Autosport Magazine - Beginning of the End?

[trw99]

Autosport magazine in the UK has announced it is to go monthly. See: https://www.autosport.com/general/news/ ... 1735858638

I suspect there are already too many monthly print motoring magazines. They all appear to lack substantial advertising income and I would worry that Autosport will eventually end up as a virtual magazine/forum. MotorSport is glossy but slim; Road Rat, Magneto and the other expensive, high quality paper, here is a lifestyle article on - watches type car mags are overdone, I feel.

I now subscribe to The Intercooler online (lots of excellent writers) and take The Automobile monthly. The rest I can leave, especially anything with modern cars such as Autocar, What Car, Evo et al.

Bah humbug.

Tim

[richardcox_lotus]

I fear you are right Tim. But we are all culpable. How many people actually buy the thing ?

Anything in depth is better handled by a monthly, IMO. That leaves roving reporters for major or club events - which is sort of how Autosport became popular with its weekly round up, as there was no other way to know what went on. I put Motor Racing News in the same category, but that had managed to shift to a rally focus.

Given that all circuits or organising clubs now have Websites, the roving reporter role has become redundant.

EffOne of course, has long since been its own beast.

Let’s see what transpires

Regards
Richard

[shynsy]

Hi Folks,
It is a sad moment but in the end I guess a magazine is a product for customers and if customers no longer want the product then it has to change and/or cease. I have always been a fan of C&SC which has some good articles but have also been a reader of Autosport and Motorsport. I also have a complete set of Motorsport from the mid 60's to mid 70's in the loft and it is interesting to see how different these are to Motorsport in modern times. Their write ups of races (particularly F1) are extremely extensive reflecting the lack of other media coverage in the time.
Now we have teams/drivers handling there own social media and extensive coverage of races in every form for every taste.

I bought the old magazines expressly because I enjoy reading the accounts in era and I do think it would be good (in my opinion) to have that still, but I am realistic.. I a probably a bit odd compared to modern F1 addicts.

One thing I would however recommend is a subscription to Readly (if you are happy to read magazines online).

https://gb.readly.com/

For a relatively reasonable price you get all the major car mags + historical issues of motorsport and as a bonus loads of "lifestyle" mags that my wife enjoys! Also it is probably better for the environment

Cheers
Tim