A Work in Progress

Panel: Ellen Datlow (M), Howard Waldrop, Ben Bova, Robert Silverberg, Pat Cadigan

This was a disappointing panel. We had gone in expecting to hear more about upcoming revival of Omni, but instead got a history of it. Entertaining at times, but not what we were expecting.

My Notes

• It was originally going to be named Nova. which lead, of course to "Bova at Nova"
• It was changed from Nova to Omni when PBS threatened to sue
• It was never a magazine about science; it was a magazine about the future
• Omni was not "Penthouse in Space", as they had to keep telling prospective advertisers
• 800,000 readers at one time
• Omni didn't pay by the word (Pat C. figured her rate was .16/word)
• Future magazines (Realms of Fantasy, Science Fiction Age) looked like Omni
• Omni showed that there is a market for a magazine about the future
• Everything has an angle about the future
• Why did it fold?
• Kathy wanted to reach 1,000,000 subscribers and sold cheap subscriptions, diluting the advertising base
• No advertising on the online site; they had no clue at that time
• When Kathy died, there was no one to support it
• Non-Omni pay rates: "Tomorrow's worlds at yesterday's prices"