CMT, as you may have known it, died long, long ago. At least this series stays with the audience they are now trying to go after.
It hasn't been a country music video channel for YEARS, and expecting that it is fails to look at who controls the network (MTV Networks). Music Video networks always failed to keep people tuned in for longer periods, and thus had a hard time making money. Plus, in this day and age, music video networks have outlived their usefulness. When I can hop on the internet and watch any music video at any time, why would I even bother sitting through music videos that have been chosen for me, and all the commercials to go with it?
Plus, like it or not, MTV Networks has chosen to move their music videos on to diginets, like CMT Pure Country, MTV Hits, etc. and I wouldn't be surprised to see that practice end in the next decade as well. Cable channel space IS a premium, as is space "on the birds". The days of cable being a service about niche channels to get people to subscribe are all but over. We now HAVE the majority of people subscribing, and original content is keeping them subscribed. Cable networks had to evolve to face new threats like Netflix, DVD's, etc. No longer do old repeats, music videos, etc. keep people interested. And reality program is cheap to produce with a large potential audience.
Sat radio has met the same fate, program to the lowest common denominator.
