# If you could only have three cable channels, what would they be? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 2, 2004, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504 "2004-11-02T06:14:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![N.Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f19dbf/32.png) [@N.Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N.Sane)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/21 "2004-11-02T15:18:37Z")
For me, it would be History Channel (although enough with Hitler already) A&E Discovery For my husband, it would be Weather Channel Sports something Sports something ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/22 "2004-11-02T15:24:23Z")
Let’s see? Mine would have to be: Cartoon Network Sci-Fi Channel Comedy Central ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/23 "2004-11-02T15:24:51Z")
Discovery Channel Animal Planet TLC circa 1991 ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/24 "2004-11-02T15:33:09Z")
Bravo SpikeTV A&E The best mix of West Wing, Star Trek, movies, and pure unadulterated trash. Kinda. ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/25 "2004-11-02T15:35:53Z")
Outdoor Life Network Food Network And I’d have a hard time choosing between TLC and Discovery Channel ---
**Author:** ![Kyyrewyyoae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Kyyrewyyoae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyyrewyyoae)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/26 "2004-11-02T15:36:37Z")
Comedy Central, for all the reasons above. ESPN, naturally TNT because of their sports coverage FUSE is cool too. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/27 "2004-11-02T15:41:20Z")
Boy y’all really are a bunch of geeks…I can’t believe nobody’s even mentioned the Playboy Channel or Spice or whatever the new porn TV stations are. Come on now, be honest…not even one of 'em :dubious: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Incognito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guy_incognito/32/3920_2.png) [@Guy\_Incognito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Incognito)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/28 "2004-11-02T15:42:26Z")
> [@UrbanChic](#): > > Comedy Central, Cartoon Network and HBO. My three exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/29 "2004-11-02T15:46:10Z")
In no particular order… Discovery - love those insect shows Showtime - Queer as Folk (I’m addicted) Science Channel - 'cause I’m a nerd ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/30 "2004-11-02T16:18:05Z")
My three would be: NESN - I get this through DirectTVs Extra Innings package during the baseball season. It is my personal crack. They charge $169 for the year, I am not sure I wouldn’t pay ten times that. My wife and I watched nothing but Red Sox games through the summer, I would guess we saw 140 of the 162 regular season games. ESPN - I couldn’t cope without Sports Center and the World Series of Poker. AMC - This last one is tough, I love South Park and The Daily Show, but I also love torturing my wife with old war movies on weekend mornings. A steady diet of _Spellbound_ and \*The Guns of Navarone \* are something I could live on. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/31 "2004-11-02T16:27:06Z")
Turner Classic Movies BBC America Three way tie between Bravo, Food Network and QVC. If forced to pick one, I gotta go with Food Network ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/32 "2004-11-02T16:44:11Z")
> [@Amp](#): > > Let’s see? Mine would have to be: > > Cartoon Network > Sci-Fi Channel > Comedy Central Those would be my choices as well. I currently spend waaaay too much time watching crappy celebrity shows on E! and VH-1 but I could go without… ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/33 "2004-11-02T16:56:45Z")
Cartoon Network Food Network and if I have to choose a third - I guess TNT for the Law & Order reruns. I think I could get by, though, with only my first two choices. Susan ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/34 "2004-11-02T16:59:47Z")
Comedy Central, The History Channel, and…ooh, we have to pick a third? Let’s see, Discovery’s going to shit just like TLC did. I’ll pick one that’s not in my basic cable package and say History Channel International. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/35 "2004-11-02T17:09:51Z")
Only three? (This would be a lot easier with four or five.) I’d have to say: ESPN Comedy Central MSNBC ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/36 "2004-11-02T17:18:29Z")
The Learning Channel - I’m addicted to Clean Sweep. Food Network I toggle between these two all the time. I guess if I needed another one, NGEO medical. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/37 "2004-11-02T17:36:02Z")
Comedy Central ESPN HBO The runner up would be CNN. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/38 "2004-11-02T18:21:33Z")
It’s a trcky choice Top of the list would have to be Hitler, sorry History, Channel. Number two would have to be the Comedy Channel. South Park \*and \* The Daily Show. But number three? Should I pick OLN? Not for the endless huntin’/fishin’ shows, but the three glorious weeks in the summer when they inexplicably show live coverage of the Tour de France. SPEED? Ditto, but it is the only way to watch F1 racing. SciFi channel? Great concept, but the almost complete lack of original programs is a bit of a downer. FOOD? Iron chef and Alton Brown, but too much Emeril to nake it a realistic choice. IFC? Perhaps- plenty of oddball films, which is god, but they don’t braodcast in HD. Which brings me to my winner: HBOHD. Good (alright, passable)films, shown uncut, no commercials, all in glorious High Definition. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/39 "2004-11-02T21:40:50Z")
Comedy Central GSN (I can’t miss my Extreme Dodgeball) Spike However, once I get tired of watching DS9 reruns, I would want to drop Spike for… maybe the History Channel? ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504/40 "2004-11-02T22:21:45Z")
> [@picker](#): > > Comedy Central > ESPN > HBO Mine exactly. However, my runner up would not be CNN. It would be Starz. Having two Saturday Night Premieres is quite nice, but I can’t live without HBO originals, SportsCenter, (not to mention Sunday Night Football), and all the must-sees on CC. (Daily Show, Chappelle’s Show, South Park, Reno 911) Equally tough would be packaging your top 3 cable networks with 1 broadcast network, without being able to reshuffle the 3-to-1 distribution. (No picking 2 networks and 2 cable channels, for instance.) I’d reluctantly go with ABC for MNF, but I’d be pissed. At least it’s got _Lost_. But I’d seriously miss _Scrubs_ and _ER_, not to mention all the decent (if not great) CBS sitcoms. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-have-three-cable-channels-what-would-they-be/272504.md?page=3)