The Travel Channel

[bicker]

I keep on deleting them from my TiVo Suggestions, so they're still there.

 

[KarenB]

It's almost so that now if you don't look at the channel number you can't tell if you are watching the Travel Channel or the Food Network... If I want to watch shows about food I'll put it on the Food Network, thanks. I watch the Travel Channel to see the world, not to see food (and mostly nasty food at that).

Very True!!

 

[SanFranciscan]

So on the one hand we have people who want only old stuff to be shown, and on the other hand we have people who want only new stuff to be shown.

Which no doubt frustrates those who sell advertising! Efforts to allow the selling of cable channels a la carte have not been successful, but cable subscribers aren't just the customers. We are in a very real sense the product. I am not a wealthy person and try pretty hard to be responsible about money, but I know that I have bought things because I was influenced by the want-makers. People who want new programing and those who want to see older programing are going to be quite different in which sponsors we will support.

 

[ols386]

I like the travel channel, but I wish they'd have more current programs about WDW. Most of the ones they show, were made several years ago, although they did have a few new ones in 2008 with Samantha Brown at WDW.

I'm not really interested in the food programs they show.

 

[SanFranciscan]

I haven't seen much of the Travel Channel because I am a new cable subscriber and a first-time cable subsciber, primarily because my husband wanted it since he watches television much more than I do. I don't know much about what is actually on the channels. I am just the one who pays the bill.

However, I have seen parts of the gross-out food show that you all are refering to. Like you, I am not convinced that it belongs on the Travel Channel. I did like the show about the thrill rides that I saw a week or so ago, but I guess that would be expected of a theme park fan. My husband, who has major wanderlust, has found the Travel Channel a huge disappointment. I think their viewership would greatly increase if they focused more on destinations. People would watch repeats more before tiring of them if they showed attractive scenery instead of things that are disturbing.

 

[bicker]

Efforts to allow the selling of cable channels a la carte have not been successful, but

Retail a la carte is likely to evicerate niche interest channels that are too deeply beholden to their niche.

cable subscribers aren't just the customers. We are in a very real sense the product.

You'd be amazed how many high-end video enthusiasts -- I'm talking about people who are significant posters on AVS Forum, for example -- are unable to comprehend that.

 

[bicker]

I think their viewership would greatly increase if they focused more on destinations. People would watch repeats more before tiring of them if they showed attractive scenery instead of things that are disturbing.

That's a very common sentiment, but not one backed-up by their experience. The Travel Channel, especially, seems to have stayed too focused on its small niche, and has suffered a bit as a result.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I guess there was no money being returned by airing real travel shows...

Mikeeee

 

[bicker]

I wouldn't say "no money" but I do suspect that airing lots of different things brings in more money than airing more of the same.

 

[Elvistelth]

Since this topic has morphed into a general TV critique, I wish to vent about TV Land. I like reruns, that's why I watch their channel. But I hate the new direction they're taking it: reality TV shows. I don't care about some strangers and their high school reunion nor do I want to see middle-aged model wannabes. I know reality TV is cheaper and that's why they do it, but it seems any viacom owned channel eventually turns into something completely different than it was...something I am not interested in watching. I used to love MTV in the 80's, but look at it now. No music videos, just dating shows and spoiled millionaires giving tours of their tacky mansions.

 

[bicker]

Money makes the world go 'round.

 

[karice2]

I used to be a big fan of the travel channel until they started showing the Andrew Zimmerman guy. I do like Bourdain but because I admire his take on foods in different cultures that I would actually eat. Also because he was formerly a chef, he has a certain amount of credibility for food.

Now the travel channel has launched a school for people who want to shoot travel shows and sell them to the travel channel. So it will be more real life people showing their travel experiences if they choose to pick up your project that you submit.

I almost considered going to the classes but my schedule wouldn't allow it. I do like the Rick Steves show on PBS. I am a bit jealous of Samantha Brown.

 

[hereyago]

I do like the Rick Steves show on PBS.

Rick Steves is the man! He is the reason, well he made it look fun to go to Europe and I went in 96, it will be some time before I go again. But that man rocks.

Travel Channel is becoming like MTV. Back in the day, MTV played videos, now it is the Real WOrld-which after the 1st season isn't so real anymore. I do like 16 and pregnant, but dang it play videos.

Then TC, all of the sudden you will get a marathon of sorts on Andrew Z and Anthony Bourdain and you are left with no travel show for that day. The guy who likes to see how much he can eat? Why not call it I want to see how much of a glutten I can be? seriously, that is gross.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I dislike the fat pig known as Andrew Zimmern. I really couldn't care less what kind of offal he chooses to pour into his outsized gut. The people in 3rd world countries eat that mess because they're poor and don't have other options. Why should someone who's not in that position do it too?

He's not ALWAYS in 3rd world countries, he was in Australia the other day. I think the show is pretty interesting.
BUT, I do feel like they always have food shows on and personally, I like Dhani Tackles the Globe, they should air that more b/c I always seem to miss it.
Dhani's pretty hot too

 

[SanFranciscan]

There is a travel series that I like, which I think was on The Travel Channel. I am not sure though. I got "$100 Cab Ride" from Netflicks. The maker of the film goes around the world and goes as far as he can get for $100 in cab fare. In some countries that is quite a tour!

 

[goofyernmost]

I actually got cable and added HD, bought a wide screen TV just to watch the Travel Channel. My thinking was think of all those beautiful vista's that I will be able to see in crystal clear HD. I don't even watch the Travel Channel anymore. There is nothing to see except Bourdain and Zimmer (or whatever his name is) and I don't enjoy them. The occasional time that Samantha is on is cause for me to watch but not much else does.

Other than that it is pretty much the Golf Channel now. Nice views, I can see every blade of grass, leaves and golf shots. (when they show them) Sorry, but unless Travel Channel does some major changing soon...it will be out of my mind forever.

 

[MIGrandma]

Well, even though I did notice this is an OLD thread, I still decided to respond.

We enjoy Andrew Zimmern a lot, I love seeing what strange foods he is willing to eat, and to see the foods from other cultures and how the people react to him. We occasionally watch Anthony Bourdain, but not as often. Love Samantha Brown but I don't seem to find her on as much anymore. I used to love it when she reviewed different hotels. And there used to be a show that reviewed different bed & breakfast inns, I don't remember who hosted that but I miss it. And there was the vacation homes show, where they gave us complete tours of vacation homes. And there was the show where a couple was going to buy a new house and they were shown 3 of them, then had to choose by the end of the show, I loved that one as well.

I, too, get tired of the same cruise shows and Disney shows over and over. Some of them are several years old.

I have to admit we do enjoy watching Man vs. Food. I know it can't be good for him eating those massive amounts, but it's like a train wreck. We just can't stop watching.

 

[Tink888]

Am I alone in my disappointment with the travel channel? Whenever I've turned it on lately, 9 times out of 10 its one of those food shows. I can only take so much of Anthony Bourdain, after a while his pretentious monologues start to grate on my nerves.

I really don't like to watch people eating gross food, or that guy who tries to eat as much as he can.

I get that these guys are 'traveling' as they do their eating, but still, I wish travel channel would tone these down a bit and show some more, just regular, travel specials.

Maybe the travel channel just doesn't have the same budget as some of the more popular channels, but it would be nice if they wouldn't just air the same specials time after time.

Am I alone in this, or do others think that the travel channel is slipping?

You are not alone. We used to love the Travel Channel, especially my youngest son. He hates that all of the shows are now about food.

They need to get back to traveling and leave the food shows to the food channel.

 

[AmericangirlinFrance]

I actually really like No Reservations. I like how he goes to restaurants off the beaten path in cities around the world. I find it totally relevant to the travel aspect of the channel.

I agree. Plus I think Anthony Bourdain is kind of sexy in a weird way.