TV Choice

TV Choice is a British weekly television listings magazine that provides comprehensive schedules for free-to-air, digital, and streaming platforms, alongside reviews, previews, and features on popular shows, films, soaps, and entertainment news.^[1][2] It is published by H. Bauer Publishing, the UK subsidiary of the family-owned German media company Bauer Media Group.^[3] Launched on 1 August 1999, TV Choice quickly established itself as a key resource for UK television viewers by focusing on accessible, family-oriented content that highlights the week's must-watch programming.^[4] The magazine has maintained a consistent format emphasizing terrestrial and mainstream channels, evolving to include coverage of streaming services while retaining its core appeal as a straightforward TV guide.^[1] In addition to detailed seven-day listings spanning eight pages daily, each issue features puzzles, crosswords, horoscopes, showbiz gossip, and in-depth articles on ongoing series like soaps and dramas.^[2] TV Choice also hosts the annual TV Choice Awards, a reader-voted event recognizing excellence in categories such as Best Drama, Best Comedy, Best Soap, and Best Reality Show, with voting open to the public to reflect viewer preferences.^[5] The brand extends beyond print through its website, offering online listings, newsletters, and competitions to engage its audience digitally.^[6] As the United Kingdom's best-selling consumer print magazine, TV Choice reported an average circulation of 894,375 paid single copies per issue in 2024, underscoring its enduring popularity and market dominance in the TV listings sector.^[7][8] This strong performance highlights its role as a trusted, value-driven publication for families seeking reliable guidance on television viewing.^[1]

History

Launch and Development

TV Choice was launched on 1 August 1999 by H. Bauer Publishing, the UK subsidiary of the German-based Bauer Media Group, as a weekly television listings magazine aimed at providing accessible content to a broad audience.^[4] The publication was established to address a market gap for budget-friendly TV guides, targeting mass-market C1C2 socioeconomic groups with straightforward listings and features on popular UK television shows, soaps, and films, in contrast to more expensive competitors such as the Radio Times.^[9] Founding editor Lori Miles, a veteran of Bauer launches including Take a Break, oversaw the initial development, emphasizing simple, reader-friendly formatting to appeal to working-class adults seeking practical entertainment information.^[10] From its inception, TV Choice experienced rapid growth, achieving audited circulation figures exceeding 1 million copies per issue by the early 2000s, reflecting strong demand for its affordable 42p cover price and comprehensive coverage of terrestrial and emerging digital channels.^[11] This early success was bolstered by strategic distribution through supermarkets and newsagents, positioning it as a staple for households navigating the expanding TV market at the turn of the millennium.^[4] By February 2008, TV Choice had overtaken its rivals to become the UK's top-selling magazine across all categories, with an average circulation of 1,394,269 copies in the first half of that year, a milestone that underscored its enduring appeal and effective adaptation to shifting viewer habits.^[12] Under ongoing ownership by Bauer Media Group, the title continued to evolve its core listings format while maintaining its mass-market focus.^[3]

Ownership and Editorial Team

TV Choice was launched in 1999 by H. Bauer Publishing, the UK subsidiary of the family-owned Bauer Media Group, which has retained full ownership without significant changes since its inception.^[4][1] The Bauer Media Group, founded in 1875 in Hamburg, Germany, remains under fifth-generation family control, with Yvonne Bauer serving as CEO and majority owner since 2010.^[13][14] As of 2025, Gary Gillatt holds the position of Editor-in-Chief and Group Editor for TV Choice and its sister publication Total TV Guide at Bauer Media Group.^[15][16] Notable past leadership includes Jon Peake, who was appointed editor of TV Choice in 2004 and continued in editorial roles, including Group Editor, until at least 2023.^[10][17] The editorial team has consistently prioritized accessible, straightforward content aimed at a broad, mass-market readership, particularly adults aged 45-64 from working-class backgrounds who view television as a primary leisure activity.^[18]

Content and Format

Core Features in Regular Issues

TV Choice's regular weekly issues are structured as a compact guide to television programming, providing essential listings and supplementary content for viewers across the United Kingdom. Each edition covers seven days of schedules for major free-to-air, digital, and pay-TV channels, including BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, and platforms like Sky and Virgin Media, with concise descriptions of air times, synopses, and cast highlights to aid quick navigation.^[18] The format emphasizes brevity, allocating the bulk of pages—typically around 80 pages total, with the majority to these listings—which begin on the cover and front pages for immediate accessibility, followed by targeted features without in-depth critiques or long-form analysis. Recent issues feature previews of upcoming shows across broadcast and streaming platforms.^[19][20] Central to the content are soap opera summaries and previews, presented in a dedicated Soap Planner section that outlines key storylines, character developments, and episode highlights for popular series such as EastEnders, Coronation Street, and Emmerdale, helping readers anticipate dramatic arcs.^[18] Film guides form another core element, offering a curated selection of movies airing on TV, including blockbusters, classics, and pay-per-view options, with runtime details, ratings, and brief plot overviews to assist in choosing evening entertainment. Horoscopes appear as a standard back-page or end-section feature, providing zodiac-based predictions tailored to weekly TV viewing themes, such as ideal shows for relaxation or family time. Puzzles, including crosswords and sudoku themed around television trivia, occupy a consistent portion of the issue, engaging readers with light entertainment that reinforces the magazine's recreational focus. Competitions are a staple, featuring reader-entry draws for prizes like TV merchandise or cash, often tied to popular programs to boost interaction.^[21] The issue layout progresses logically from comprehensive listings to specialized segments, such as a Sports Planner for event timings and a "Picks of the Day" highlight reel, ensuring all content prioritizes user-friendly access over exhaustive detail. This design supports high readability, with large fonts, color-coded channels, and bullet-point summaries that avoid complex jargon, making it suitable for quick reference during meal planning or remote control browsing.^[18] Tailored for budget-conscious households, TV Choice targets primarily women aged 45-64, many retired or with families, who seek affordable, straightforward TV guidance amid rising streaming costs, using plain language to maintain broad appeal and loyalty.^[18] Regular columns include bite-sized showbiz news snippets covering celebrity interviews, behind-the-scenes gossip from UK shows, and on-set updates, delivered in short paragraphs to complement the listings without overwhelming the format. Reader competitions extend this engagement, with weekly prize draws announced in a dedicated section, fostering community ties through simple entry mechanics like postcard submissions or online forms.

Special and Seasonal Editions

TV Choice publishes annual special editions focused on holiday periods, primarily the Christmas and New Year double issue, which replaces two regular weekly editions. This bumper edition provides extended TV listings covering the festive season, typically spanning from mid-December to early January. Typically released in early December (e.g., 10 December 2024 for the previous year's edition), it offers comprehensive day-by-day recommendations for seasonal specials, must-see episodes, and family favorites across broadcast and streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+.^[22] The content expands beyond standard issues with holiday-specific features, including curated lists of Christmas films such as Home Alone and Love Actually, alongside sport and movie planners to help readers navigate programming. Soap opera gossip sections highlight festive storylines from shows like EastEnders, Coronation Street, and Emmerdale, while previews tease upcoming TV and film releases. Additional family-oriented elements, such as a Christmas quiz and puzzles, enhance engagement during the holiday downtime.^[22] Priced at £1.80—higher than the regular weekly issues due to its doubled page count and specialized content—this edition is positioned as a value-packed guide for the UK's biggest-selling TV listings magazine. No other seasonal or event-tied specials, such as summer editions, are documented in official publications.

Publication Details

Pricing and Distribution

TV Choice was launched on 1 August 1999 by H. Bauer Publishing at a low cover price intended to undercut competitors in the UK TV listings market, where established titles like What's on TV were priced higher.^[23] This aggressive pricing strategy helped the magazine quickly gain market share by appealing to budget-conscious consumers seeking affordable weekly guides. Over the years, pricing has evolved in response to market competition and inflation; for instance, during a 2013 price war sparked by the launch of rival TV Pick, TV Choice temporarily reduced its cover price from 45p to 38p and then to 20p to maintain dominance.^[24][25] Following the price war, cover prices gradually rose with periodic adjustments to account for rising production costs and economic factors, reaching 82p for standard weekly issues as of November 2025.^[26] Special editions, such as the annual Christmas and New Year double issue covering two weeks of listings, have historically been priced at double the regular rate; the 2024 edition is £1.70.^[27] Distribution of TV Choice focuses on physical retail channels across the United Kingdom, with copies available at newsstands, major supermarkets like Morrisons and Sainsbury's, and independent convenience stores.^[26][28][29] This model emphasizes impulse purchases in high-traffic environments, catering to a broad adult readership without a prominent subscription option.^[29]

Website and Digital Supplements

The official website of TV Choice, accessible at tvchoicemagazine.co.uk, serves as the primary digital extension of the magazine, offering online access to select content that complements the weekly print issues.^[6] Launched after the magazine's establishment in 1999, the site provides article previews of upcoming TV shows, including detailed overviews of plots, casts, and airing schedules for new series. For instance, it features highlights of 40 new programs debuting in autumn 2025, such as Shetland season 10 and The Forsytes, to guide readers on must-watch content.^[6] Key digital features include dedicated sections for competitions, where users can enter giveaways tied to recent issues, such as the competition for issue 47 closing on December 1, 2025, limited to one entry per person.^[30] The platform also hosts TV news updates, insider gossip, and streaming guides that indicate where to watch featured shows across broadcast and on-demand services.^[31] A prominent supplement is the online voting system for the TV Choice Awards, enabling public nominations and votes in categories like Best Drama and Best Streaming Service for the 2026 edition.^[5] Additional digital offerings encompass a weekly email newsletter delivering curated TV highlights, reviews, and entertainment news directly to subscribers' inboxes, enhancing accessibility beyond the website.^[32] While the site includes archived competition answers and winners, no full digital replica of the print edition or dedicated mobile app is available, focusing instead on web-based previews and interactive elements.^[6] Recent integrations emphasize timely coverage, such as expanded awards announcements and seasonal previews, aligning digital content with the magazine's print circulation to drive online engagement.^[6] The responsive web design supports mobile access for quick checks of listings and updates on the go.^[6]

TV Choice Awards

Origins and Evolution

The TV Choice Awards originated as the TV Quick Awards, launched in 1999 by TV Quick magazine, providing a platform for public recognition of popular British television programs and personalities.^[33] The inaugural ceremony was held on September 6, 1999, in London, and featured categories such as Best Loved Drama (won by Casualty), Best Actor (John Thaw for Inspector Morse), and Hottest New Talent (Charlie Dimmock), reflecting an initial focus on soaps, dramas, and emerging stars voted for by magazine readers.^[33] Organized by the TV Quick editorial team, the event received early media attention from outlets like BBC News, which covered winners and highlights, helping to establish its place in the UK's television awards landscape.^[33] Following the closure of TV Quick magazine in 2010 due to declining circulation, the awards were jointly presented that year as the TV Quick & TV Choice Awards before fully rebranding to the TV Choice Awards, aligning with the ongoing TV Choice publication that had absorbed much of its predecessor.^[34][35] This transition marked a pivotal evolution, as the awards shifted from primarily print-based reader voting to an online system via the TV Choice website, broadening accessibility and participation for the public.^[36] The ceremony has remained an annual affair since its inception, consistently hosted in London venues to celebrate television achievements, with the 2025 event taking place on 10 February at the Hilton on Park Lane.^[15] Over the years, the awards have expanded significantly, growing from around a dozen core categories in 1999 to more than 20 by 2025, incorporating diverse genres like reality shows, lifestyle programs, and streaming content to reflect changes in viewing habits.^[33][37] Post-2010, the event saw increased celebrity attendance and glamour, evolving into a high-profile red-carpet affair that draws stars from major UK broadcasts, further amplified by the magazine's promotional role in highlighting nominees and winners.^[15] This development has solidified the TV Choice Awards as a key public-voted honor in British television, organized entirely by the TV Choice team to maintain its reader-driven ethos.^[38]

Categories, Voting, and Recent Winners

The TV Choice Awards encompass over 20 categories that recognize excellence across television genres, performances, and channels, including Best Soap, Best Actor (encompassing Drama and Comedy Performances), Best Reality Show, Best Entertainment Show, and Favourite Channel or Streaming Service.^[38] Other notable categories cover daytime programming, factual series, talent competitions, family dramas, game shows, new dramas, lifestyle and food shows, as well as soap-specific awards like Best Soap Newcomer and Best Soap Performance, plus a special Outstanding Contribution Award.^[39] These categories are selected to reflect popular viewer favorites from the past year, with nominees drawn from public suggestions and editorial input before advancing to voting rounds.^[40] The awards are decided entirely by public vote, conducted online through the official TV Choice website at tvchoicemagazine.co.uk, where users select from shortlisted nominees in each category.^[36] The process typically involves an initial nomination and voting round in early autumn, followed by a final voting period that determines the winners; for the 2026 awards, final voting opened in early November 2025 and closed at midnight on November 16, 2025.^[5] Voters are encouraged to participate for a chance to win prizes, such as tickets to the ceremony, adding an incentive to the democratic selection of honorees.^[41] The 2025 TV Choice Awards ceremony took place on February 10, 2025, in a glitzy event attended by television stars, featuring red-carpet arrivals and live presentations of the trophies.^[39] Key highlights from that year included Gogglebox and Celebrity Gogglebox winning Best Entertainment Show for their enduring appeal in observational humor, I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! taking Best Reality Show, and Channel 5 earning Favourite Channel or Streaming Service for its diverse programming slate.^[39] Other standout victories were Emmerdale as Best Soap, Toby Jones for Best Drama Performance in Mr Bates vs The Post Office, and Ghosts for Best Comedy Show, underscoring the awards' focus on both mainstream hits and critically acclaimed series.^[39] The full list of 2025 winners is as follows: This table captures the 19 competitive categories plus the Outstanding Contribution honor from the 2025 event.^[39]

Podcast

Launch and Format

The "My TV Years" podcast, produced by TV Choice magazine in association with Bauer Media, debuted on 23 February 2022, with comedian and presenter Mel Giedroyc serving as host.^[42] This launch extended the magazine's longstanding focus on television listings and recommendations into audio format, offering listeners a conversational exploration of TV's cultural impact.^[6] The podcast followed an eight-week series structure, releasing one episode weekly on Wednesdays, where Giedroyc conducted light-hearted, nostalgic interviews with celebrity guests about the formative television shows that shaped their lives.^[42] Each episode centered on personal anecdotes and memories rather than in-depth critical analysis, fostering a relaxed and entertaining tone that celebrated television's role in everyday experiences.^[42] Episodes typically ran between 30 and 45 minutes, making them suitable for casual listening.^[43] The podcast was made freely available across major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Bauer Media's Rayo app, ensuring broad accessibility without subscription barriers.^[42]

Episodes and Reception

The My TV Years podcast consisted of eight episodes, released weekly on Wednesdays from 23 February 2022 to 13 April 2022.^[42] Each episode featured host Mel Giedroyc in conversation with a celebrity guest, exploring their formative television experiences and how specific shows shaped their careers and personalities. The episodes are as follows:

• Episode 1 (23 February 2022): Sanjeev Bhaskar, known for Unforgotten and Goodness Gracious Me, discussed early influences in British comedy.
• Episode 2 (2 March 2022): Kirstie Allsopp, presenter of Location, Location, Location, shared memories of property and lifestyle programming.^[44]
• Episode 3 (9 March 2022): Hugh Dennis, star of Outnumbered and Mock the Week, reflected on family sitcoms and improvisation shows.
• Episode 4 (16 March 2022): Sally Ann Matthews, portraying Jenny Connor in Coronation Street, recounted soap opera dynamics and character development.^[45]
• Episode 5 (23 March 2022): Adjoa Andoh, from Bridgerton, explored period dramas and her breakthrough roles.^[46]
• Episode 6 (30 March 2022): Jon Richardson, comedian and co-host of 8 Out of 10 Cats, delved into observational humor and panel shows.
• Episode 7 (6 April 2022): Morgana Robinson, impressionist and actress, highlighted sketch comedy and her work on The Tracey Ullman Show.^[47]
• Episode 8 (13 April 2022): Alex Horne, creator of Taskmaster, examined game shows and musical comedy influences.

A recurring theme across the series was guests revealing personal TV influences that defined their professional paths, often blending nostalgia with humor. For example, Sanjeev Bhaskar's episode centered on the cultural impact of Goodness Gracious Me, a sketch show that launched his career by satirizing South Asian stereotypes in British media. The podcast emphasized comedy through several guests, including stand-up performers and writers like Jon Richardson and Morgana Robinson, who connected childhood viewing—such as classic sitcoms—to their comedic styles.^[47] The podcast received positive reception for its lighthearted, conversational format that evoked fond TV memories. On Apple Podcasts, it holds an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 117 user reviews as of November 2025.^[43] Reviewers appreciated the engaging interplay between Giedroyc and her guests, with one noting it "brings back some great memories of TV that I'd forgotten about and [is] funny too."^[43] Editor Jon Peake described the series as a "funny, nostalgic ramble" that captured the essence of television's role in everyday life.^[42] No second season has been announced as of November 2025.^[42] The series enhanced TV Choice's digital footprint, with promotional clips shared on the magazine's YouTube channel to drive listener interest and cross-promote content.^[48]

Circulation and Market Position

Historical Trends

TV Choice launched in August 1999, quickly establishing itself as a major player in the UK TV listings market. The magazine targeted C1C2 socioeconomic groups, focusing on mass-market adults seeking affordable and straightforward TV guidance.^[49] This demographic appeal, combined with its low cover price, drove early success and expanded the overall listings sector. Throughout the 2000s, circulation grew steadily, reflecting TV Choice's rising dominance. ABC figures recorded an average of 1,017,468 copies for the second half of 2003, marking the first time it surpassed the 1 million threshold.^[11] By the first half of 2007, sales had climbed to 1,391,774, a 2.8% increase year-on-year.^[50] The pivotal moment came in 2008, when TV Choice overtook What's on TV to become the UK's highest-circulating magazine, with 1,404,950 copies compared to What's on TV's 1,374,238.^[51] In the 2010s, TV Choice maintained its market leadership amid the digital shift, stabilizing at 1,303,011 copies by the first half of 2014 according to ABC data.^[9] Its affordability—priced at around 40p in the early 2000s and remaining competitive thereafter—played a key role in sustaining sales among price-sensitive C1C2 readers.^[49] Recent trends show continued decline into 2024.

Current Figures and Competitors

In 2024, TV Choice maintained its position as the United Kingdom's best-selling weekly print magazine, with an average circulation of 894,375 copies per issue from January to December, according to ABC certification.^[7] This figure reflects a 3% decline from the 923,984 copies averaged in 2023, amid broader challenges in the print sector.^[52] Despite the dip, the publication's affordability—priced at 82p per issue—continues to underpin its market leadership in TV listings.^[21] As of November 2025, no ABC circulation data for 2025 is available; earlier projections from 2024 trends suggested potential stability with single-digit declines moderating across the TV listings category.^[53] The overall UK magazine sector experienced a 7.3% circulation reduction in 2024, with TV guides facing similar pressures from the rise of streaming services, though the category's total decline moderated to under 10%.^[54] TV Choice's primary competitors include Radio Times, published by Immediate Media, which reported a print circulation of 330,358 copies in 2024, down 11% from the previous year, though it remains profitable through diversified revenue streams like digital and events.^[53] Another rival, Total TV Guide, also from Bauer Media, averaged 57,473 copies weekly in 2024, highlighting TV Choice's significant scale advantage in the segment.^[8] TV Choice's emphasis on budget pricing and comprehensive listings gives it an edge over premium-oriented titles like Radio Times, which focuses more on in-depth features and higher cover prices.^[55] Despite the proliferation of on-demand streaming platforms eroding traditional TV viewership, TV Choice holds a dominant position in print listings, with approximately 47% of the category's audited circulation in 2024 based on major titles. This resilience stems from its role as an accessible aggregator for linear broadcast schedules, appealing to demographics less inclined toward digital alternatives.