This is topic What's Happened to the History Channel?! in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.


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Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on October 18, 2010, 06:38 PM:
 
I don't get it: what happened to the History on the History Channel?!

There used to be stories about societies and governments and wars and technologies and all sorts of other wonderful histotainment.

-not the heavy stuff like at college that took a couple of hour exams and a 20 page term paper, but interesting shows you just might learn something from.

I'll certainly admit they leaned a little bit heavily into WW2, there were days on end when they did little else!

What's on there lately?
-Shows about guys driving trucks across frozen lakes
-Shows about UFOs and alien abductions
-Shows about lumberjacks
-Shows about unexplained beasts they can't ever get video of
-Shows about candy and chocolate

There was a cooking show on there the other day!

I never thought I'd hear myself (or anybody) say this, but I'm starting to miss WW2!
 

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Posted by Claus Harding (Member # 702) on October 18, 2010, 06:53 PM:
 
Steve,

I have the impression that most of the channels that had an identity and a "mandate" to shape their appeal have basically chucked all of that in favor of what sells at the moment.

The History Channel had terrific shows that educated and entertained. Gone now. It was a great place to review all the WW2 combat footage.

The Food Network was "chef centered" with a great line-up of Mario Batale, Sarah Moulton and others, and the focus was on teaching cooking. Now instead there are shows about 'extreme foods' and other "reality" nonsense.

American Movie Classics. Could the name be any more to the point?
It started with un-cut, un-interrupted classics from the 30/40/50es, and with a gracious, classy host (where is he now?)
Currently it is a commercial-riddled wasteland running anything from most any decade AND censoring the films. Talk about losing your core audience...Turner still stands tough with TCM, with Robert Osborne always a delight.

The fact that even ol' (Music Television Videos) MTV no longer plays music videos pretty much sums up the game.

It all also explains why the only "TV channel" at my house that gets any action these days is called "Netflix."

Claus.
 

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Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on October 18, 2010, 08:36 PM:
 
Oh Well...

I guess history is so...last week these days.

Plenty of History on Super-8.

I have a Blackhawk of Lindbergh's flight to Paris. It's kind of cool since I grew up two miles from where he took off.

What's bothersome is that the idea of cable was to have a great many channels that were specialized to particular areas of interest. When they all start to become generalized like this the temptation is just to go back to the networks.

At that rate all cable is good for is better reception!
 

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Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on October 18, 2010, 09:16 PM:
 

quote:

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At that rate all cable is good for is better reception!

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Steve, not true! Since the analogue to digital converter boxes are required for antennas, the reception is actually better than cable plus each station has 3 or 4 extra stations. i.e. using my antenna channel 11 has 11.1,11.2, 11.3. I can receive about 40 channels total with my 27 element yagi roof antenna. I've considered canceling my Dish Network account because of programs like:

Swap People
Ice Road Truckers
Rehab At The Hard Rock
Dirty Jobs
UFOs
Rough Necks
Monster Quest
Hoarding: Buried Alive
Say Yes to the Dress
DC Cupcakes
Southern Fried Stings
Operation Repo

and much, much more.

Why should I paid for crap when I can get it for free! Where's the beef!
 

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Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on October 18, 2010, 10:08 PM:
 
Oh, no....

My antenna is probably 50 years old and has about one element left. I asked them to rip it off the chimney when they did the roof, but they forgot it!

Having all those shows about weddings on cable is kind of disturbing...

We've been married 18 years now and I still suffer from Post Traumatic Wedding Disorder:

"PLEASE! Just choose a stupid centerpiece! I don't want to talk about it anymore!"

(Sorry...Flashback!)

The History Channel had a wonderful series about the American Revolution which ran something like eight hours in total. They showed it all at once a few 4th of Julys ago and it was so good I watched it all.
 

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Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on October 18, 2010, 10:39 PM:
 
Steve,

I live in a fringe area. That's why I have the big antenna on the chimney. Have you tried the analogue to digital converter yet? Wow! In Long Island you could get a lot of stations.

The Revolutions was very good. I also liked The men Who Killed Kennedy back 2003.
 

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Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on October 18, 2010, 10:49 PM:
 
I live about 50 miles from Manhattan and even back a few hurricanes ago when the antenna actually worked it was a little snowy.

All these years later the antenna is just sad, battered remains and the wire doesn't even go up there anymore.

I want to go down to Radio Shack and ask the guy for some TV antenna wire.

-Probably get the same look as when I asked for a DIN loudspeaker plug for my 8mm movie projector!
 

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Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on October 19, 2010, 12:27 AM:
 
Steve,

I know what you mean about Radio Shack. If you're not looking for a cell phone, they seem to get glarey eyed.

If you could capture a black and white photo of you antenna, you could probably sell it as a work of art. All battered and torn it would be a masterpiece of a by gone era.
 

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Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on October 19, 2010, 03:04 AM:
 
Take a look at TCM UK schedules. Very few "classic" movies on there these days.
When I asked why no silent classics were ever shown as they often are on TCM US, I was told "they're just not popular".
Now take a look at the US TCM lists and you'll see proper classic movies - as in Turner CLASSIC MOVIES!!!!! It's in the channel's title, for chrissakes!!!!!!!

Each and every channel on UK television these days just caters to the least common denominator. Culture and refinement be damned!
 

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Posted by Jean-Marc Toussaint (Member # 270) on October 19, 2010, 06:41 AM:
 
Guys, that's another good reason to watch movies at home, projected on a big screen, whatever the system, be it silver or digital!

I kinda like "Dirty Jobs". Our version of Discovery is a mix of things coming from various channels (Discovery, TLC, History, etc.) so I never get bored. And I'm Jamie "Mythbuster" Hyneman's #1 fan.
 

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Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on October 19, 2010, 06:57 AM:
 
Guys talking cable networks, most of them are now becoming more general. Look at Discover, National Geographic.... they have also kind of reality show, games, etc.

Funny thing in Canada, many people think that the era of TV Antenna has ended with the coming of digital TV. They subscribed to cable TV while they didn't know almost the same channel can be received free if we have Antenna + digital converter box (cost $30).

I didn't bother to subscribe to watch those craps. Just watch the usual TV and news, they are all the same

BTW, there are also monopoly acts done by apartment managements by choosing one cable TV provider and don't allow tenant to install Antenna in their premises.

cheers,
 

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Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on October 19, 2010, 10:05 AM:
 

quote:

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BTW, there are also monopoly acts done by apartment managements by choosing one cable TV provider and don't allow tenant to install Antenna in their premises.

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