It's been a long time since there were only four TV channels to watch - in both the US and the UK. Cable, satellite, digital, the Internet, mobile phones and other platforms have all begun to offer us new TV channels.
The new channels are different, though. While BBC1, BBC2, NBC, CBS et al were all pretty much generalist channels, offering something for everyone (in theory), the new channel have all tended towards specialisation: MTV, The History Channel, Showtime, etc, have all had to brand themselves and pick a particular niche in an effort to get a loyal audience. Sometimes that's a subject, such as history, music or drama; sometimes, it's a demographic, such as young people, women, men, posh people, chavs, etc.
The reason they need a loyal audience is that they need people to watch more than just one programme. It's all very well having a great show like Dexter or The Wire, but if ultimately that's all your viewers are watching, you're going to go out of business. You need them to start watching your other shows as well, because they think they might be similarly interesting.
So it's all about branding. Look at Dave. That used to be UKTV G2. Yes, a channel dedicated to all the stuff UKTV Gold didn't want any more. Fancy watching it? Didn't think so.
Yet, simply by renaming itself Dave (and, admittedly, moving to Freeview from just Sky), it's now the 10th most watched channel in the UK. Same programmes as before. It's just called Dave, the home of witty banter. Fancy some witty banter that'll make you laugh? Thought so.
What's your favourite TV channel?
So today's question, assuming you're all still out there, is what's your favourite TV channel and why? Is it because of the programming? Is it because it feels like your sort of channel (do you consider yourself a Living woman, for example, addicted to makeover shows, crime and psychics?) It can be on any platform in the world, so this is open to non-UK residents.
For me, it's a tie between Dave and ITV4, closely followed by BBC4. Look at Dave's schedule of an evening: Dragons' Den, Top Gear, Whose Line Is It Anyway? and more. It's what we turn to first when we need something to amuse and entertain us.
ITV4 is something of an odd channel but I always scan its schedules just in case. As well as repeats of all the ITC shows like Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), The Champions, The Saint and UFO, there's re-runs of The Professionals, good films, as well as the occasional odd nugget like Ultimate Force that's worth tuning in for.
As for BBC4, although it's 90% rubbish, it does have the occasional gem and some intelligent programming. It's not one I tune into unless I'm looking for something specific though.
See what I mean about needing to have a brand? I don't really identify with any channel, so it's all about the programming for me.
But anyway, what about you?
Updates and related entries
February 4, 2008:
What's DMAX and what's it all about?
January 29, 2008 | Reply
BBC Four rocks, rather.
January 29, 2008 | Reply
UK Gold - repeats of good programmes wins out over new but rubbish shows any day.
January 29, 2008 | Reply
You're just doing this today to wind me up, aren't you? Of the channels I can currently get, I suppose I'd say BBC2. But the channel I watch most often is More 4, because it gets the best glossy American series and some really good documentaries. Not sure why it spends so much time showing property porn and Deal Or No Deal though - I could really do without that. I like the randomness of BBC4 as well which shows mostly stuff I am not all that interested in, and then some amazing, bizarre, fascinating things. I hardly ever watch it but what I do watch I adore. On the downside, I am not aware of BBC3 having shown anything I've remotely wanted to watch since 'Casanova' years ago.
Thanks for all your aerial / freeview advice btw!
January 29, 2008 | Reply
To be clear: I only chose BBC2 because all I can get is BBCs 1, 2, 3, CBBC and News 24! Though it's not a bad channel, especially when Heroes is on...
January 29, 2008 | Reply
BBC Four, followed by More4 and FilmFour, which during the day plays lots of films from old Hollywood and the UK which are rarely available on dvd.
Also, why hasn't more been made of the fact that Channel 4 have begun showing films in their proper ratios across all of their networks, the first terrestrial broadcaster to do that?
Even when something in 'scope appears on BBC4 they still zoom and crop the image. Shame.
January 29, 2008 | Reply
At the moment probably UK Drama as they have started showing old WHO or Film Four for the same reasons as Stu.
I kinda wish we had the CW here like in the states.. but only because I want to see more supernatural and more Aliens in America! I love my pappy tv ;)
January 30, 2008 | Reply
I will have to nominate the Hallmark channel, although that might earn me a kicking. But they premiere Monk and Psych, and show Law and Order constantly and, like Friends, that tends to be something I can always turn to if they is nothing else on.
January 30, 2008 | Reply
The message I'm getting here is that people like the channels they watch because of the content, rather than because they identify with the channel.
Anyone here think of themselves as a Film4/BBC4/Hallmark/UKDrama/More4/etc kind of a person?
January 30, 2008 | Reply
Rob: "Anyone here think of themselves as a Film4/BBC4/Hallmark/UKDrama/More4/etc kind of a person?"
Yuck. That's just a little bit too close to those people you meet occasionally who seem to think that listening to Radio 4 is an important lifestyle choice rather than, say, just a basically decent radio station.
January 30, 2008 | Reply
Indeed. But that's what most TV channel execs would die for: people who regard watching their channel as a lifestyle choice. Think how much people who like Radio 4 are invested in the programming, how they're likely to have it on first thing in the morning, when they come home, maybe during the day as well. And they'll pass that on to their kids. Think of the ratings!
There are probably be out there who think of themselves as an MTV kind of person. I'm curious to see if other channels are creating that kind of brand effect and identification and if there's anyone who thinks of themselves as a 'channel whatever' kind of a person.