f-s-p Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Yes, you're right. I forgot there was no VAT on printed magazines, although there is on digital publications as far as I know. The bästärds put 10% VAT on subscriptions a few years back over here with 24% if bought from any store or news agent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Post number 51 Philip... Quote... PHILIPRISING, on 01 Dec 2016 - 03:59 AM, said: PETER Oakes's new feature is a great read and a fabulous addition to SS ... Peter, as befits a top journalist with his track record, has a terrific eye for a story. Thanks for all the comments. Cannot please all of the people all of the time. As for the cost ... if we sold a few thousand more we could afford a cheaper cover price. Unfortunately in a market that has diminished dramatically in recent years that simply isn't a viable option. Forgive me if you have already done this...but how much market research has been done by the magazine with it's readers and speedway fans online, as to what they would want from the magazine? What is the age demograph of the readers? Are sales decreasing every year? What are the projections each year? Is the magazine looking to the future or doing the same as Speedway and ignoring what people actually want? One of the difficulties in asking fans what they want - whether it is the sports administrators or a magazine doing the asking - is that you always get a myriad of differing answers - as this forum regularly demonstrates, whatever the topic!! As far as this thread is concerned I look forward to my subscription copy arriving each week and particularly enjoy the 'behind the scenes' articles whether based on leagues or the GPs. However I can't let this topic pass without mentioning again the glaring error by the Star's Ipswich reporter who in two separate articles this week was convinced the Witches had signed Kyle Howarth rather than Kyle Newman!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gresham Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 One of the difficulties in asking fans what they want - whether it is the sports administrators or a magazine doing the asking - is that you always get a myriad of differing answers - as this forum regularly demonstrates, whatever the topic!! As far as this thread is concerned I look forward to my subscription copy arriving each week and particularly enjoy the 'behind the scenes' articles whether based on leagues or the GPs. However I can't let this topic pass without mentioning again the glaring error by the Star's Ipswich reporter who in two separate articles this week was convinced the Witches had signed Kyle Howarth rather than Kyle Newman!! Indeed...however as I asked Philip, I'm not sure whether they have carried out such market research. Surely it would be advantageous to do so occasionally, to find out what the majority want? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 SADLY typical of this forum at times ... what has this got to do with Speedway Star? Come on, Phil. We all love a 'he started it' comment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted December 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Post number 51 Philip... Quote... PHILIPRISING, on 01 Dec 2016 - 03:59 AM, said: PETER Oakes's new feature is a great read and a fabulous addition to SS ... Peter, as befits a top journalist with his track record, has a terrific eye for a story. Thanks for all the comments. Cannot please all of the people all of the time. As for the cost ... if we sold a few thousand more we could afford a cheaper cover price. Unfortunately in a market that has diminished dramatically in recent years that simply isn't a viable option. Forgive me if you have already done this...but how much market research has been done by the magazine with it's readers and speedway fans online, as to what they would want from the magazine? What is the age demograph of the readers? Are sales decreasing every year? What are the projections each year? Is the magazine looking to the future or doing the same as Speedway and ignoring what people actually want? YES we have done some research and as usual come up with a wide variety of answers. What we do know: the vast majority want a printed version over a digital one, which probably reflects the age demographic of our readership and speedway's attendees, match reports are vital, club news gets a mixed reaction but generally in favour despite the internet. Of course we are looking to the future but by-and-large our feeling is that we are providing what most people want. The point is the readership of the magazine is increasingly ageing. Whilst business wise have to cater for the core audience and presumably try to keep things going until the editorial staff retires, I think it's reasonably to ask where the magazine will be in 10 years. PROBABLY in the same place as British speedway. Our respective fortunes are tied together. Indeed...however as I asked Philip, I'm not sure whether they have carried out such market research. Surely it would be advantageous to do so occasionally, to find out what the majority want? HOW can you ever tell what the majority want. It's like opinion polls ... Brexit, Trump, etc However I can't let this topic pass without mentioning again the glaring error by the Star's Ipswich reporter who in two separate articles this week was convinced the Witches had signed Kyle Howarth rather than Kyle Newman!! HANDS up, it was a big mistake, one our long-time Ipswich reporter Elvin King has owned up to although it should have been spotted. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gresham Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 YES we have done some research and as usual come up with a wide variety of answers. What we do know: the vast majority want a printed version over a digital one, which probably reflects the age demographic of our readership and speedway's attendees, match reports are vital, club news gets a mixed reaction but generally in favour despite the internet. Of course we are looking to the future but by-and-large our feeling is that we are providing what most people want. PROBABLY in the same place as British speedway. Our respective fortunes are tied together. HOW can you ever tell what the majority want. It's like opinion polls ... Brexit, Trump, etc HANDS up, it was a big mistake, one our long-time Ipswich reporter Elvin King has owned up to although it should have been spotted. Thanks for the reply Philip...and yes you can only judge by those who bother to offer preferences. Those who don't, really can't moan if they have been asked to offer feedback. I guess you can only go on the verdicts of the majority who do bother to give opinion. As you say...a bit like Bexit and Trump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted December 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 All the more reason to be making the case for better organisation of the sport. BEEN beating that drum for a long time, including several times in 2016. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 (edited) I've said it before on other threads, but I do think what the staff at the Star do on a weekly basis for a minority sport is remarkable. The sheer breadth of international coverage always impresses me - I too am also a fan of Peter Oakes' piece. SS's fortunes are inextricably linked to the success of speedway. When the sport goes through bad times and generates increasing disillusion, it's inevitable that the only weekly magazine will also suffer. I also think that people's rose-tinted view of the past is mirrored in both the sport and Speedway Star. If you compared a 1970s Speedway Star with today's offering you will see a massive difference in quality. I also maintain that much of today's Speedway GPs have superior racing to much of the old World Championship Speedway. Why then the decline in popularity of both? In a word, choice. Live sport is available on multiple channels 24 hours a day now. Rewind to the 60s/70s and you had to actually go to the football, rugby, cricket or speedway and er, that was about it if you wanted a weekly fix. Similarly with Speedway Star, there was less choice and much less available information in the 60s/70s. You had to wait for the Speedway Star to know exactly what was going on in the sport. Now, you can follow live results from Poland or get news direct (however small) from the riders themselves via social media - if that's your thing. That makes it tough for a printed publication like the Star to be fresh and original each week. Even the major national newspapers have seen their circulation figures plunge dramatically, which is why they resort to screaming such exaggerated, attention-seeking and histrionic headlines (see Express, Mail, Sun). Thankfully, the Star has not gone down that route and kept some editorial integrity! Where the Star is missing a big trick is digitally. That's where the now and future is and - honestly - their website and social media platforms are simply not up to scratch. It's network of reporters have huge access to all the riders, managers and every single key figure in the sport. So, surely, there should be much more unique video and photo content flowing through their platforms? I know a bit about this. This change in strategy would drive traffic to their platforms and provide a more appealing prospect for readers who are hungry for content and for advertisers, eager to measure return on investment from their advertising. Edited December 2, 2016 by falcace 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagpuss Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 Elvin King should have been put out to grass years ago, although I always enjoyed reading his squirming match reports when Lynn won at the Foxhole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavan Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 Nothing to much wrong with the speedway star. The price seems fair enough to me and your not going to please everybody with the content. I read someone on here skips the grasstrack section. My dad when he was alive used to go straight to that section first. At least the magazine covers all areas. My only gripe is the journalism of a certain Mr Burbidge and in particular his reporting on the Hancock affair which was so one sided it was cringeworthy 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner85 Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 (edited) Having started Speedway in the early 60s , the Speedway Star was called " Speedway Star and Ice Hockey News " !!! As a Speedway supporter I believe the Star to be an important part of the Speedway scene which does an important job. No magazine will be perfect in any Sport . Long live the Speedway Star !!! Edited December 3, 2016 by Gunner85 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 Must say, the few things I really enjoy in the Star are the Brian Burford pieces, the recent one on retiring riders very good. Always enjoy his writing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 Having started Speedway in the early 60s , the Speedway Star was called " Speedway Star and Ice Hockey News " !!! As a Speedway supporter I believe the Star to be an important part of the Speedway scene which does an important job. No magazine will be perfect in any Sport . Long live the Speedway Star !!! It was a superb Magazine in those days full of useful and interest fact and figures. On occasions it could be pretty hard hitting too. Not these days though........................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 Having started Speedway in the early 60s , the Speedway Star was called " Speedway Star and Ice Hockey News " !!! It was a superb Magazine in those days full of useful and interest fact and figures. On occasions it could be pretty hard hitting too. Not these days though........................ I can also recall Gunner 85 when the magazine was known as "Speedway Star and Ice Hockey News"'. It would have been in the mid-1950s when the dear old 'Speedway News' went out of circulation. The 'Speedway Star' bought the rights to that magazine and changed its title to accommodate the News' readers. I am certain that eventually the title - for many years - became 'Speedway Star & News'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 I can also recall Gunner 85 when the magazine was known as "Speedway Star and Ice Hockey News"'. It would have been in the mid-1950s when the dear old 'Speedway News' went out of circulation. The 'Speedway Star' bought the rights to that magazine and changed its title to accommodate the News' readers. I am certain that eventually the title - for many years - became 'Speedway Star & News'? It did. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 (edited) Having started Speedway in the early 60s , the Speedway Star was called " Speedway Star and Ice Hockey News " !!! It was a superb Magazine in those days full of useful and interest fact and figures. On occasions it could be pretty hard hitting too. Not these days though........................ I can also recall Gunner 85 when the magazine was known as "Speedway Star and Ice Hockey News"'. It would have been in the mid-1950s when the dear old 'Speedway News' went out of circulation. The 'Speedway Star' bought the rights to that magazine and changed its title to accommodate the News' readers. I am certain that eventually the title - for many years - became 'Speedway Star & News'? 'Speedway Star & News', February 12, 1958: Edited December 3, 2016 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 As I recall the Speedway Star and News lasted until the 1973 season, when the colour back cover was introduced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 (edited) 'Speedway Star & News', February 12, 1958: The main photo is of Barry Briggs - then a Wimbledon rider - and his wife June. Edited December 3, 2016 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 'Speedway Star & News', February 12, 1958: Who's the John Hyam mentioned on Page 3? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 (edited) 'Speedway Star & News', February 12, 1958: Who's the John Hyam mentioned on Page 3? The person you refer to was the successor to Eric Linden about mid-1956 and held the Editor's post at 'Speedway Star' until he went on to be Group Sports Editor of a weekly newspaper series in Middlesex in early 1962. Eric Linden left the 'Speedway Star' to join 'TV Times' but continued as a much-respected contributor to the Star for many years. Edited December 3, 2016 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.