Decline of the History Channel

[Dida]

I remember history channel used to be good with some decently substantive programmings, now all they air are nonsensical trash. I first sensed a problem when they developed an obvious crush on Hitler and everything WW2 related; it then progressed to an obsession with Nostradamus and all that doomsday stuff. The last straw for me was the Ancient Aliens. I just couldn't tune in to a channel that talk about such nonsense.

 

[warpus]

Well, at least with the WW2/Hitler stuff it was actual history.

Now they don't show anything that's historical at all. I don't get why they don't just rebrand the channel to "The Reality TV Channel" or something

 

[Kyriakos]

I just found out that his name is Giorgio Tsoukalos. Sounds greek...

Anyway the history channel will have been long forgotten but this image will live on forever:

Hm, he is greek indeed... wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgio_A._Tsoukalos

 

[Dida]

Well, at least with the WW2/Hitler stuff it was actual history.

Now they don't show anything that's historical at all. I don't get why they don't just rebrand the channel to "The Reality TV Channel" or something

One show that's still somewhat watchable is "the Universe" which is lots better than the Ancient Alien nonsense, but even shows like this must be infinitely dumbed down to the level of the general American audience. In one episode they had a joggler throwing balls in the air to explain the Oort cloud. I still don't get how the Oort cloud is in anyway similar to joggling.

 

[Murky]

This probably will get moved to Arts and Entertainment.

The people who decide on the programming are trying to get ratings. Real History isn't as appealing to the masses as crazy stuff like Ancient Aliens or reality TV like American Pickers. PBS still has some good documentaries. If you want to see more real history there are loads of documentaries you can view through streaming services or get DVDs/Blue-Ray discs.

I prefer books and podcasts for history myself.

 

[warpus]

One show that's still somewhat watchable is "the Universe" which is lots better than the Ancient Alien nonsense, but even shows like this must be infinitely dumbed down to the level of the general American audience. In one episode they had a joggler throwing balls in the air to explain the Oort cloud. I still don't get how the Oort cloud is in anyway similar to joggling.

And what does that have to do with history?

I loved the history channel when they showed black and white ww2 documentaries and crap

This probably will get moved to Arts and Entertainment.

The people who decide on the programming are trying to get ratings. Real History isn't as appealing to the masses as crazy stuff like Ancient Aliens or reality TV like American Pickers. PBS still has some good documentaries. If you want to see more real history there are loads of documentaries you can view through streaming services or get DVDs/Blue-Ray discs.

I prefer books and podcasts for history myself.

But it's a bit silly to brand yourself as the "History" channel without showing anything remotely related to the subject, right?

I mean, imagine you own a restaurant that's called "Veggie Delights"... but then you figure out that selling steaks and ribs will make you more money, so you get rid of all your veggie dishes and start selling steaks, wings, ribs, etc.

but you do not change your restaurant name and leave it as "Veggie Delights"

That makes as much sense as what the history channel is doing

 

[bombshoo]

I just found out that his name is Giorgio Tsoukalos. Sounds greek...

Anyway the history channel will have been long forgotten but this image will live on forever:

Hm, he is greek indeed... wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgio_A._Tsoukalos

Tsoukalos is a 1998 graduate of Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, with a degree in sports information and communication

Sounds like a real expert on the topic.

 

[Kyriakos]

Sounds like a real expert on the topic.

Well there are others like him in the local market, although they have vanished now due to the crisis. But the ancient-aliens idea is not new here.

 

[Murky]

And what does that have to do with history?

I loved the history channel when they showed black and white ww2 documentaries and crap



But it's a bit silly to brand yourself as the "History" channel without showing anything remotely related to the subject, right?

I mean, imagine you own a restaurant that's called "Veggie Delights"... but then you figure out that selling steaks and ribs will make you more money, so you get rid of all your veggie dishes and start selling steaks, wings, ribs, etc.

but you do not change your restaurant name and leave it as "Veggie Delights"

That makes as much sense as what the history channel is doing

Of course it's silly but what do you expect? If nobody is buying your Veggies and you have the choice to change the menu or go out of business which do you do?

Technically, Ancient Aliens is somewhat historical. People have believed many odd things throughout history. Maybe it's more of a study on the history of human gullibility than on the actual likelihood of there being Ancient Aliens. American Pickers is semi-historical in that they are going through old junk to revive historical items from recent history. But yeah, the public would be better served by showing reality based documentaries or historical films.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Of course it's silly but what do you expect? If nobody is buying your Veggies and you have the choice to change the menu or go out of business which do you do?

Technically, Ancient Aliens is somewhat historical. People have believed many odd things throughout history. Maybe it's more of a study on the history of human gullibility than on the actual likelihood of there being Ancient Aliens. American Pickers is semi-historical in that they are going through old junk to revive historical items from recent history. But yeah, the public would be better served by showing reality based documentaries or historical films.

Change the restaurant name to Meat Delights?

I dont watch TV so what am I even doing in this thread?

 

[warpus]

Of course it's silly but what do you expect? If nobody is buying your Veggies and you have the choice to change the menu or go out of business which do you do?

Yes, but my point is that you wouldn't sell steaks and retain your old restaurant name. That's just dumb.

 

[Bugfatty300]

I think most of the real interesting history topics have been milked dry. Hence why a lot of the new "history documentaries" are is based around revisionist/psuedo history and "what if" type stuff. There's basically nothing else interesting left to say about Hitler or the Civil War so we'll just make crap up to keep it fresh.

Then you got the reality shows but that is happening on ALL the channels.

 

[bombshoo]

Yes, but my point is that you wouldn't sell steaks and retain your old restaurant name. That's just dumb.

Eh. It's not like they are the first. State Farm was originally insurance for agricultural equipment and they expanded out to be a lot more yet kept their name. Recognition is a big deal.

 

[Murky]

Yes, but my point is that you wouldn't sell steaks and retain your old restaurant name. That's just dumb.

Maybe they are holding onto hope that people will become interested in history again.

 

[NetGear]

Change the restaurant name to Meat Delights?

I dont watch TV so what am I even doing in this thread?

Changing your name just becausecyou may see a contradiction is not a good busness. Name is a brand.

 

[Volum]

Sunday morning i got up after a long night of partying (home about 6 am, up again around 12) and put my self in front of the TV with leftover pizza and a bottle of Coca Cola.

I checked what was on and i saw BBC Knowledge was airing a program about the Fall of Berlin, for fun i decided to see what was on The History Channel, it was a show about people cutting down trees and constantly being inches from dying.

Now he has to cut down a tree, one wrong move would spell certain death
Now some other guys come along to help move the cut down tree, one mistake could kill them all
Now some guy on a trailer is bringing lots of logs somewhere, one wrong turn would mean death!

Seems to be the common theme of all the reality/jobshows on TV, they're always about to die.

 

[NetGear]

Eh. It's not like they are the first. State Farm was originally insurance for agricultural equipment and they expanded out to be a lot more yet kept their name. Recognition is a big deal.

State farm is a good example butvone thats more closer to home here also is mtv.

 

[luiz]

I think most of the real interesting history topics have been milked dry. Hence why a lot of the new "history documentaries" are is based around revisionist/psuedo history and "what if" type stuff. There's basically nothing else interesting left to say about Hitler or the Civil War so we'll just make crap up to keep it fresh.

Then you got the reality shows but that is happening on ALL the channels.

It's not even silly "what if" scenarios, though. History Channel nowadays is all about aliens and "earth without humans" nonsense. I'd prefer some "What if Germany had won WW2" crap over that any day.

BTW, Discovery Channel is also very crappy presently, at least in Latin America. I remember they had some decent popular science programming, now it's all about "paranormal investigations" and "haunted mansions".

I pretty much gave up on watching live TV and now just watch downloaded episodes of great series like The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire.

 

[CELTICEMPIRE]

modern borders?

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

Both discovery channel and history channel have been ruined. Now it is just crappy reality tv mixed in with pseudo science. None of them show serious documentaries anymore. That leaves an opening for a real history/discovery channel. I hope someone starts one.