# tv channels that changed their formats from what they started as ... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2016, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817 "2016-07-24T23:57:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![storyguide3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@storyguide3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyguide3)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/21 "2016-07-25T18:43:01Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The Military Channel used to be Discovery Wings, but they broadened beyond aviation. And it is now the American Heroes Channel. Not sure if it has the same programming or not as I can’t get past the name. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2016, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/22 "2016-07-25T19:12:33Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > PBS programming has also changed drastically in recent years, **since they were bought out by the Koch brothers** , most likely to keep this movie (which I have seen, and isn’t even all that interesting) off the network. > > [http://watch.citizenkoch.com/](http://watch.citizenkoch.com/) (bolding added) Cite for this? Being a large donor is not equal to “buying out.” What I hate about my local PBS stations’ programming is the slavish attention to all the woo hypesters like Wayne Dyer and Deepak Chopra, all in the interests of fundraising. But even with that, the basic programming, although it has evolved somewhat over the years, is still recognizably the same channel as it was 30 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2016, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/23 "2016-07-25T19:53:17Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I’m not sure it’s possible to provide a more glaring example than MTV. …and MuchMusic: > **[Much (TV channel)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Much_(TV_channel))** > > Much is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by BCE Inc. through its Bell Media subsidiary that airs programming aimed at teenagers and young adults. Prior to 2013, the channel was officially known as MuchMusic, though "Much" has been the branding most commonly seen on-air since 1997. > MuchMusic launched on August 31, 1984, under the ownership of CHUM Limited, and was originally focused on music programming, including blocks of music videos and original series focu... ---
**Author:** ![Brodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Brodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brodi)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/24 "2016-07-25T21:00:37Z")
Animal Planet from 1996-2008 had shows like Breed All About It! (discussed a different breed of dog each episode), K-9 to 5 (about working dogs), Animal Cops: Houston/Detroit/Miami (about animal control officers) and other informative shows. From 2008 on it became just another reality/pseudo-documentary (bigfoot, ghosts, etc) channel. ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_from\_CB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@Alex\_from\_CB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_from_CB)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/25 "2016-07-25T22:40:38Z")
The Military channel used to be Discovery Wings. They changed to AHC a few years ago, which is something like, American Heros Channel. However, I’ve heard it refered to, correctly so to as… The\*\* All Hitler Channe\*\*l. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/26 "2016-07-25T22:46:13Z")
That’s what the History Channel used to be, before they went to a UFO’s and Pawn Stars format. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/27 "2016-07-25T22:49:30Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > So MTV Live has suffered such Network Decay that it’s no longer a TV but a radio? > 😃 Radio killed the video star. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/28 "2016-07-25T22:54:26Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I’m not sure it’s possible to provide a more glaring example than MTV. What I came in to say. Went from cool to suck ass stupid. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/29 "2016-07-26T00:52:19Z")
I only get DIY occasionally, but it sure doesn’t have much do-it-yourself content, if any. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2016, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/30 "2016-07-26T00:57:02Z")
It makes me glad I dropped my cable a few years ago and just watch broadcast TV. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2016, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/31 "2016-07-26T01:04:35Z")
> [@Alex\_from\_CB](#): > > The Military channel used to be Discovery Wings. They changed to AHC a few years ago, which is something like, American Heros Channel. However, I’ve heard it refered to, correctly so to as… The\*\* All Hitler Channe\*\*l. Showing all Hitler all the time at least had some relationship to History’s original charter. Nowadays it’s about Pawn Stars and ancient aliens. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2016, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/32 "2016-07-26T01:05:21Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > The gameshow network … used to be all the classic gameshows from the 50s to the 90s now they make their own and ahow replays of more modern shows but they started another network buzzr which they use its old library on Buzzr and GSN are owned by two different sets of companies. Buzzr is owned by Fremantle, which owns the rights to all of the Goodson-Todman shows, which is why a lot of them no longer appear on GSN, as they have to be licensed to air from Buzzr’s owners. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/33 "2016-07-26T01:19:48Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Buzzr and GSN are owned by two different sets of companies. Buzzr is owned by Fremantle, which owns the rights to all of the Goodson-Todman shows, which is why a lot of them no longer appear on GSN, as they have to be licensed to air from Buzzr’s owners. ahh ok I thought they were a spin off … I remember usa started the old gameshow reruns years and years ago ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2016, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/34 "2016-07-26T01:26:35Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > Showing all Hitler all the time at least had some relationship to History’s original charter. Nowadays it’s about Pawn Stars and ancient aliens. And at least, the Nazis always lost. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/35 "2016-07-26T01:56:09Z")
The Food Channel used to focus on TEACHING cooking. Now it’s cooking porn. Watch the lady in a low cut top cook you’d never fix for your family. Or cooking competitions that have challenges with little to do with real life. Even a reality game show with fake cooks. Julie Child would weep if she were still alive. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2016, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/36 "2016-07-26T23:55:07Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > One good thing about Ted Turner: TCM (Turner Classic Movies) is still pretty much the same. Lots of movies rarely seen (they have a couple from the early 1930s on this afternoon) without commercial interruption. Yeah, that’s pretty much the only channel I can think of that hasn’t gone through network decay at all. The one that bothered me the most was when Comcast bought TechTV and then merged it with their own mediocre G4. By the time the channel eventually went under, it had become so far decayed from what either of those had been that it was essentially a mercy killing. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/37 "2016-07-27T01:41:02Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > One good thing about Ted Turner: TCM (Turner Classic Movies) is still pretty much the same. Lots of movies rarely seen (they have a couple from the early 1930s on this afternoon) without commercial interruption. Ted Turner hasn’t had operational control over the Time Warner TV properties for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/38 "2016-07-27T03:53:15Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > (bolding added) Cite for this? Being a large donor is not equal to “buying out.” What I hate about my local PBS stations’ programming is the slavish attention to all the woo hypesters like Wayne Dyer and Deepak Chopra, all in the interests of fundraising. But even with that, the basic programming, although it has evolved somewhat over the years, is still recognizably the same channel as it was 30 years ago. Don’t need one. It seems that the majority of PBS programming (at least, what I watch) mentions the Kochs in the sponsor list that they broadcast at the beginning or end. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/39 "2016-07-27T10:16:03Z")
I have no idea what _The Esquire Network_ airs, but all I know is I soooo miss the heyday of _TechTV_ with Leo LaPorte, Patrick Norton and all the cute girls (I know, it’s online now, but it’s not the same…) ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817/40 "2016-07-27T11:42:06Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The Food Channel used to focus on TEACHING cooking. > > Now it’s cooking porn. Watch the lady in a low cut top cook you’d never fix for your family. Or cooking competitions that have challenges with little to do with real life. Even a reality game show with fake cooks. > > Julie Child would weep if she were still alive. Oh, I’m with you on this. Food Network has no imagination at all. It’s all cooking contests ALL the time. Occasionally, they’ll feature some restaurant, but still, boring. Why don’t they come up with some programs that show the history of different foods? Why some people’s food customs are different than others? Why not programs on the future of food? What to do in a famine? Gory details about Ukraine in the 30’s? Details of famous people’s eating habits? You could even revive **Meeting of Minds** where famous dead people come together at dinner parties and talk about stuff. C’mon, I came up with all this just sitting on a bus. It’s not that hard to think creatively, TV programmers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-channels-that-changed-their-formats-from-what-they-started-as/760817.md?page=3)