Wotsat under threat of closure

Analoguesat

Analoguesat

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My Satellite Setup
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Sky+ UK.
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Scottish Borders
One of 8 mags Future Publishing wants rid of.

=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/20/future-magazines-close-sell
 
That's a shame, but perhaps inevitable in these straitened times.

And I am partly responsible as I've never bought a copy.
 
Used to be owned by IPC. With their bloated portfolio of special interest magazines (Boatbuilder, Shooting UK etc.) I would have thought they could give it another go.
 
I am not that surprised, I bought one a few months back and the content was a bit weak, in the old days you would get it for the TV listings for Europe but internet changes a lot of things when it comes to information flow. Still opportunity for specialist magazines in my view, but they don't seem to have changed much with the times.
 
I saw the April edition yesterday at a customers house, and wasn't impressed at all.

Awkward layout, more samey advertising than articles, and the channel databases are virtually unreadable by those that might have bought some of the early editions.
 
It will be a shame if it goes, as it has introduced many here to the hobby. Unfortunately it is perceived as a magazine for the new or upgrading hobbyist, people like myself source pretty much all of our information via forums like this and on the web generally, as by the time a magazine hits the news stand, any information inside is well over a month old.
 
Oddly, the latest issue it appeared for the first time in my Tesco this month. Browsing through it (as you do), the page for next month's items says "All New Wotsat, more tech. bigger tests" etc.
 
That would be a huge shame as I've subscribed, through good and bad, for absolute years.

A double shame as it now has geared itself a bit more to the hobbyist and professional than it used to.
 
Haven't bought it for a while but it would still be a shame to see it close. Used to read it every month in the early 90's before tinternet took off. My first motorised system was built using a Tandy aerial rotator using instructions in Wotsat. Wasn't a very elegant solution but was better than hanging out a 2nd floor window to manually move a 1m dish !
 
I used to buy this in the early days. Was a good read. Its problem (apart from the not so good content these days) is for most people satellite = Sky. They think they have their free install and thats it. People are not aware of the wealth of other channels they could get.

Would miss it if it went. I always pick up (buy) a copy when in the UK.
 
Still have Wotsat on direct debit and will still miss it even if it has gone down hill.

Is Tele-Satellite still carried by WH Smiths Newsagents supply business? Or know of anywhere providing it at a decent price and not £75 for 6 issues.
 
I buy it every month & though I have to echo what some of you have said about it going down hill in the later end of 2000's I still like reading it. How about shuting down the complete shit that is "What HiFi", or as I like to call it What "Sony Product monthly"? Never are you likely to read a more bias reveiw than the one's you get in that publication.
 
that explains now why they called me wednesday offering me stupidly low prices to take out a new advert in the inside back cover !

Will be a shame as ive read it for the past 15 years though i have to say it is full of ads and the content isnt that great anymore, alot of $ky related topics.
 
I still have a'93 edition, one that had a review of the SMW dish which I then bought - and is still the mainstay of my installation.

Speaking of mags, the Maplin Magazine, which I used to have, sparked my interest in satellite stuff before I even knew of Wotsat. Martin Pipe used to do several features there on receiver mods etc. - and he's still writing for Wotsat. Or was, depending on when you read this post...
 
remlap said:
Still have Wotsat on direct debit and will still miss it even if it has gone down hill.

Is Tele-Satellite still carried by WH Smiths Newsagents supply business? Or know of anywhere providing it at a decent price and not £75 for 6 issues.
Click to expand...

Do you mean this? :

_http://www.telesatellite.com/

I pick it up at my local (French) supermarket, though I only buy it about four times a year. It carries a minimum of advertising, has interesting reviews and articles and an extremely comprehensive satellite and channel listing. There's a link to a subscription site on their homepage, can't think it's anywhere near £70 for 6 issues, even delivered to the UK.

I've only ever bought the odd one or two Wotsat's (when I'm over LOL) but it doesn't seem a patch on this mag. I'll be sorry if it does go, but not surprised.
 
Think they're related but no I mean TELE-Satellite _http://www.tele-satellite.us/ it is £75 to subscribe.

You can download it for free in pdf but its not the same.
 
Llew said:
I still have a'93 edition, one that had a review of the SMW dish which I then bought - and is still the mainstay of my installation.

Speaking of mags, the Maplin Magazine, which I used to have, sparked my interest in satellite stuff before I even knew of Wotsat. Martin Pipe used to do several features there on receiver mods etc. - and he's still writing for Wotsat. Or was, depending on when you read this post...
Click to expand...

If you want to go down that road I have a copy in my hand from 2005 & theres plenty of adverts for a 6 month DigitalB card for £70!! Ahh the good old days!lol
 
remlap said:
Think they're related but no I mean TELE-Satellite _http://www.tele-satellite.us/ it is £75 to subscribe.

You can download it for free in pdf but its not the same.
Click to expand...

Ah OK, I understand now why it's £75. Telesatellite is still a damn good magazine though. However, even after living here almost ten years to the day, I struggle to make complete sense of the articles and reviews. Fortunately, that doesn't interfere with reading the satellite and transponder list at the back!
 
Below statement from Future Publishing....

"Future has recently announced its intention to recalibrate its UK business and has put its AV titles - Hi-Fi Choice, Home Cinema Choice, and What Satellite magazine - up for sale.

This process will most likely take time, and the magazines will continue to be published to their regular schedules, as anticipated by readers and advertisers.

In the meantime Future will continue to develop its other brands in the home entertainment sector - T3 magazine, T3.com, and market-leading CE product reviews site Techradar.com.

In other words, it's business as usual.

21st July "
 
cdtronix said:
Below statement from Future Publishing....

"Future has recently announced its intention to recalibrate its UK business and has put its AV titles - Hi-Fi Choice, Home Cinema Choice, and What Satellite magazine - up for sale.

This process will most likely take time, and the magazines will continue to be published to their regular schedules, as anticipated by readers and advertisers.

In the meantime Future will continue to develop its other brands in the home entertainment sector - T3 magazine, T3.com, and market-leading CE product reviews site Techradar.com.

In other words, it's business as usual.

21st July "
Click to expand...

Ah, games'n'gadgets. Suppose that's where the money is these days. No room for the more mature end of the market.
 
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