Does your basic cable lineup include TCM?

[searadiofreak]

This channel is probably one of the last basic cable channels with no commercials. I applaud them for that. Though I worry this won't last exactly for that reason.

Tonight they offered a great movie, "Double Indemnity", that you are not likely to see anywhere else.

I know they rely on donations and purchase of their products, much like PBS, but I would suggest those who enjoy classic movies to enjoy this while they can, because they are unique in their presence on basic cable in many markets.
Either they will become a pay channel, or they will go the route of AMC, which is nothing like they were 20 years ago.

Thoughts?

 

[carolinaradio]

Do you mean analog cable?

If so, Charter used to carry it in Greenville, SC on analog but I believe it's been moved to Digital along with many other channels.

DirecTV includes it in all packages, and I believe DISH has it in its most popular package.

 

[landtuna]

Turner Classic Movies is pretty much the only cable service I miss after I shut down cable several years ago. Fortunately, some of the better movies are available in other venues - and even if I have to buy one to see it, it still costs much less than the monthly cable bill and then I have the movie to enjoy forever.

 

[Kenny Atkinson]

Here in Rhode Island on Cox it's available on the Economy pkg for 35.00 a month but not the next pkg at 60.00.go figure

 

[vchimpanzee]

I have it on the cheapest package, which includes only broadcast channels, shopping channels, local access, WGN America, TV Guide Channel and a local news channel.

TBS and TCM are watchable for some reason, like analog stations some distance away.

But I don't try to watch because I want to really be able to comprehend what I'm seeing (and I don't have time; furthermore, my TiVo won't tape anything that's not perfect). I made an exception for "A Christmas Story" several years ago.

 

[landtuna]

TBS and TCM are watchable for some reason, like analog stations some distance away.

But I don't try to watch because I want to really be able to comprehend what I'm seeing (and I don't have time; furthermore, my TiVo won't tape anything that's not perfect). I made an exception for "A Christmas Story" several years ago.

What? TCM is "watchable" but you don't watch it because you're not able to comprehend and don't have time?

Most of what TCM used to broadcast was in B&W and a significant number of those films dated from the 30's and 40's. The prints seemed to be good back then and I'm sure they have gotten some newer releases since so don't see what the problem is.

 

[vchimpanzee]

TBS and TCM are watchable for some reason, like analog stations some distance away.

But I don't try to watch because I want to really be able to comprehend what I'm seeing (and I don't have time; furthermore, my TiVo won't tape anything that's not perfect). I made an exception for "A Christmas Story" several years ago.

What? TCM is "watchable" but you don't watch it because you're not able to comprehend and don't have time?

Most of what TCM used to broadcast was in B&W and a significant number of those films dated from the 30's and 40's. The prints seemed to be good back then and I'm sure they have gotten some newer releases since so don't see what the problem is.

Watchable in the sense I'd have to adjust the antenna to understand what was being said or see images.

Like analog TV if you're a long way from the station.

Only there's no antenna to adjust.

 

[azumanga]

TBS and TCM are watchable for some reason, like analog stations some distance away.

But I don't try to watch because I want to really be able to comprehend what I'm seeing (and I don't have time; furthermore, my TiVo won't tape anything that's not perfect). I made an exception for "A Christmas Story" several years ago.

What? TCM is "watchable" but you don't watch it because you're not able to comprehend and don't have time?

Most of what TCM used to broadcast was in B&W and a significant number of those films dated from the 30's and 40's. The prints seemed to be good back then and I'm sure they have gotten some newer releases since so don't see what the problem is.

Watchable in the sense I'd have to adjust the antenna to understand what was being said or see images.

Like analog TV if you're a long way from the station.

Only there's no antenna to adjust.

In other words -- watching it through a signal tap, right?

For a brief time in the 1990s, we had a tap installed, as our family could only afford the bare bones basic channels which at the time was anything from 2 to 15, with anything above 16 blocked. However, we were able to get Lifetime, which was on 23 back then -- a little snowy, but still watchable.

 

[Mario500]

Comcast Cablevision of Mobile (Alabama) provides programming from Turner Classic Movies as part of their digital starter programming tier, which includes programming for the limited basic tier.

I have it on the cheapest package, which includes only broadcast channels, shopping channels, local access, WGN America, TV Guide Channel and a local news channel.

TBS and TCM are watchable for some reason, like analog stations some distance away.

But I don't try to watch because I want to really be able to comprehend what I'm seeing (and I don't have time; furthermore, my TiVo won't tape anything that's not perfect). I made an exception for "A Christmas Story" several years ago.

Note to future Internet researchers: TiVos were machines that recorded video to hard drives, not tapes. The word "tape" was commonly used as a verb for recording video and audio onto VHS tapes. After digital video recording became common, the word "tape" was used a verb for recording video and audio no matter the formats for which they were recorded. 

 

[K6JHU]

Just like "dialing" a phone

 

[landtuna]

Note to future Internet researchers: TiVos were machines that recorded video to hard drives, not tapes. The word "tape" was commonly used as a verb for recording video and audio onto VHS tapes. After digital video recording became common, the word "tape" was used a verb for recording video and audio no matter the formats for which they were recorded.

Yeah.....I love it when TV "professionals" use the term "tape" in their reports. Seems once a term gets into general usage it is very difficult to dislodge.

 

[azumanga]

Note to future Internet researchers: TiVos were machines that recorded video to hard drives, not tapes. The word "tape" was commonly used as a verb for recording video and audio onto VHS tapes. After digital video recording became common, the word "tape" was used a verb for recording video and audio no matter the formats for which they were recorded.

Yeah.....I love it when TV "professionals" use the term "tape" in their reports. Seems once a term gets into general usage it is very difficult to dislodge.

Along the same token -- "filming" a television program when it's either recorded on videotape or digitally.

 

[fybush]

Note to future Internet researchers: TiVos were machines that recorded video to hard drives, not tapes. The word "tape" was commonly used as a verb for recording video and audio onto VHS tapes. After digital video recording became common, the word "tape" was used a verb for recording video and audio no matter the formats for which they were recorded.

I am trying to conceive of a world in which "future Internet researchers" will have access to the complete archives of an obscure privately-run set of message boards but won't have access to Wikipedia. I find it difficult to do so.

(note to future Internet researchers: "Wikipedia" was a flawed, but sometimes useful, attempt at creating a crowdsourced online encyclopedia

 

[vchimpanzee]

Comcast Cablevision of Mobile (Alabama) provides programming from Turner Classic Movies as part of their digital starter programming tier, which includes programming for the limited basic tier.

I have it on the cheapest package, which includes only broadcast channels, shopping channels, local access, WGN America, TV Guide Channel and a local news channel.

TBS and TCM are watchable for some reason, like analog stations some distance away.

But I don't try to watch because I want to really be able to comprehend what I'm seeing (and I don't have time; furthermore, my TiVo won't tape anything that's not perfect). I made an exception for "A Christmas Story" several years ago.

Note to future Internet researchers: TiVos were machines that recorded video to hard drives, not tapes. The word "tape" was commonly used as a verb for recording video and audio onto VHS tapes. After digital video recording became common, the word "tape" was used a verb for recording video and audio no matter the formats for which they were recorded.

Thank you for that.

And I still use VHS, though it's harder.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Note to future Internet researchers: TiVos were machines that recorded video to hard drives, not tapes. The word "tape" was commonly used as a verb for recording video and audio onto VHS tapes. After digital video recording became common, the word "tape" was used a verb for recording video and audio no matter the formats for which they were recorded.

I am trying to conceive of a world in which "future Internet researchers" will have access to the complete archives of an obscure privately-run set of message boards but won't have access to Wikipedia. I find it difficult to do so.

(note to future Internet researchers: "Wikipedia" was a flawed, but sometimes useful, attempt at creating a crowdsourced online encyclopedia

To which I have made 22,000 contributions, the majority of which are little things like correcting spelling or grammar.