Here is what is prompting this rant; Sci Fi Channel has just changed their name to Syfy, because they are Science Fiction and so much more. That more includes professional wrestling.

Cartoon Network is adding Cartoon Real, a series of live action shows ala Nickelodeon. They already have a number of shows like The Mighty Boosh and Dark Place that are live action; Saul of the Mole men...the list goes one.

And Headline News has five hour long programs that they air several times a day, reducing their actual Headline content to early morning and late late night. I used to enjoy being able to get the news whenever I woke up, but now it might be Showbiz tonight, or worse yet, Nancy Grace. At least Glen Beck has been exiled to Fox where he belongs.

My point is this; what is wrong with a specialty channel remaining true to the specialty that enspired it? Why do they have to water themselves down until they are just like everything else?

What do monster trucks have to do with Discovery? And don't even get me started on the learning channel...

Just wondering if it works any one else's nerves....Syfy...I don't know about you, but I pronounce it Sifee.

Talyseon.

I hear ya! And I see your point. Heck, I remember when MTV was all about music videos!

But I suspect it all boils down to the almighty dollar. The networks need to do whatever they have to do, to stay alive. And if branching out is what it takes, that's what they're gonna do. It's better than if all these specialty channels went away because they couldn't afford to stay in business.

Actually, I heard the reason was they couldn't trademark Sci-Fi but they could trademark Syfy.

Stupid, imo.

The Weather Channel doesn't run talk shows, but it has enough other shows on that it sometimes makes it difficult to get the latest forecast. I used to keep that on every morning first thing, now I generally just go to the local television station.

I get my videos on VH1 Classic. There's a couple times a week when they run videos for a few hours.

Patti

Thanks for the MTV example, ya'll. And I am totally unconvinced that these channels would die without the added revinue. They just want MORE.

Now, I understand the appeal of reality TV; they are cheap shows to produce. But the business model falls apart with one simple fact; they do not reach the same audience for less money. They reach a smaller audience. I certainly am not watching.


Talyseon.

"Sifee" hurmph!

I think you are just getting old and crotchety, from the look of the OP.

Hey, there's always satellite radio! For the difference I pay for a slightly higher Verizon FIOS Internet speed, I could actually subscribe. Heck, I could even subscribe to the traffic service on my TomTom GPS, but from what I hear, none of them are even useful here in L.A. or other metros. I may as well cancel our call-waiting package ($5/month) and go ahead and sub to satellite radio, using this XM Radio portable I've never even busted out of the package..! I know I've gone off on a wild tangent here, but OH, WHAT A FEELING! HIIIII--YAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!



Kevin