Ten months ago, The Daily Leader discontinued its weekly supplement of television listings. As many other newspapers, we thought it was losing its value to readers.
When we started the guide in 1978, there were four over-the-air channels available and about 25 channels on cable, which fewer households had. Today there are hundreds of channels available through a variety of systems: Midcontinent, Knology, DirecTV and DISH, all of which have different numbering. On-screen TV guides were available, and we placed listings on our website, MADISONet.com. Even the magazine "TV Guide" discontinued listings.
Despite these reasons, we heard from readers that they liked the guide and wanted the listings. So we continued buying the listings from a national service, and made photocopies to provide to the few (we thought) readers who wanted them.
The requests kept coming. The number of photocopies grew from a dozen to two dozen to 50 to 100 and beyond. New requests keep coming all the time. We underestimated the number who wanted it.
So beginning with today's edition, we're bringing it back. It will be published in the same form as it was before January. While we still believe it may become obsolete, we want to respond to our readers' requests and provide it to you.
Send us your community news, events, letters to the editor and other suggestions. Now, you can submit birth, wedding and engagement announcements online too!
