Interesting article, but I would like to know the number of people surveyed, some break down for the percentage of people using traditional antenna, cable, or satellite TV, and the usage for each of these groups for EPG usage before coming to their conclusion.
I live in an area where cable in unavailable and everyone had PrimeStar until the past few months, when DirectTV (who bought out PrimeStar) started gradually shifting people over. Without getting into all the complaints about DirectTV, one big, BIG complaint is the lack of a (free) printed programming guide and the on-screen programming guide. Its more than just getting accustomed to change.
Its liking to look at an entire month of programming in the printed guide that people seem to prefer. This is a different type of viewing scheduling than scheduling via the TV Guide or weekly programming section in one's local newspaper.
In terms of your question about the Thomson research making GMST's purchase of TV Guide a negative, I'm not that sure. As someone already mentioned, its the articles many people like. In addition, I would not be at all surprised if up GMST's sleeve, they intend to expand TV Guide's publishing to include the optional, monthly programming guides for DirectTV as well as DISH. Printing these should generate income because no copies have to be printed for news stands (i.e. get returned if not sold), are only printed for subscribers.
Lynn |
