First Issue Review – The Box

The Box is the new television magazine aimed at 25-44 year old ABC1 men. The title hit the news-stands yesterday with a first-issue cover-price of £1, it is normally priced at £1.95.

The Box is a good read but, the test will be to see if people are willing to spend money on a feature-based TV title that does not contain listings.

The editorial side of the mag has succeeded where others have failed. The title has a sleek, up-market image previously unique to TV guides published by the quality press.

Inside The Box, you will find a strong editorial line. It is not afraid to deliver the, often painful, truth: “Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies is drowning on The Big Breakfast” is just one of the literary gems to be gleaned from the 130 pages.

There is also an extensive critics section telling you what not to miss and what never to tune into. This is followed-up with hard investigative journalism that looks at issues as worrying as the future of Doctor Who? and Channel 5.

The middle of The Box is crowded with celebrity interviews; the boys from The Fast Show jostle for space with Jerry Seinfeld, Jennifer Aniston and Jon Snow. There are also features on the bits they banned, the Eurovision Song Contest and people who are on their way to making it big in the world of TV.

If that is not enough, there is a section on TV goodies reviewed from recent video releases to the new Radio Times fruit machine, it’s packed in to The Box.

For TV fanatics who scorn soaps and morning TV The Box will be a real treat. However, the title could find itself being forced to publish listings in order to compete with the growing number of TV titles on the shelves.

There are 30 pages of advertising and 100 pages of editorial.

…….Emap are pursuing their court case against The Box, they believe that the magazine could be confused with Emap’s The Box cable channel. In a previous High Court hearing the case was dismissed, Emap are now taking the matter to a full trial *Haymarket In Boxing Match With EMAP.

* Subscribers only

Haymarket: 0181 943 5000