The Pet Psychic

The BBQ Pit
21

Again, I feel the need to educate you. “Network” and “channel” mean exactly the same thing.

Yes, Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Discovery Health and Travel Channel are indeed all owned by Discovery Communications, Inc. But also, you need to know that each network has it’s own general manager, scheduling department, production department, press and promotional department.

There isn’t one great Discovery god handing down edicts to the networks. Each one operates rather independently with their own agendas, schedules and demographics.

For instance, Animal Planet has an entirely different demographic target audience than TLC. AP is family oriented programming targeting such. TLC targets a 25 - 54 audience - althought it goes for the lower end of that spectrum.

Also, TLC never does programs on animals. You’ll never see a natural history documentary on TLC - unless the focus is on the humans ie a show about shark hunters. The focus will not be on the sharks but instead on the hunters.

My entire point of pointing out the DCI is not PBS was that this is ad supported cable television operation. The most important word there is advertising. The ultimate goal of any network is to get as many eyeballs to their advertisers as possible.

Anyway, I’m getting pendantic. It’s your choice to not watch Pet Psychic but to compare its airing to an organic, environmentally friendly food company producing baby seal cereal is totally over the top. You have a very skewed idea of what DCI is really in the television business to do. And that’s to make some $$$ and not to save the world.

The link that you provided is to the public outreach arm of the corporation. That’s a totally different animal.

And just to COA:

*the views reflected here are my own and do not and should not be construed to be the views or opinions of Discovery Communications, it’s networks or its agents (shameless pitch ahead)… but if you do want to watch a good program (IMO) airing on TLC, check it out this Friday at 10pm!" :stuck_out_tongue:

22

Wow trishdis! I am truly impressed by your knowledge off all things TLC (and DCI). Do you work for the company or are you just a really big fan?

BTW, I’m a big fan of Trauma Life in the ER, Junkyard Wars and Trading Spaces. I’m not so much a fan of Wedding Story, Baby Story, Pet Psychic, etc. I don’t have cable at all anymore but when I did I wathced TLC more than any of the other DCI channels.

I do think that having some of those shows (i.e. Pet Psychic) do hurt their credibility as educational stations. Obviously they have no obligation to provide quality educational programming but they do come off (at least to me) as trying to promote themselves as providers of said quality educational programming. I think that scotth’s analogy with the environmentally minded company selling endagered animal cereal was a good (although hyperbolic) analogy.

23

Er . . . no. Everything you say about DCI and its relationship to its various networks is absolutely correct, but a network and a channel are very different things. In the world of cable television the distinctions are somewhat more blurred, but over-the-air broadcasting continues to make the distinction useful.

24

Unrelated hijack, but lately some psychics in Norway are offering their services as data recovery specialists. Do they NOT HAVE ANYTHING WHATSOEVER BETTER TO DO?!

25

No?

26

Believe me, I’m with everyone who criticizes shows like Crossing Over. But I’ve got to tell you, I love Pet Psychic. I mean, I know Captain Kangaroo isn’t a real captain, and I don’t think his network is remiss in not pointing that out up front. Likewise, I know the Pet Psychic Lady isn’t a real psychic, because there are no real psychics, but she has cute animals on her show. “Cute animals on show” seems like a fine fit with the Animal Planet mission.

27

I saw “pet psychic” the other night- this woman was telling the owner of a croc (yes, a crock) that it was upset over some recent stress in his life. “My divorce?” he asked.

Oh, give me a fucking break already.

Zette

28

My bad, regarding TLC - What I meant to say was that we spotted the add running on TLC.

Yes, some of their documentaries are good. But with an archaeologist and an anthropologist in the house, we also have some issues with the stuff being presented.

I stand corrected on the rest.

E.

29

I’d rather not reveal the truth on a message board. :cool: <---- uses smiley wearing shades as symbolic incognito status.

I can sympathize with that opinion but I guess it ruffles my feathers a bit. At the end of the day, these are television networks looking to make some money. I do enjoy entertaining the thought that these ideals that I, myself, would like to ascribe to these networks and their programming are there but I think I’m jaded enough to no longer buy it.

Now, if you’d like to talk about how The LEARNING Channel went to great lengths to call itself “TLC” and tries to distance itself from its former moniker and rarely makes the effort to explain what TLC stands for… I would have to agree with you and wouldn’t have a leg to stand on if I were to try to debate you. :rolleyes:

30

I’m really not interesting in debating semantics. My point was that “network” and “channel” are used almost interchangably when discussing say Discovery Health Channel or the Discovery Health Network but is not something that you would ever hear someone use to describe Discovery Communications, Inc. - the corporporation.

31

Blast TV Guide and their need for 25 words or fewer descriptions. Don’t let that title fool you. If you were to watch the program, you would see that their is definitely an emphasis on the human element - from people who’ve been stung by killer bees, to genetists explaining the differences between killer bees and regular bees to governmental officers trying to contain the bees.

I guess I should’ve been even more pedantic and explained that I was refering to your typical “cheetah chases gazelle” nature programming.

32

Quoted from the bio of John Hendricks, founder and chairman of DCI:

(bolding mine)

It would seem there is a DCI god. In everything I have read, it is my opinion that this type of show would fall outside of what a DCI channel would carry. Many people have considerable faith in its channels presenting factual and science based entertainment programming. It is nearly inevitible and extremely unfortunate that many gullible persons will completely buy into this complete load of dung because in their mind, it would not be aired on a DCI channel if it wasn’t the real deal.

These channels (of the DCI empire) have a reputation with the public (deservedly or not) that will lend a great deal of credence to a show like this. This is why I find it particularly repulsive. While it may be a company trying to make a profit like any other, it has certainly presented itself as one that was going to do it while delivering factual programs. While I am disgusted with the major networks often, as well. At least, they haven’t made the same (tacit) covenent with their viewers.

33

Heh. If that’s the same croc as in the promos then the stress was from not being fed enough red meat. As if the fool couldn’t figure out by himself what to feed the animal.

34

Thanks Phil, for mentioning that to Ms “I don’t want to debate semantics”.

Trish, you don’t want to debate here, yet you feel the need to come in here and ‘educate’ us. :rolleyes: It comes off as smarmy and know-it-all-ish, and it’s a tad condesending to boot.

We don’t really care who you work for, the point of the OP is that it disgusts some people that a network that touts " high quality documentary programming enabling people to explore their world and satisfy their natural curiosity" (thanks to Scotth for the quote) is airing fakes like this “pet psychic”.

35

I would happen to disagree with you. I would say that even Pet Psychic would allow many people to “explore their world” and “satisfy their curiousity”.

The VIEWERS! WHO WILL THINK OF THE VIEWERS?!?

Here is where you and I will and do disagree. It’s just a television program. It’s meant for entertainment and entertainment alone. If you are someone who gets all of their knowledge and education from the boob tube, I’m more afraid you might mistake the remote for food and try to eat it, thus choking yourself in the process than I am that you might indeed believe that the Pet Psycic is “real”.

Speaking of the remote…you know, Scott, you hold a lot more power in your hand by not picking up a pen and writing the network but instead by picking up the remote and just changing the channel.

36

You guys do know that Animal Planet is the channel that has the funny pet video show with that doofus who makes dumb jokes, right? Not quite the high education we all are looking for in this particular channel.

I mean, I love Animal Planet and I love watching the documentaries, but Pet Psychic isn’t the first “non-educational” show on this network.

37

Good point.

38

I completely understand and hope that you didn’t find the question intrusive or out of line.

39

OK, how about this rant: why the hell can’t I find new broadcasts of Discovery, TLC, or AP shows that I actually like? Seems like I’ve seen every single Home Again, funny animal videos, neat stuff, weird homes, et al., ever recorded. Why must they keep airing the same shit over and over and over yet crap like the Pet Psychic get a whole new series?

40

trish: You have (probably wisely) chosen not to reveal your affiliation or lack of same with this television conglomerate. So choose the more appropriate message below.

If you do work for them, your channel is showing an insultingly shitty show.

If you do not work for them, you are independently defending an insultingly shitty show.

Have a nice day.