{{Short description|British television listings magazine}} {{Use British English|date=June 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox magazine | title = TV easy | image_file = Tveasyjuly21.jpg | image_size = 200px | image_caption = | publisher = | company = IPC Media | category = TV magazines | circulation= 108,971 (ABC Jan – Jun 2014)<ref>{{cite web|title=ABC Certificates and Reports: TV Easy|url=http://www.abc.org.uk/Products-Services/Product-Page/?tid=13864|publisher=Audit Bureau of Circulations|access-date=6 January 2015}}</ref><br /><small>Print and digital editions.</small> | circulation_year= | frequency = Weekly | language = English | editor = Richard Clark | editor_title = Editor | founded = 3 May 2005 | firstdate = | finaldate = 2014 | country = United Kingdom | website = | issn = }}
'''''TV easy''''' was a British weekly television listing magazine published in the United Kingdom by IPC Media. Its focus was on popular television, with emphasis on soap operas.
==History== IPC Media announced the creation of the magazine on 21 April 2005.<ref name=press1>{{cite web |last1=Fixter |first1=Alyson |title=TV Easy launched |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/archive-content/tv-easy-launched/ |website=Press Gazette |access-date=12 October 2024 |date=21 April 2005}}</ref> It was created to capture a greater share of the television listings magazine sector. ''TV easy'' was designed differently to other magazines in the sector, described as compact and "handbag sized".<ref name=press1/> IPC also envisioned it as a rival for Bauer Media Group's publication ''TV Choice'', with its entry price being at the lower end of the market. IPC Media allocated a ten million pounds marketing campaign to aid the launch into the sector.<ref name=press1/> IPC Media, also owned the sector's best selling listings magazine, ''What's on TV''. IPC Media wanted to disrupt the market which they believed had become stagnant at five million readers for years. A publicist from the brand stated that the launch of ''TV easy'' was a tactic in "reinvigorating and growing" the sector.<ref name=press1/> It was designed to be different than ''What's on TV'' by its compact size and a unique easy-to-use index.<ref name=guardian>{{cite web |last1=Plunkett |first1=John |title=IPC's £10m title stirs up TV listings |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/apr/19/ipc.pressandpublishing1 |website=The Guardian |access-date=12 October 2024 |date=19 April 2005}}</ref> The magazines actual size was not publicised in advance and only revealed on the launch day.<ref name=fixter>{{cite web |last1=Fixter |first1=Alyson |title=Tough love for IPC's Easy launch |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/archive-content/tough-love-for-ipcs-easy-launch/ |website=Press Gazette |access-date=12 October 2024 |date=11 May 2005}}</ref> It was decided that ''TV easy'' would focus on what the brand believed readers would be most interested in reading. The opted to leave out comprehensive film reviews and full-page features, offering a simple preview of the week's television.<ref name=fixter/> ''TV easy's'' target circulation was 350,000 copies sold within 12 months of its launch.<ref name=guardian/>
IPC chief executive Sylvia Auton stated that it was delivering on a promise to grow its parent company, Time Warner's ongoing commitment to growing its UK magazine business. She added "TV easy is the most comprehensively tested launch IPC has ever undertaken, and the responses have also been the highest we’ve ever recorded."<ref name=press1/>
Colin Tough assumed the role of ''TV easy's'' chief editor and Richard Clark, a former editor of ''Webuser'' magazine was hired as editor.<ref name=press1/> ''TV easy'' released its first issue on 3 May 2005.<ref name=press1/> 1.5 million copies of the first issue were given away for free with purchases of IPC Media titles ''Woman'', ''Now'' and ''Pick Me Up''.<ref name=guardian/> Initial issues were priced at thirty pence and subsequent issues priced at thirty-five pence.<ref name=fixter/>
In 2010, rival television listings magazine, ''TV Quick'' was discontinued by Bauer Media Group. The publication's absence resulted in a growth in sales of the IPC titles, including ''TV easy''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=John |first1=Reynolds |title=Magazine ABCs: TV titles benefit from demise of TV Quick |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/magazine-abcs-tv-titles-benefit-demise-tv-quick/1055586?src_site=mediaweek |website=Campaign |access-date=12 October 2024 |date=17 February 2011}}</ref>
''TV easy'' endured a year on year sales decline from its launch. In February 2008, it was reported that ''TV easy'' was the fifth best selling television listings magazine in the UK. Though its circulation was down by 13.2 per cent during the previous period to 254,669 copies sold.<ref>{{cite web |title=Magazine ABCs: TV Choice is top actively-purchased TV mag |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/magazines/magazine-abcs-tv-choice-is-top-actively-purchased-tv-mag-40283/ |website=Press Gazette |access-date=12 October 2024 |date=14 February 2008}}</ref> For the first half of 2008, its sales fell to 231,334, which was by down 18.8 per cent and continued slumping by a further 16.6 per cent (212,419 sales) for the latter half.<ref>{{cite web |title=Magazine ABCs: TV Choice remains top listings title |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/magazines/magazine-abcs-tv-choice-remains-top-listings-title/ |website=Press Gazette |access-date=12 October 2024 |date=14 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ponsford |first1=Dominic |title=Magazine ABCs: TV Choice remains top telly mag |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/magazines/magazine-abcs-tv-choice-remains-top-telly-mag/ |website=Press Gazette |access-date=12 October 2024 |date=12 February 2009}}</ref> In the second half of 2009 its sales share fell by 14.9 per cent with 180,798 sales.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Luft |first1=Oliver |title=Magazine ABCs: Radio Times over 1m as TV titles dip |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/magazines/magazine-abcs-radio-times-over-1m-as-tv-titles-dip/ |website=Press Gazette |access-date=12 October 2024 |date=11 February 2010}}</ref> For the first half of 2011, the magazine's sales dipped by 2.8 per cent to 162,145 copies sold. This made ''TV easy'' the sixth best-selling magazine from the genre.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ponsford |first1=Dominic |title=2011 consumer magazine circulations: Full breakdown |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/magazines/2011-consumer-magazine-circulations-full-breakdown/ |website=Press Gazette |access-date=12 October 2024 |date=18 August 2011}}</ref> In the latter half of 2012, sales fell to 148,741, a 1.1 per cent drop.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mag ABCs: TV choice stays number one in top 100 list of best selling UK magazines |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/magazines/mag-abcs-tv-choice-stays-number-one-top-100-list-best-selling-uk-magazines/ |website=Press Gazette |access-date=12 October 2024 |date=14 February 2013}}</ref> By 2013, it was the seventh best selling listings magazine, down 17.9 per cent selling just 122,116 copies in the first half year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mag ABCs: TV Choice stands firm on top of pile as listings rivals lose circulation |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/magazines/mag-abcs-tv-choice-stands-firm-top-pile-listings-rivals-lose-circulation/ |website=Press Gazette |access-date=12 October 2024 |date=15 August 2013}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{UK TV magazines}} {{TI Media}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tv Easy}} Category:2005 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:2014 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Category:Television magazines published in the United Kingdom Category:Weekly magazines published in the United Kingdom Category:Defunct magazines published in the United Kingdom Category:Listings magazines Category:Magazines established in 2005 Category:Magazines disestablished in 2014