Cruickshank: Your Starweek magazine is changing

$(function() { if ($.browser.msie) { var newFakeDivHeight = jQuery(‘.ts-static_extra_noad’).height() + jQuery(‘.ts-main_article_image’).height() + 50; if (jQuery(‘.ts-fake_div’).height() < newFakeDivHeight) jQuery('.ts-fake_div').height(newFakeDivHeight); } }); By John Cruickshank Publisher

Effective today, you will find exciting changes and new features in Starweek, our popular tv magazine that is delivered as part of your Saturday Star.

We are greatly expanding our tv listings, adding more detailed descriptions of daily prime time programs and introducing celebrity articles and puzzles that will increase the ways in which you can use and enjoy Starweek.

At the same time, starting in a few weeks, Starweek will no longer automatically be delivered to your door with your Saturday Star unless you tell us specifically that you want it. When you sign up, you will receive the expanded Starweek for only an additional 50 cents a week with your Saturday paper. Starweek will still be included in all single duplicates sold in stores and newspaper boxes.

This new method of delivering Starweek will be phased in over an eight-week period starting Saturday, March 13.

We encourage you to sign up early.

So, what are the changes to Starweek and why are we making them?

For decades, Starweek has been one of the favourite parts of the Saturday edition of the Star.

Readers tell us they enjoy the listings and depend on them on a regular basis for planning their tv viewing throughout the week. But they have also told us they would like to see changes in the magazine. They stated they wanted more listings, more details about their favourite programs, and more information about movies on television.

We listened carefully.

And now we have responded by expanding Starweek.

Among the many changes, we have:

Greatly expanded tv listings. Starting with this week’s edition, we will have two full pages of prime time listings for every day of the week, with more detailed descriptions of episodes of popular programs. In addition, we will continue to carry full listings for morning, afternoon and late night shows. Doubled our TV motion picture listings to four pages, with enhanced motion picture descriptions and more pics from featured movies. Enhanced the full-page "Worth Watching" feature, which will now include details of new shows each week, including drama series and documentaries. Introduced a "Best Bets" feature for each day of the week, with a description of episodes of the most popular current shows, such as Flashpoint and CSI. Launched a new "Chef’s Showcase," which each week will spotlight a different local chef and the recipe of their favourite dish. Today, Trish Donnelly of Oyster Boy shares her recipe for steamed clams with white wine, butter and roast garlic. Added more celebrity content, including a second featured cover story, primarily focusing on Canadian stars, as well as more news about tv personalities. Created a full page for TV puzzles and games that will include the current celebrity crossword, plus a new tv Word Search and a TV Jumble.

The other part of the change is that readers will now be able to decide whether or not they want to receive Starweek.

Part of this decision is based on the Star’s need to control costs. But we also heard from some readers who stated they currently do not use Starweek.

Thus, we have again listened and decided to give you, our readers, what you want.

For the next four weeks, all subscribers to the Saturday Star will receive the new, expanded Starweek Magazine at no extra cost.

However, starting March 13, Starweek will be available to any household that wants it for the low cost of just 50 cents extra a week.

If you do not tell us that you want it, you will no longer receive Starweek.

We will phase in this new delivery method over an eight-week period starting on March 13. That means some parts of our distribution area will begin using the new method on March 13, and others on subsequent Saturdays.

You must register to continue having Starweek delivered to your door with your Saturday Star.

The ideal way to ensure uninterrupted delivery is to sign up early.

To register, we are giving you three convenient options.

You can sign up at a special website, www.SayYesToStarweek.com. You can also phone us at 416-203-3489 or 1-877-301-1995, or email us at SayYesToStarweek@thestar.ca.

If you do not register, your Starweek delivery will end.

So please, check out the new and expanded Starweek in today’s Saturday Star.

We hope you enjoy it.

John Cruickshank is publisher of the Toronto Star.

source : www.thestar.com

Cruickshank: Your Starweek magazine is changing

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