# Why didn't any of you bastards tell me about the Smithsonian Channel? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 23, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825 "2012-05-23T13:32:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/1 "2012-05-23T13:32:52Z")
The Smithsonian Channel seems right up Doper Alley. Documentaries galore and not a single alien bigfoot ghost to be found. I’m sure you all have been enjoying the varied and interesting films and snickering at dumb me trying to find something worthwhile on the Discovery/Science channels. And the shows are so eclectic. In a short span of time I saw [The Sweet Lady with the Nasty Voice,](http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/site/sn/show.do?show=131421) about a practically unknown rock and roll founding mother Wanda Jackson, [Unleashed: A Dogumentary](http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/site/sn/show.do?show=134423) about a dog parade and this episode of Mighty Ships:[Umiak I](http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/site/sn/show.do?episode=141712), an icebreaker delivering supplies and returning with nickel way up north in Canada. Shame on you all for keeping this to yourselves. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/2 "2012-05-23T13:35:06Z")
I’ve been too busy watching The Biker Channel, formerly known as The Discovery Channel. ---
**Author:** ![Boggette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@Boggette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boggette)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/3 "2012-05-23T17:48:39Z")
My guess would be that it’s because, at least with Directv, you have to pay extra for it (and a few other channels in an addition pack). I LOVE LOVE LOVE this channel, too. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/4 "2012-05-23T18:09:06Z")
I wanted to. Everybody else shushed me. ---
**Author:** ![Mithras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mithras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithras)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/5 "2012-05-23T18:38:17Z")
Smithsonian Channel’s my favorite and I try to sell people on it probably more than they’d like. If you like dog shows in general, [Martin Clunes, A Man and His Dogs](http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/site/sn/show.do?series=714) is worth watching. I saw it a bit ago and it’ll apparently be on again soon. Which leads to my only complaint about the station. They have a limited amount of programming and replay things a lot. I was surprised how interesting [Hunt For the Double Eagle](http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/site/sn/show.do?show=133183) was the first time I saw it. But it was nowhere near interesting enough to rewatch it the dozen or so times I’ve noticed it being on since. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/6 "2012-05-23T18:44:18Z")
Sadly, it’s a top-tier channel on Uverse. Upgrading my package is in consideration, at least, but I’d rather be able to swap the 150 or so sports channels for it. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/7 "2012-05-23T19:49:06Z")
> [@Mithras](#): > > Smithsonian Channel’s my favorite and I try to sell people on it probably more than they’d like. If you like dog shows in general, [Martin Clunes, A Man and His Dogs](http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/site/sn/show.do?series=714) is worth watching. I saw it a bit ago and it’ll apparently be on again soon. Which leads to my only complaint about the station. They have a limited amount of programming and replay things a lot. I was surprised how interesting [Hunt For the Double Eagle](http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/site/sn/show.do?show=133183) was the first time I saw it. But it was nowhere near interesting enough to rewatch it the dozen or so times I’ve noticed it being on since. It’s true about the repeats. I just watched Umaiki again. But it isn’t like I haven’t seen every episode of The Universe a gazillion times. Or If We Had No Moon. Or every Mythbusters ever. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/8 "2012-05-23T19:54:33Z")
Unfortunately, Comcast doesn’t carry it. So, they’re the bastards. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/9 "2012-05-23T20:09:04Z")
It’s not on the Comcast lineup, but Comcast’s On Demand has a Smithsonian Channel category. I’ve quite enjoyed some of the offerings. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/10 "2012-05-23T20:52:19Z")
Alright, who told her? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/11 "2012-05-23T21:05:25Z")
Because I didn’t know it exists! Apparently, it’s on the HD only channel line up on Brighthouse, which I do not shell over for. HARUMPH. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/12 "2012-05-23T21:28:54Z")
Top Tier on Charter also (along with BBC), which is sad for I’d love to have it. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/13 "2012-05-23T21:30:53Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > It’s not on the Comcast lineup, but Comcast’s On Demand has a Smithsonian Channel category. I’ve quite enjoyed some of the offerings. I wish it were so here, but I can’t find it in On Demand in Pima County, Arizona. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/14 "2012-05-23T22:32:23Z")
Damn! Dish Network doesn’t carry it, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/15 "2012-05-24T02:19:35Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Unfortunately, Comcast doesn’t carry it. So, they’re the bastards. They do in where I am in PA, although you have to go fairly high up in the packages to get it. I found out they had it a few months ago, and I don’t recall getting a notice about it. You might want to check again to see if it’s been added. Now, if they’d just add the NASA channel… ---
**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:** [May 24, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/16 "2012-05-24T02:52:07Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > They do in where I am in PA, although you have to go fairly high up in the packages to get it. I found out they had it a few months ago, and I don’t recall getting a notice about it. You might want to check again to see if it’s been added. > > Now, if they’d just add the NASA channel… No. I do pay for a fairly high tier of digital channels. I even checked the Smithsonian Channel’s site for info. They tell me it’s not available on Comcast in my area. If other areas have it, perhaps mine will sooner or later. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/17 "2012-05-24T04:03:40Z")
God damn it! Who told **Biggirl** about this. Now we have to find a new channel. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/18 "2012-05-24T13:39:27Z")
“Mighty Ships” is a cool show. I don’t have the Smithsonian channel, but it airs on Discovery in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/19 "2012-05-24T13:55:45Z")
Comcast carries it in my area, but on a higher tier than I will pay for. Which is a real shame as I would totally love it. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825/20 "2012-05-24T15:58:16Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Now, if they’d just add the NASA channel… Why don’t all systems carry this? Isn’t it free to the cable company? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-any-of-you-bastards-tell-me-about-the-smithsonian-channel/622825.md?page=2)