Why does The History Channel have so many stupid new shows?

Question

The History Channel no longer has history on it. There is almost never a legitimate show on it now. They used to show quality series on the Fall of Rome, Ancient Egypt, and they would profile ancient inventors, statesmen, kings, etc.

I think they have tried to popularize the content, and so it has lost its historical value. Now it is nothing but Ice Truckers, UFO's, MonsterQuest, Modern Marvels, and the "What if the end of the world comes tomorrow?" disaster shows. You may as well turn on CNN or the E! Channel. I think the point is that TV is so saturated with meaningless garbage, we should be exposed to something with more depth and meaning once in a while. With the "history" of food and makeup, you're better off just going shopping and buying a stack of magazines.

The programming director is insulting to our intelligence. Does anyone else agree with me? The history of ice cream production is not as historically significant as the discovery of written language!

Books are wonderful but I do a lot of work with small print during the day, so I like to see something educational on TV at night. I think the people who gave the "history is in the making" or "history is now" responses don't care enough about our evolution as human beings. The definition of history should not be so broad that we can no longer learn anything significant about the past by watching television. Cultural phenomena should have its own channel. Current events belong on CNN. I agree with the person who said that we don't care about ideas as much as we used to. People don't want to think as much as they want to be entertained.

Thank you for all the great responses and the stars! It will be difficult to pick a best answer. There were many intelligent and thoughtful answers.

Answer 1

I thought I was the only one who felt as you described above. The History Channel used to be much better than what it is now. Everything you mention above is how I feel about the programming now - insulting.

I miss the quality series as well, Rome, Egypt, statesmen, Kings & Queens, etc. Any idea who we could write a note of concern to?

Gerry - star coming your way.....

Answer 2

History Channel New Shows

Answer 3

Some of that stuff is documenting this history of popular ideas. Granted, I'm not fond of that seargent guy and modern warfare stuff, but the UFO stuff can be fun - it is exploring a *cultural* phenomenon. They don't say UFOs are from outer space or anything. What they do is show what people believe. The same with the big history of Christianity stuff we get at Christmas and Easter. It's not that they are saying these things happened, but they are exploring the cultural effects.

Monster Quest is a bit dubious, but there is a cultural belief system at work there. I mean, there are people who fully believe in el chupacabra. *shrug* The history of ice cream production shows the evolution of thought and human ingenuity. I think it is significant in some way. No, of course it's not as significant as the development of language, but that doesn't lend itself to the visual medium either. It's a lot more interesting to film about things that can be filmed. Sometimes reading *is* the best way to get your history fix. What's wrong with that?

That said, there is no defense for Ice Road Truckers.

Answer 4

The History Channel does some excellent programs. Over the Thanksgiving weekend they had a program on World War I in the Middle East. It was fascinating to see how the British and French created the basis for the current mess. But let's face it, very few people are interested in the Sykes-Picot agreement or the Treaty of Sevres. What attracts viewers is violence and trivia. Remember the History Channel's primary customers are their advertisers. They want the highest ratings, not solid information.

Answer 5

It's funny you should write this comment. I myself find the history channel bias as well but skewed to the other perspective. Programs that present the hypotheses of the development of the early world as fact or prehistory as history are frequently aired without so much as a closing caveat in the credits. Gives the impression that the origins of the earth or its inhabitants have been ascertained with certainty, which they clearly have not nor will they ever be. IMO

Answer 6

I might as well throw in my two cents worth. What happened to real history shows? American Pickers, Pawn Shop, Duck Dynasty, yes, and Ice Road Truckers are ok for a couple of times a month or three for those who like them but not constantly. I check the channel every now and again and if one of these are on (and there are others) I go somewhere else.

Answer 7

Because it's HISTORY CHANNEL and NOW is history in the making! Monster Quest is talking about some monsters being sighted as far back as 500 (FIVE HUNDRED)years ago! And the show comming up in a few weeks, (Forgot the name please tell me if you know) it's about what the world will be like when we humans are DEAD. Arn't you at the very least bit curious!? BTW What you're trying to describe is what is known as an "MTV" MTV used to be NOTHING but MUSIC videos 24 hours every day! Now all you see is some black man with an I.Q. of 50 lay in bed with any women the producers bring on the show. Or "Pimp My Ride" WHAT DOES CAR CUSTIMIZATION HAVE TO DO WITH MUSIC!? NOTHING!

Answer 8

I agree. The history of torture devices? Don't sign me up!
I hate the way most of their shows are edited. I call it the talking heads channel. The narrator explains something and they cut to some nerd scientist in a string tie who basically says the same thing all over again but all the while we gotta look at this guy. Why? Are those shows so
geared to children or do they think that the television audience is so thick that everything has to be explained twice? Fortunately I have THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL.
.

Answer 9

History Channel still has got Some good shows going. Monday at 9 in the evening the air Monday Night Classics in which they play a Classic Novel. Its my favourte there.

They just finished with the Sherlock Holmes series.. I wish they show some more episodes with Jeremy Brett... once in a while they show some documentaries.

i hate Mordern marvels, and all those Warfare shows, anyways.

I dont get to watch too much TV but definitely History Channel is the best Channel on air these days. Other channels are mostly soap opears ones and they are pathetically beyond the line of pleasure...

TW K

Answer 10

Agreed, although being an engineer, I do find Modern Marvels very interesting. I have more than one History Channel in my cable system so I usually watch History International and it still has quality shows.