The Fading Out Of Niche Cable Television Stations
Let’s take a small ride back to the cable television past. We need not go too far, but let’s go back about 15 or 20 years. Can you remember what cable TV channels were like then as compared to now?
The biggest difference that I notice is the fact that most of the different channel options were networks that consisted of very niche programming. No matter what your area of interest, you could find a network whose television lineup consisted exclusively of a certain niche.
Back then, both Bravo and A&E focused specifically on the fine arts and every show they aired was on that subject area. However, when you take a look at these channels today, they have begun to show things outside of the niche subject area and have started to show reality TV.
Another prime example is that of MTV and VH1, who both originated as 24 hour music networks. Can you remember the days where all they would mainly show were music videos?
But sadly, this can no longer be said of either of them. They both have more things going on other than the music videos that they were once famous for.
On both MTV and VH1, there are a ton of reality TV shows. Whether they’re dating shows like Rock of Love, or reality shows that chronicle the lives of people like MTV’s Jersey Shore, it seems like everything on both of these networks is also reality TV.
There is a channel, Game Show Network, which tends to remain focused on its niche area as most of the viewing is of game shows. However, even the Game Show Network is showing signs of introducing new ideas such as the reality TV phenomenon with its new series of the Newlywed Game Host.
I hope that most of these channels that have digressed will eventually turn on their heels and head back to the strong roots that enabled them to grow so well to begin with.
Aside from entertainment, this writer also regularly publishes information on large format scanner and scanning medical records archives.
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