Why doesn’t the History Channel just change its name

[Mark Giardina]

Almost of the shows on the History Channel today have nothing to do with history.

On Sundays for example, the network airs reruns of “Pawn Stars” all day long. Since when does Rick Harrison, the ‘Old Man’, ‘Big Hoss’and Chumlee have anything to do with history?
Then there are the spin-offs from “Pawn Stars” which also monopolizes a good portion of that network’s broadcast day.

Granted the History Channel at one time was called the “Hitler Channel” because of the numerous airings of stories about Schiklegruber, but at least he was (unfortunately) part of history.

There are numerous movies and documentaries based on historical events that the History Channel could carry.

If the executives at the network want to air Pawn Stars and similar programs then either create a new channel or just change the name of the History Channel to something else.

 

[secondchoice]

The name is not important when reality (?) is the programing. How many music videos on MTV lately?

IMHO Ice Road Truckers makes Pawn Stars look cerebral . At least on Pawn Stars occasionally there is a "historical" item.

 

[Mark Giardina]

The name is not important when reality (?) is the programing. How many music videos on MTV lately?

IMHO Ice Road Truckers makes Pawn Stars look cerebral . At least on Pawn Stars occasionally there is a "historical" item.

Well when you put it that way the Weather Channel is now featuring movies and other non-weather related programs.

 

[TheBigA]

People don't watch channels. They watch shows. The channel name doesn't matter to anyone.

 

[landtuna]

I dumped sat several years ago when History went box of rocks. Refuse to pay for that crap. Too bad too because at one time History Channel was the only reason I subscribed. Now days I can catch the very few shows I want to watch on YouTube.

 

[landtuna]

I dumped sat several years ago when History went box of rocks. Refuse to pay for that crap. Too bad too because at one time History Channel was the only reason I subscribed. Now days I can catch the very few shows I want to watch on YouTube.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

I'm glad I live in Canada, where the CRTC dictates that each TV station must deliver a "Promise of performance" honoring why they should have a broadcast licence.
None of this call it one thing do another crap!
(not including the loopholes, respectfully)

 

[ajc_trw]

Eventually all non-live programming will be available on demand as many shows are available on YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, Verizon VOD etc. So it doesn't matter what they're called to them so long as you call them up on your cable box.

 

[sandiegoinexile]

Almost of the shows on the History Channel today have nothing to do with history.

Under this rationale, why don't all shows on FOX feature carnivorous mammals of the dog family with pointed muzzles and bushy tails, proverbial for their cunning? And shouldn't the Fox News Channel only show reports on our furry friends (ie news about foxes)?

Or Spike only featuring thin, pointed pieces of metal, wood, or another rigid material?
Or Oxygen showing only colorless, odorless reactive gas?

History is just a word, a name that has high viewer recognition. If their WWI documentaries and Hitler infomercials had gotten ratings, then we wouldn't see the shift to hillbilly chic programming, a tactic which has gotten them to be a Top Five cable channel.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Or Oxygen showing only colorless, odorless reactive gas?

Yes! Take a loop of tower cameras across the country. 15 minutes in Portland, ME, 15 minutes in Burlington, VT, and so on through the country. The perfect antidote to trash talk.

 

[nomadcowatbk]

The name is not important when reality (?) is the programing. How many music videos on MTV lately?

MTV doesn't even have "Music Television" in it's name anymore, just initials.

 

[nomadcowatbk]

People don't watch channels. They watch shows. The channel name doesn't matter to anyone.

For adults maybe, when I was kid I watch Nickelodeon even if I didn't like whatever was on there much.

 

[nomadcowatbk]

Eventually all non-live programming will be available on demand as many shows are available on YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, Verizon VOD etc. So it doesn't matter what they're called to them so long as you call them up on your cable box.

eventually pay TV subscribers may just be sports fans and tech illiterate senior citizens

 

[nomadcowatbk]

Almost of the shows on the History Channel today have nothing to do with history.

Under this rationale, why don't all shows on FOX feature carnivorous mammals of the dog family with pointed muzzles and bushy tails, proverbial for their cunning? And shouldn't the Fox News Channel only show reports on our furry friends (ie news about foxes)?

Or Spike only featuring thin, pointed pieces of metal, wood, or another rigid material?
Or Oxygen showing only colorless, odorless reactive gas?

or MTV showing programming about the letter M? ;D

 

[KML0224]

Discovery's other sister channel, TLC, does the exact same thing. All "TLC" stands for today is a Total Load of Crap!

 

[Morgan Wick]

Almost of the shows on the History Channel today have nothing to do with history.

Under this rationale, why don't all shows on FOX feature carnivorous mammals of the dog family with pointed muzzles and bushy tails, proverbial for their cunning? And shouldn't the Fox News Channel only show reports on our furry friends (ie news about foxes)?

"But that's what they do... the foxes in the Democratic Party, that is!"

Or Spike only featuring thin, pointed pieces of metal, wood, or another rigid material?
Or Oxygen showing only colorless, odorless reactive gas?

Spike and Oxygen were specifically named to be evocative if not descriptive. History, or more accurately the History Channel, isn't evocative of anything except history. About the only reason they haven't started calling themselves "THC" like TLC does is the snickering such a name would earn them.

History is just a word, a name that has high viewer recognition. If their WWI documentaries and Hitler infomercials had gotten ratings, then we wouldn't see the shift to hillbilly chic programming, a tactic which has gotten them to be a Top Five cable channel.

What does this last sentence say about America?

Eventually all non-live programming will be available on demand as many shows are available on YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, Verizon VOD etc. So it doesn't matter what they're called to them so long as you call them up on your cable box.

eventually pay TV subscribers may just be sports fans and tech illiterate senior citizens

Depends on what you mean by "pay TV". Sadly, a lot of cable shows may require you to "authenticate" with a participating cable provider unless something is done to shake up the status quo, like a la carte. A lot of programming will probably still be of the sort you pay for, just over the Internet. If things get to the point you describe, ESPN may start offering standalone WatchESPN subscriptions. And the TV of the future may make it possible for even "tech illiterate senior citizens" to watch shows on-demand over the Internet. And of course, all this requires someone to deliver the Internet to your home...

 

[LKellerIII]

Echoing the posts of others - brands have value, and it's pretty clear that the Cable network default these days is to keep your original brand name, even when you've veered way off your original premise, and are running primarily reruns and typical reality shows. There is very little evidence of the "arts" for example on A&E - the Arts and Entertainment Network. I guess "E" was already taken. The only exception I can think of is The Nashville Network/National Network/Spike TV.

This is true outside of the broadcasting industry as well. For example, the American Association of Retired Persons thought an adjustment was in order because people aren't retiring as young as they used to, and that organization really wanted to be seen as representing all older Americans. So it became just "AARP" - just letters without a meaning, but retaining the brand known to most people.

 

[anotherguyTN]

My wife is in her 40's and has received AARP ads. :

 

[quadraphonic]

People don't watch channels. They watch shows. The channel name doesn't matter to anyone.

For adults maybe, when I was kid I watch Nickelodeon even if I didn't like whatever was on there much.

That was back when Nickelodeon was the only 24/7 channel for kids, even on cable. It wasn't even shortened to Nick yet, prolly. That's how long ago it was.
Plus, you were a kid with nothing but free time (unless you were at work when you caught Nickelodeon), why change the channel, something good's gonna come on later.

 

[nomadcowatbk]

People don't watch channels. They watch shows. The channel name doesn't matter to anyone.

For adults maybe, when I was kid I watch Nickelodeon even if I didn't like whatever was on there much.

That was back when Nickelodeon was the only 24/7 channel for kids, even on cable. It wasn't even shortened to Nick yet, prolly. That's how long ago it was.
Plus, you were a kid with nothing but free time (unless you were at work when you caught Nickelodeon), why change the channel, something good's gonna come on later.

This was during the 90s during weekdays when school was out when the cable system only had 36 channels, Disney was still a premium channel and they didn't have CN available. I even watched Nick Jr when I was probably too old for it. Kids might watch brands, but adults don't. They know what to expect from brands but they don't watch them, they watch shows.