[TowerTalk] off topic-- HR magazine

[Jim Jarvis]

From: "Mike Switzer" <k8ze at charter.net>

This is a bit off topic but I have a conundrum for which I need assistance
solving.  While perusing the monthly offerings of QST, CQ, and CQ VHF, I
noticed various issues, anthologies, and other material from Ham Radio
offered as holiday gifts.  I was not active in the hobby from the mid 1980s
thru about 2003 during which time HR ceased publication.  I myself have
purchased the complete CD set of HR.  I also managed to save my copy of the
last issue.  This was a product which was clearly valued by all that I have
spoken with, so why did it fail?  This was the quintessential "better
mousetrap" that should not have failed.  When I see people responding to
some of the things we poke fun at on ebay how tuff could it have been to
market a product like HR?
mike
-0-

Magazines are supported by advertising, not subscription revenue.
HR was a great book...but it spoke to technical expertise and 
development, at a point when the hobby was turning toward appliances.

While I don't know the details of HR's demise, I suspect that the core
issue is that hams aren't willing to have 15% of their product dollar 
invested in advertising.  

The same is true today...even moreso, with the impact of the web.  
Ham's tend to be cheap, and we're a small market.  What's really
amazing is that the major radio manufacturers invested in their last
round of product.  A critical analysis would probably not show an
adequate return on the investment...raising the question of what's next.
 
n2ea
jimjarvis at ieee.org