it is
very easy to read and it doesn’t feel like you are
being over-crammed with information.
A pug of some sort and a plugs are
used in this front cover in the same
way, with a diagonal shape across
each corner showcasing something
else about the magazine and a
different TV show, which is
something that can also entice the
audience.
TVTimes

6. This is a photo from a double page spread of the TV
listings for Thursday 19th October.
In this spread, there features 5 different channels with
the different TV programs, a little description about the
program and the times in which the program will be
on.
Along the left hadn’t side there features a BEHIND THE
SCENES TVTimes exclusive with a picture and a quote,
then referring back to what channel and program the
actress featured in the picture belonged to.
As well as this, there is a box that explains about ITV
Variations, things on different ITV channels such as
ITV2 and ITVBe.
In the left hand bottom corner, there is a little
box saying ON THIS DAY, from1993.This is a
good little insight on a fun fact that can be
seen and gives readers an unknown fact for
them to know!
I like the layout of this listings as it isn’t too
cramped up like they can be and it shows the
different shows really well with a little bit about
them as well which is really helpful to
audiences when figuring out what to watch.
TVTimes

7. I really like the layout of this
Highlights page as it shows the
top shows in that one day which is
really useful!
It makes it easy for the audience to
catch up with what they missed or
to find out more about a program
that they may be interested in.
I may make a little extract for my documentary in the layout like this as well as my double
page spread article as it just adds to the overall image of the product.
I like how the different programs have their own section and showing what genre the
program is, what day it is on and what channel it is on.
TVTimes

8. This double page spread is an Interview special with one of the stars within Strictly
Come Dancing.This could be a nice and easy double page spread to create as it features
questions and answers alongside supporting images and gives insight into the world
of dancing.
I feel as though this type of double page spread is the best type to do as it shows a
range of skills and can be easily re-created to suit the documentary I am doing.
This will accompany the Highlights piece that I am going to do for the documentary,
therefore giving much more insight into the overall product.
TVTimes

9. What’s On TV

10. What’s On TV
This magazine was 60p and seemed to have a lot
more content in terms of a lot of channels in which
the magazine talks about - including Freeview
channels and BT channels.
First impressions on this magazine is that it is laid
out to be more like a Hello! Or OK! Entertainment
magazine that is normally targeted at women.
The colour scene of blues and pinks and yellows
help the magazine to stand out and are continued
throughout in the in-house style.

11. The front cover again
features a masthead
similar to the TVTimes
magazine, where there is a
bold white text colour on
top of the red background
to help the masthead
stand out.
What’s On TV
The colour scheme of
the front cover is quite
vibrant and bright as well
as a bit overcrowded,
where to the point it
seems a bit hectic but also
gives off the right
message of what is
included in the magazine.
The different sub images include
different plugs that show a little bit
about the picture and what is
featured within the magazine.
There is a selling line which can
engage the reader and being at the top
of the front cover gives an easy eyesight
line for the audience to see.
On the front cover there is a lot going on! With
5 different images of 5 different pairs, the
main image being bigger than the rest of the
images with the use of direct mode of address
to entice the reader into picking up the
magazine.
Alongside this, there is the use of the tagline
“BIRTH SHOCK” which can engage the reader
and being in the black and yellow style, it gives
off an urgent look as well as the words “SAVE
OUR BABY” in massive letters to again engage
the audience.

12. What’s On TV
This double page spread features a lot of different programs and gives a brief description on each program
which is really useful for the audience.
I like the use of the HOTTVTHIS WEEK double page spread as it shows the audience what they can expect
from this weeks TV listings as well as getting insights on the different behind the scenes of the programs.
Each description has a picture with it too which engages the reader more, some images bigger than the
others which can draw the attention to the double page so that it isn’t all the same.

13. This double page spread is of the TV Listings
for Freeview channels.
This page looks really cramped and quite
hard for the eyes however, this is the generic
way that TV Listings are normally set out.
Each channel has the programs that are on
and what times they will be on, for this
particular day.
What’s On TV
Each program has a short amount of
information about the program.
On these pages, there is a lot more
channels that are mentioned than on a Sky
TV listings which normally only includes 5
different channels, whereas this Freeview
page features 14 different channels -
including 5STAR.
As well as TV listings, there is a section on the left hadn’t side of
the page that shows the particular TV Picks of the day according to
the magazine!
This is a good way to set out the page and gives more people the
chance to find different programs on what is recommended by
different people.
It also shows what channel these programs are on and what day
ad time.

14. This double page
spread shows the top
5 TV channels and
their TV Listings for
18th October.
What’s On TV
On the left hand column there is another Pick of the day,
which is a running theme within this magazine, as it
features on every page that has a TV losing, which is
something that I think is very useful to have for the
audience.
As well, there is a little side bar showing the numbers 7 to
10 which are common times for people to watch TV so this
can be seen as more accessible to look at for the reader.
As well as this, there is a lot more room for the
different programs to have a much longer
description about them, making it easier to read
and to get an understanding of what that program
is about.
Each program shows the time and what channel as
well as whether the program is new or not.
With this double page spread,
it is much easier to distinguish
between the different
channels as they are laid out
separately in different
columns and colours.

15. TV Choice

16. TV Choice
This last TV listings magazine was the cheapest of
the bunch at 55p.
This magazine is probably an in-between of the
two different magazines previously looked at in
the sense that although there is quite a lot of
information involved in the magazine, there is
still a sense of a concise magazine getting
straight to the point.
This magazine seems to be the good mix of the
two.

17. There seems to be a constant theme
running along when looking into
these TV listings magazines when it
comes to the colour scheme, with
bright colours of blues and yellows.
As well as this, the masthead is
again in white text on a red
background which makes it stand
out and again conforms to the
common conventions of a TV
listings magazine.
nd yellows help the magazine to stand out and are
e style.
f blues and pinks and yellows help the magazine to stand out and are
hout in the in-house style.
The overall look
of this
magazine is not

18. What’s On TV
This double page spread features a lot of different programs and gives a brief description on each program
which is really useful for the audience.
I like the use of the HOTTVTHIS WEEK double page spread as it shows the audience what they can expect
from this weeks TV listings as well as getting insights on the different behind the scenes of the programs.
Each description has a picture with it too which engages the reader more, some images bigger than the
others which can draw the attention to the double page so that it isn’t all the same.