Optus TV dumps monthly magazine
Optus TV will stop publication of its monthly magazine after February, citing it as 'no longer financially viable.'
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under Subscription
Optus TV subscribers could be in for a rude awakening with confirmation that the Pay TV supplier will stop publication of its monthly magazine after February.
Optus says the majority of its subscribers no longer take delivery of the magazine, having switched to its online guides and the on-screen EPG. It claims it is no longer financially viable to continue publishing the magazine.
Subscribers who currently receive the magazine will no longer be charged from March.
TV Tonight is a firm believer that as necessary as online and EPGs are, they are never a replacement for a traditional print Guide, particularly for such a vast landscape as Pay Television where viewers are overwhelmed by content. There is nothing that can replace being able to browse through detailed information, circling highlights, being attracted to shows from photographs, and reading interviews and stories. EPGs and online guides are complementary to print, not a replacement….
In 2009 Optus Television stopped offering its service to new subscribers, with service still available to existing subscribers.
Optus TV advises customers to call 1300 760 019 for enquiries.
34 Responses
We had always depended on the printed magazine but now find it virtually impossible to find programmes. Furthermore the magazine was able to be marked with highlighter for viewings for the month.
It is about time that Optus reviews its misguided decision not to publish the TV details. Are they trying to save money?
I would not mind paying a small abount on my bill for the details to be sent as usual.
Please, what about some positive thinking Optus.
From Dr.Ivan Holmes. Melbourne.
This is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever had to suffer through. There’s no way I can decipher that stupid EPG and already I’m missing programmes which I otherwise would have been aware of. The convenience of the paper guide far outweighs any supposed advantages of the electronic one; for example you can highlight what you want to watch anywhere at any time without even needing the telly on, but if that’s how Optus want to play it then they’d better get ready for a few deserters. One thing I can’t figure though is why it’s only the Optus customers who suddenly don’t need the guide but the Foxtel viewers seem to struggle by with it.
Bring it back now!!!!!
We fully agree. Optus have really let their Customers down this time. We also depended on the Magazine to “Plan” our nightly viewing. The program lists on their website are worse than useless and to go to all of the individual sites for each of the channels takes ages and each page has to be printed out for each day. Talk about a waste of time and effort – not to mention all of that paper and the expense of the ink!!
If it cost too much to produce for the price they charged (not chicken feed) why didn’t they lower the quality of the paper and cut out the stupid editorials (which wer really Press Releass from the TV Networks, possibly slightly rewritten by the Editors… How often are “Hit Shows” proclaimed before the Viewers actually see them – only the biased TV exec’s would have seen them at that stage! and thier opinion does not count in the ratings.)
The thought of switching to Foxtel has passed through our minds but we are still putting up with the inconvenience of no program guide…..in the forlorn hope that they will come to their senses and resurect the Program guide in some format
How and where can we download the tv guide now that Optus are not sending them out.
I tried to order the foxtel mag from the newsagent and he said he can’t get it anymore.
What a short sighted attitude by Optus. I am a total Optus customer, two landline phones, two mobile phones, cable broadband and Optus TV. If I am forced to switch to Foxtel’s TV guide, I may as well switch everything to Telstra, Bigpond and Foxtel.
Optus is risking its total telecommunicatons business in Australia by thumbing its nose at any part of their minority customer database. Perhaps Optus should take a leaf out of the supermarket’s marketing handbook, and consider that loss leaders either retain existing business, or bring in new business.
A complaint to Optus re the cessation of their printed magazine, brought forth the following solution – ‘buy the Foxtel magazine from the newsagent’. Newsagents in the western suburbs don’t seem to carry the magazine. If I try to subscribe to the Foxtel magazine, it would probably require paying online, which is not an option for me. I believe Foxtel has recently done a survey of their magazine customers – Is Foxtel considering going down the same path?
Another concerned customer here as well. My aged parents, do not have access to a computer, and always mark / highlight their programs in advance to watch as soon as their Magazine arrives. Maybe we should all look elsewhere as Optus have so much trouble with caring for their Customers, they are always out to save themselves a dollar or two, even by charging for paper billing for telephones. With optus you are only a number not a person they have no customer service skills at all. Luckily my own pay TV is not with Optus.