UNDER/POORLY-PERFORMING CABLE NETS

Discussion:

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TMC

2012-04-16 07:30:11 UTC

http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=210495.0

This should be an interesting discussion....

What cable channels are performing poorly? Failing? What about those
that started out to be something big, but never really made it? We
hear about which ones do well all the time (USA, TBS, ESPN, TNT, A&E,
et al), but rarely those that are at...the bottom of the stack. I've
got a few:

OWN: Not much to say here. Even Winfrey admitted herself that it was
a mistake. The ratings are terrible - I don't know how they'll turn
this puppy around.

The Hub: Not exactly a horrible situation, but it's not, to my
knowledge, had a ton of growth and was trailing the other kiddie nets
last summer. I don't think it's done nearly what they expected.

Hallmark: In 2010, the idea of the Martha block and her shows was to
sort of...save the channel. They were struggling and needed the
demographics/viewers they hoped her programming would bring to the
channel. Now Martha has been canceled and I'm not sure if anything
has been announced about the rest of the block. I don't think this
channel has ever been a solid performer in any incarnation.
Personally, I think their Movie Channel is much better. Not saying a
lot, but still.

G4: Terrible programming. A shell of its former self even as G4 and
nothing like TechTV was. Kind of a low rent Spike.

There are some others, like Millitary History (which I'd love to have)
and Lifetime Real Women that I forget still exist because my provider
doesn't even carry them. Maybe Chiller and Cloo deserve mentions as
well; "Cloo" (formerly Sleuth) is basically USA2 and serves no
purpose. 'Til Death on "Cloo?" Really? I don't know the ratings for
any of these I just mentioned in this paragraph, but I doubt they're
good.

« Reply #1 on: Today at 01:58:51 AM »
Who can forget the Reelz Channel, owned by the Hubbards of St. Paul?
What started out as "TV about Movies" (reviews, behind-the-scenes
shows, etc.) has morphed into a semi-political entertainment channel,
airing "The Kennedys" mini-series that Showtime and History passed on,
as well as the Pro-Sarah Palin biography "The Undefeated." Kind of
fulfilling the dream of a right-leaning entertainment network that
Kelsey Grammer had thought up of. It's also trying to gain some buzz
by showing Steven Seagal's Canadian TV project, "True Justice," for
the first time to audiences in the United States.

Kickin' Ass and Takin' Names

2012-04-16 10:37:45 UTC

Permalink

Post by TMC
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=210495.0
This should be an interesting discussion....

[ Notihng of any value snipped. ]

I suppose if your life consists of sitting around day in and day out,
staring at the teevee, all this means something. On the other hand,
if you life consists of getting out into the real world of people and
activities, the material that was snipped means nothing to you.

RichA

2012-04-16 12:33:33 UTC

Permalink

Could it be lack of money is forcing consumers to give up premium
cable and satellite services which are the main venue for cable
channels?

Mason Barge

2012-04-16 13:44:57 UTC

Permalink

Post by TMC
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=210495.0
This should be an interesting discussion....
What cable channels are performing poorly? Failing? What about those
that started out to be something big, but never really made it? We
hear about which ones do well all the time (USA, TBS, ESPN, TNT, A&E,
et al), but rarely those that are at...the bottom of the stack. I've
OWN: Not much to say here. Even Winfrey admitted herself that it was
a mistake. The ratings are terrible - I don't know how they'll turn
this puppy around.
The Hub: Not exactly a horrible situation, but it's not, to my
knowledge, had a ton of growth and was trailing the other kiddie nets
last summer. I don't think it's done nearly what they expected.
Hallmark: In 2010, the idea of the Martha block and her shows was to
sort of...save the channel. They were struggling and needed the
demographics/viewers they hoped her programming would bring to the
channel. Now Martha has been canceled and I'm not sure if anything
has been announced about the rest of the block. I don't think this
channel has ever been a solid performer in any incarnation.
Personally, I think their Movie Channel is much better. Not saying a
lot, but still.

Hallmark has always done okay and it actually gets some viewers. Their
big problem is that they have never found a way to monetize their very
old-skewing demographic, the way GOLF has.

But at least the network has lived up to its purpose and done, really,
some good work. It's not my cuppa' tea, but the movie output has gone
from 12 per year in 2008 to 25 in 2011.

They do have a huge hole in terms of daytime audience/programming.

IMO, the worst have been the toxic gender channels, SPIKE and OXYGEN.

The weirdest departure from the original mission has to be A&E.

tomcervo

2012-04-16 13:49:47 UTC

Permalink

Hallmark has always done okay and it actually gets some viewers. Their
big problem is that they have never found a way to monetize their very
old-skewing demographic, the way GOLF has.
But at least the network has lived up to its purpose and done, really,
some good work. It's not my cuppa' tea, but the movie output has gone
from 12 per year in 2008 to 25 in 2011.
They do have a huge hole in terms of daytime audience/programming.
IMO, the worst have been the toxic gender channels, SPIKE and OXYGEN.
The weirdest departure from the original mission has to be A&E.

A&E started with a mix of high and middle brow shows--opera, and some
very good British series like "Tenko" and "A Family Affair"--and then
slid downhill. It's not even on my remote favorite list. But Bravo was
nearly ALL highbrow, and it's worse than A&E.

Mason Barge

2012-04-16 15:58:36 UTC

Permalink

On Mon, 16 Apr 2012 06:49:47 -0700 (PDT), tomcervo

Post by tomcervo

Hallmark has always done okay and it actually gets some viewers. Their
big problem is that they have never found a way to monetize their very
old-skewing demographic, the way GOLF has.
But at least the network has lived up to its purpose and done, really,
some good work. It's not my cuppa' tea, but the movie output has gone
from 12 per year in 2008 to 25 in 2011.
They do have a huge hole in terms of daytime audience/programming.
IMO, the worst have been the toxic gender channels, SPIKE and OXYGEN.
The weirdest departure from the original mission has to be A&E.

Yeah, Bravo is much worse, but A&E is weirder.

Bravo makes no pretense whatsoever at quality. It's right down there at
MTV levels. Whereas, A&E presents its freak shows under the veneer of
documentary. Hoarders, addicts, etc. But some of its shows are not
terrible, if that's the kind of thing you want to see.

tomcervo

2012-04-22 14:23:08 UTC

Permalink

Post by Mason Barge
On Mon, 16 Apr 2012 06:49:47 -0700 (PDT), tomcervo

Post by tomcervo

Hallmark has always done okay and it actually gets some viewers. Their
big problem is that they have never found a way to monetize their very
old-skewing demographic, the way GOLF has.
But at least the network has lived up to its purpose and done, really,
some good work. It's not my cuppa' tea, but the movie output has gone
from 12 per year in 2008 to 25 in 2011.
They do have a huge hole in terms of daytime audience/programming.
IMO, the worst have been the toxic gender channels, SPIKE and OXYGEN.
The weirdest departure from the original mission has to be A&E.

Yeah, Bravo is much worse, but A&E is weirder.
Bravo makes no pretense whatsoever at quality. It's right down there at
MTV levels. Whereas, A&E presents its freak shows under the veneer of
documentary. Hoarders, addicts, etc. But some of its shows are not
terrible, if that's the kind of thing you want to see.

Read an interview with the Bravo head who executed the change. Header
picture was of a plain, pleasant looking woman. Read the article, and
looked back, and she looked like this:

except I think there are things Wendy WON'T do for a buck.

chicagofan

2012-04-20 00:09:58 UTC

Permalink

Post by tomcervo

Post by Mason Barge
The weirdest departure from the original mission has to be A&E.

Both of those channels dropped off my remote several years ago, except
for the one show that A&E came up with last year... "The Glades".

I can't get over what a change they underwent. Trash TV all the time...
:(
bj

Micky DuPree

2012-04-29 07:01:14 UTC

Permalink

Post by chicagofan
Both of those channels dropped off my remote several years ago, except
for the one show that A&E came up with last year... "The Glades".

I also like their other scripted drama _Breakout Kings_. But yeah, from
a high-art bent to being mostly trash TV is quite a comedown for A&E and
Bravo.

-Micky

moviePig

2012-04-22 19:04:54 UTC

Permalink

Hallmark has always done okay and it actually gets some viewers. Their
big problem is that they have never found a way to monetize their very
old-skewing demographic, the way GOLF has.
But at least the network has lived up to its purpose and done, really,
some good work. It's not my cuppa' tea, but the movie output has gone
from 12 per year in 2008 to 25 in 2011.
They do have a huge hole in terms of daytime audience/programming.
IMO, the worst have been the toxic gender channels, SPIKE and OXYGEN.
The weirdest departure from the original mission has to be A&E.

If AMC's name is its mission, it too has a weird departure underway...
though I suppose 'Mad Men' and 'Walking Dead' are quite American...

--

- - - - - - - -
YOUR taste at work...
http://www.moviepig.com

Tom

2012-04-22 19:15:13 UTC

Permalink

Post by moviePig

Hallmark has always done okay and it actually gets some viewers. Their
big problem is that they have never found a way to monetize their very
old-skewing demographic, the way GOLF has.
But at least the network has lived up to its purpose and done, really,
some good work. It's not my cuppa' tea, but the movie output has gone
from 12 per year in 2008 to 25 in 2011.
They do have a huge hole in terms of daytime audience/programming.
IMO, the worst have been the toxic gender channels, SPIKE and OXYGEN.
The weirdest departure from the original mission has to be A&E.

If AMC's name is its mission, it too has a weird departure underway...
though I suppose 'Mad Men' and 'Walking Dead' are quite American...
--
- - - - - - - -
YOUR taste at work...
http://www.moviepig.com

As I understand it, amc doesn't stand for anything anymore.

If Bob Dorian were dead, he'd be spinning in his grave.

Tom

moviePig

2012-04-22 19:31:30 UTC

Permalink

Post by Tom

Post by moviePig

Hallmark has always done okay and it actually gets some viewers. Their
big problem is that they have never found a way to monetize their very
old-skewing demographic, the way GOLF has.
But at least the network has lived up to its purpose and done, really,
some good work. It's not my cuppa' tea, but the movie output has gone
from 12 per year in 2008 to 25 in 2011.
They do have a huge hole in terms of daytime audience/programming.
IMO, the worst have been the toxic gender channels, SPIKE and OXYGEN.
The weirdest departure from the original mission has to be A&E.

If AMC's name is its mission, it too has a weird departure underway...
though I suppose 'Mad Men' and 'Walking Dead' are quite American...

As I understand it, amc doesn't stand for anything anymore.

Well phrased...

--

- - - - - - - -
YOUR taste at work...
http://www.moviepig.com

M.I. Wakefield

2012-04-22 20:47:38 UTC

Permalink

Post by Mason Barge

Hallmark has always done okay and it actually gets some viewers. Their
big problem is that they have never found a way to monetize their very
old-skewing demographic, the way GOLF has.
But at least the network has lived up to its purpose and done, really,
some good work. It's not my cuppa' tea, but the movie output has gone
from 12 per year in 2008 to 25 in 2011.
They do have a huge hole in terms of daytime audience/programming.
IMO, the worst have been the toxic gender channels, SPIKE and OXYGEN.
The weirdest departure from the original mission has to be A&E.

No ... "TLC" originally stood for The Learning Channel ... it's a long way
down from David Attenborough to "Jon & Kate Plus 8".