Posted on 01/10/2015 10:35:42 AM PST by UnwashedPeasant
There's a new boss in charge at the Discovery Network, and he's anxious to get rid of mega-sharks, mermaids and man-eating snakes.
Rich Ross, a longtime Disney executive who began this week as president of Discovery Communications' flagship channel, said he wants to broaden its appeal to reach more women and families. He has also been quick to make clear what he doesn't want Discovery to be.
The network has been doing well financially but has been criticized, particularly by the scientific community, for some specials that have stretched the boundaries of truth.
"Brands are all about trust," said Ross, who is replacing former network head Eileen O'Neill and her interim successor Marjorie Kaplan, in an interview Thursday. "You can expand the universe of what people think you are, but there's only so much elasticity. On Discovery, that's why I talk about authenticity. Authenticity is job No. 1, 2 and 3."
Fictional documentaries, no matter their entertainment value, no longer have their place, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
” (Discovery, History, Travel, TLC, etc) “
They are trash channels now.
.
When the number of cable channels exploded we had Discovery channel, TLC, History, etc. Now all of the channels have drifted from their original genre (a lot in some cases) and become fairly homogenous.
Isn’t there room for one channel that does good shows on science, nature, culture and history?
“Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead are easily the two greatest shows ever produced.”
Chuckle...
If Discovery hasn’t got gold prospectors living off bugs in the wilderness while naked and hunting for bargains at antique auctions in Alaska, what has it got?
All global warming, all of the time.
It'll have the same ratings as MSLSD.
Discovery’s Destination America just started showing TNA Impact Wrestling (rasslin’) this past week, and it was their most watched show.
Breaking Bad was outstanding in writing, acting, production, content, etc. No one has ever been able to slowly morph a good intentioned mild mannered man into a psychopathic soulless individual as well as Vince Gilligan did on this show.
Definitely not a show for children, but it will be a considered a classic.
I can handle watching Gold Rush {I like the old man the grandfather} but the show where they are doing underwater dives off the coast in the winter for gold {Bering Sea Gold} I quit watching mainly because it was focused on one characters unending love life drama and other ones psychotic behavior.
Dual Survival? It can be made better, more realistic, still attract viewers, and be educational to boot. Way too many unnecessary risk taken in the show including the barefoot buffoon and the repelling freak. A big rule in survival is taking no unnecessary chances and minimize your risk. A ridge line in Appalachia or a duct taped canoe on an unknown river? Give me a ridge line and I'll find an out within 48 hours. Less than four hours needed if I find a former still location. DUH how did they get the supplies in and product out? LOL and you never, ever, mess with a skunk for many reasons. LOL.
The History Channel usually has on 5 shows all the time: American Pickers, Ax Men, Counting Cars, Pawn Stars and Swamp People.
Not one of then is about History.
But no one is forced to watch. I assume ratings are good enough that they make money on them, but I would like them to change the name of the channel at least. Maybe the Ax Picker Pawn Car People Channel.
I recall, and miss, the Tech shows they had.
Wings, featuring aircraft etc.
Reruns now, if at all.
Probably you are right.
Gradual reduction in anything we’d consider watching, increase in touchy feely good “wuv da Urf” stuff.
And every time my 14 year old son sees a commercial for Tree House Masters he asks me “What do tree houses have to do with animals? It’s ANIMAL Planet! I want animals!”
Outstanding!
Maybe he can get the History Channel back to history, and away from Pawn Stars and American Pickers (I like both of those shows, BTW)
Frank got it right, a long, long time ago:
I am gross and perverted
Im obsessed n deranged
I have existed for years
But very little had changed
I am the tool of the government
And industry too
For I am destined to rule
And regulate you
I may be vile and pernicious
But you can’t look away
I make you think Im delicious
With the stuff that I say
I am the best you can get
Have you guessed me yet?
I am the slime oozin out
From your tv set
You will obey me while I lead you
And eat the garbage that I feed you
Until the day that we don’t need you
Don’t got for help...no one will heed you
Your mind is totally controlled
It has been stuffed into my mold
And you will do as you are told
Until the rights to you are sold
That’s right, folks..
Don’t touch that dial
Well, I am the slime from your video
Oozin along on your livinroom floor
I am the slime from your video
Cant stop the slime, people, lookit me go
Do it again now
HUH? American Pickers is about history. So is Pawn Stars really. I could even say Counting Cars is as well. American Restoration would also be one. Why? Look on Pawn Stars at the experts. They are historians in their fields. You can't do the picking American Pickers does without significant history knowledge. One of the places they picked was a museum that one of the best historians in Tennessee owns. Too bad he had suffered a stroke and could not be on the show. His daughter was instead.
Counting Cars? The owner is an automotive historian. A lot of history is in his showroom. American Restoration? A lot of research has to be done to make something restored to it's original design. In these type of shows you are getting history lessons with a plot that's all. I liked Cajun Pawn Stars as well. Swamp People? You learn about traditions and sustenance living. The father and son team who are Indians have used centuries old methods to harvest gators.
Mountain Men is another good one except for the guy in North Carolina who rode a horse down a busy street in traffic. A good horse owner would never do that. The Alaska trapper? Realistic as can be. The Montana trapper/tanner? Same thing. They are passing down traditions & telling them to a generation of adults and kids who watch and learn.
I remember when History Channel would show a historical movie (Patton, etc), and they had a panel of quality historians during the movie breaks to discuss the historical correctness. Real historians, not revisionists.
The channel leadership respected the audience and the subject.
Different network, unfortunately. According to Wikipedia these are the ones owned by Discovery:
Discovery Channel TLC Animal Planet Investigation Discovery Oprah Winfrey Network Science Discovery Family American Heroes Channel Destination America Discovery Fit & Health Velocity Discovery en Español Discovery Familia Discovery Digital Networks
They are trash channels now.
There was a time when TLC was The Learning Channel. Then they decided to become The Lowest Common Denominator Channel. And along the way the others also decided to jump into the race to the bottom.
You mean there aren’t any Mermaids? Jeez, I thought I saw some at Weeki Wachi (sp).
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