Posted on 01/03/2005 1:56:06 AM PST by kattracks
The Military Channel is reporting for duty.It's the newest spinoff cable channel from Discovery Networks, which next week converts its Wings channel to The Military Channel, the nation's first TV network devoted to all things military.
The switch, which will take place officially at 8 p.m. (20:00 in military time) on Monday, Jan. 10, will be reflected in new logos and graphics, as well as new programming.
The new channel will take up residence on Time Warner Cable's digital tier at Ch. 112, the current home of Discovery Wings.
The Military Channel's first show will be "Task Force Red Dog," a one-hour special about a unit of Marine Corps reservists called up to active duty and sent to the "front lines" in the war on terror in Afghanistan.
"Our reason for being is to tell stories, which is what Discovery and our family of networks have done for 20 years," said David Karp, senior vice president and general manager of Discovery Wings and the officer who is leading the charge in retooling the channel for military use.
Other shows planned so far are "Delta Company," a two-hour look at a U.S. tank battalion on the road to Baghdad in the Iraq war (Jan. 10, 9 p.m.); "Top Ten," a series of specials ranking the top technological innovations in military history (Jan. 28, 8 p.m.); and "The Blue Angels: A Year in the Life," a four-hour world-premiere documentary about the Navy's elite flying group (March 17 and 18).
[snip]
"The channel is not about taking political sides," he said. "We're about telling stories of people and of technology, but not about the political context or political ramifications. We are not a news outlet. If people want news [and] commentary, there are other outlets for that."
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Gawd, I used to love Discovery before it became the Monster-House/Car/Motorcycle/Whatever Channel. Even TLC has degenerated into a Frankensteinian mix of HGTV, HotRod Channel, Androgynous People with Power Tools, and Martha Stewart. The History Channel is about the only one left that still programs predictably, but their narration content is just junk most of the time.
I immediately enrolled for VOOM satellite TV. I'll see if they're any better for 6 months. If not I'll switch back if I have to.
What good is a military channel if all I see is big squares? /rant off
I agree completely. The only show on Discovery lately that I enjoy is Mythbusters. TLC? Forget it - they've been useless for years. "A Baby Story", "A Wedding Story", "A Dating Story"; what is this? All this remodeling garbage.
I remember when they used to play Doctors' Sunday on TLC... That was good TV!
So is Wings history??
A friend of mine saw some of it last night. And yes, OUR GUYS ROCK! From what he witnessed, most of the footage was shot of our guys, by our guys, during the opening days of the war in Iraq. Information passed to me on what happened sounded pretty good. Gotta get satellite, I guess...
Go Behind the Lines When Discovery Wings Channel Becomes the Military Channel on January 10, 2005
Press Release
November 30, 2004
Network's New Mission Will Offer a Broad Focus on All Aspects of the Military With a Wide Array of Programming About its People, Strategy, Technology and History
Silver Spring, Md.-- Bringing viewers compelling, real-world stories of heroism, military strategy, technological breakthroughs and turning points in history, Discovery Communications, Inc. announced today that it will transition its Discovery Wings Channel to the Military Channel on Monday, January 10, 2005.
While Discovery Wings Channel focused exclusively on aviation, the Military Channel will feature a dramatically broadened programming mission, as well as an all-new on-air look. The network's revamped slate of series and specials is designed to take viewers "behind the lines" to tell the personal stories of servicemen and women and offer in-depth explorations of military technology, battlefield strategy, aviation and history. The Military Channel also provides access to military personnel and hardware, allowing viewers to experience and understand a world full of human drama, courage, innovation and long-held traditions.
"The Military Channel will represent the highest quality programming across a broad spectrum of military related genres that we believe consumers have a keen interest in learning more about," said Judith A. McHale, President and CEO of Discovery Communications. "In an increasingly fragmented marketplace, the Military Channel will broaden Discovery Communications' offerings and further differentiate our portfolio of emerging networks."
"We're very proud to introduce the Military Channel, a network that will apply the Discovery standards of quality, depth and storytelling to a topic of fascination and relevance in our world," said Billy Campbell, President of Discovery Networks U.S. "By covering all aspects of the military and the people who define it, we will extend the Discovery brand, create a service that appeals to our existing viewers and attract new viewers and sponsors."
"Our viewers have a deep interest in military topics and people," said David Karp, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the channel. "Our mission is to tap into this passion by providing a high-quality lens that details contemporary and historical events, explores its human elements and highlights the strategic and technological advances that define the world of the armed forces."
From Iraq and Afghanistan to historic battlefields, wartime heroes and peacetime innovators to state-of-the-art technology and the key strategies that have shaped military tactics the network's programming will cover a wide range of topics. Programming comes from sources all over the world, including Discovery Wings. The following is a sample of the original efforts planned for early 2005:
DELTA COMPANY: This multipart series puts the audience on the forefront of the action with the Marines of Delta Company 1st Tank Battalion on their push to Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom. DELTA COMPANY premieres on Monday, January 10, from 9-11 PM (ET/PT).
TASK FORCE RED DOG: This world premiere special tells the story of a unit of Marine Corps reservists, called to active duty and sent to the front line of the war on terror, a "forward operating base" deep in the mountains of Afghanistan. Their mission as a quick-response helicopter unit puts them in the epicenter of the hunt for Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban. TASK FORCE RED DOG premieres on Monday, January 10, at 8 PM (ET/PT).
TOP TEN: These specials rank the greatest technological achievements in military history, in such categories as Top Ten Fighter Aircraft and Top Ten Tanks. TOP TEN: Fighter Aircraft premieres on Friday, January 28, from 8-9 PM (ET/PT).
GOIN' BACK: Iwo Jima: This first installment of a regular series of specials allows viewers to travel with American war veterans and their families as they return to the battlefields that came to define their lives, in this case the Pacific island Iwo Jima. GOIN' BACK premieres on Thursday, February 24, at 9 PM (ET/PT).
THE BLUE ANGELS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE: This four-hour world premiere miniseries event covers a year in the life of the Navy's legendary flight group. The special takes viewers behind the scenes to meet the people and follow the intricate work that goes into being the most elite air performance team in the world. THE BLUE ANGELS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE premieres on Thursday, March 17, and Friday, March 18, from 9-11 PM (ET/PT).
RED FLAG: This two-hour special offers an unprecedented insider's view of the military's most realistic combat-training exercise held at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, where air-combat warriors train to fly, fight and win beyond the speed of sound. RED FLAG premieres on Thursday, March 31, at 9 PM (ET/PT).
BATTLE PLAN: This multipart series takes viewers into the heart of famous battles, examining the development and execution of the strategy behind each one-from the hard, fast, merciless assault of a blitzkrieg to the tactics of deception of urban warfare. BATTLE PLAN premieres on Tuesday, January 11, at 8 PM (ET/PT).
In addition to its programming efforts, the Military Channel has entered into a number of partnerships with military-related charitable, educational and marketing organizations. It is a World Partner of the USO, the nation's preeminent nonprofit organization serving the needs of the 30 million active-duty personnel, reservists and veterans, through a relationship that entails marketing, educational and programming components. The network is also working with the National D-Day Museum and the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation for educational campaigns, public services announcements, membership outreach and programming. In addition, the network is working with the website Military.com to reach the worldwide U.S. military and veteran communities.
Military Channel programming will begin airing in North America on Monday, January 10, 2005. Its first night of primetime programming will be highlighted by the world television premiere of TASK FORCE RED DOG and the two-hour special DELTA COMPANY.
I gotta go down to the cable company tomorrow and get a digital box so I can get this channel, plus other cool stuff like VH1 Classics and TechTV and History International. I'm such a geek.
Even the History Channel has a hot rod rebuild show. Spit. They have some GREAT documentaries that never get shown.
The Discovery Channel did a couple of good shows on tsunamis last weekend.
Yea, that's what SPEED Channel is for! Give me motorcycles racing around Daytona's high banks, with Busch Series and Nextel Cup all on one channel, History Channel and Fox News, there are no other channels any man would need!
Oy vey.
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