looks like Free TV is going to make it after all

This is not a repeat from 1928.

And are we gonna have to go through this whole "VHS vs Beta" thing again? My vote's for Beta this time around.

FirstNationalBastard: While it's nice that digital subchannels like Antenna TV, RTN, and MeTV show classic shows now, if the networks become even relatively successful, they will eventually decay and turn into the same piece of shiat channels that TV Land and Nick At Nite have.

It's the way of niche tv... there's a wonderful golden era for the channel, then the suits get really involved and decide that shiatty reality shows marketed to the lowest common denominator will get them more ad dollars, so that really cool niche channel becomes another homogenized piece of shiat in the vast wasteland of 500 channels that all air the same thing.

Unfortunately. Sometimes those are the types of channels where cool shows originate, too. Such as MST3K out of Bumfark, Minnesota.

Say what you want, but I love me some Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke, Donna Reed, and Leave it to Beaver. Why, yes, I'm only 30....but I miss the Nick at Nite of Yore. Those were my families as my parents sat at the kitchen table and got high.

FirstNationalBastard: While it's nice that digital subchannels like Antenna TV, RTN, and MeTV show classic shows now, if the networks become even relatively successful, they will eventually decay and turn into the same piece of shiat channels that TV Land and Nick At Nite have.

It's the way of niche tv... there's a wonderful golden era for the channel, then the suits get really involved and decide that shiatty reality shows marketed to the lowest common denominator will get them more ad dollars, so that really cool niche channel becomes another homogenized piece of shiat in the vast wasteland of 500 channels that all air the same thing.

Cartoon Network, SyFy, Comedy Central, etc.

I dumped minisat television years ago because the content was getting so bad - too many reality shows and too many infomercials. All I have is a VHF/UHF aerial up in the attic. Problem is, OTA television really isn't much better. Weekend morning and afternoons are mostly infomercials with a few games mixed in. Weekday mornings and afternoons are talk shows. For many weekend mornings, the only channels not playing an infomercial are the subchannels and PBS.

Too bad that those retro subchannels generally suck. They show far too many adverts, most of which are targeted at pensioners. No, I don't need a Medicare Part D supplement. No, my legs haven't rotted from the diabetes to the point that I need a power chair. No, I haven't changed my mind since you showed the same adverts 7 minutes ago, or 7 minutes before that, or 7 minutes before that... Oh, and most of the pensioners I've met have finally picked up some off-brand 16:9 television from Wal-Mart, so stop with the 4:3 ratio movies.

Most of the time the only thing worth watching on OTA television is PBS, which is why I donate to them annually. Netflix, Hulu and the torrents fill in the rest.

I'd actually like to see ad-supported television in North America die. Studies have shown that intelligent people are generally not influenced by television adverts, so producers create content that draws in viewers that are influenced by adverts, resulting in the lowest common denominator tripe we've had for as long as I can remember. Give me an iTunes style IPTV network and I would be happy as fark.

FirstNationalBastard: While it's nice that digital subchannels like Antenna TV, RTN, and MeTV show classic shows now, if the networks become even relatively successful, they will eventually decay and turn into the same piece of shiat channels that TV Land and Nick At Nite have.

It's the way of niche tv... there's a wonderful golden era for the channel, then the suits get really involved and decide that shiatty reality shows marketed to the lowest common denominator will get them more ad dollars, so that really cool niche channel becomes another homogenized piece of shiat in the vast wasteland of 500 channels that all air the same thing.

MeTV is still doing it right, it has the old Hawaii Five O on which is still really good even today.

This was on meTv tonight. Old stuff is cool.

Link (new window)

RoosterCogburn: Free TV is soothing. Back before the blacks and mexicans started cluttering things up. When the most shocking thing on TV was the kerfuffle over whether the star quarterback would take the cute blonde, blue eyed girl to the prom. Gaw shucks, I miss those times. And so does Pepperidge Farms


On a related note, how shocked should anyone be that there is nothing better to do in Minnesota but to watch old re-runs of ethnically cleansed TV shows from the 50s and 60s.

Yeah, we know they don't play Good Times and the Jeffersons......and Sanford and Son,

FirstNationalBastard: While it's nice that digital subchannels like Antenna TV, RTN, and MeTV show classic shows now, if the networks become even relatively successful, they will eventually decay and turn into the same piece of shiat channels that TV Land and Nick At Nite have.

It's the way of niche tv... there's a wonderful golden era for the channel, then the suits get really involved and decide that shiatty reality shows marketed to the lowest common denominator will get them more ad dollars, so that really cool niche channel becomes another homogenized piece of shiat in the vast wasteland of 500 channels that all air the same thing.

THIS.

The only channel I know of that hasn't fallen victim to this is Turner Classic Movies where they, shockingly, still show movies and other than Oscar week and a few other specials, they hardly ever go beyond the 1970s. Plus, they have the ultimate dead people montage every year.

I hope that MeTV doesn't decay too quickly. I love myself some old school television. Plus they're gonna bring back Alfred Hitchcock Presents, which I used to watch on Nick at Nite when I'd stay and my grandma's house as a kid. The only thing I wish is that they'd have some of the variety shows and anthology series like Studio One, Texaco Star Theater, Your Show of Shows, among others

RoosterCogburn: On a related note, how shocked should anyone be that there is nothing better to do in Minnesota but to watch old re-runs of ethnically cleansed TV shows from the 50s and 60s.

It's REALLY COLD out there!

Actually thanks, fark, you reminded me that I saw some [WHEATON] TNG at like 3 am one time after digital tv came out, and in looking for it just now I found AFV...now it's finally a commercial I'll look for Wil. It's 4:30 am. Better than all the f*ckin preachers that used to be on at this hour 20 years ago.

spidermann: I'm the only one who got the reference in the headline?


Love is all around, no need to waste it
You can have a town, why don't you take it
You're gonna make it after all
You're gonna make it after all

Yes, you are the only one.

Hey, I'm watching Peter Gunn, Route 66, and the original Alfred Hitchcock Presents. I had forgotten how well screenwriters used to write.

A little song
A little dance
A little seltzer down your pants

We've got nothing better to do
Than watch T.V. and have a couple of brews

It's my contention that this is stealing a lot of business from cable.

After all, I can get my classic TV shows, cooking and travel shows, unique sports channels, two local weather channels, a music channel that actually plays music videos, normal PBS, along with the commercial networks, and I don't have to pay a dime.

There are only two things missing: The Baseball/Football/Basketball channels like ESPN, which don't hold any interest to me, and the 24 hour news channels like CNN/MSNBC/FoxNews, which I've found that I'm happier without.

Sure, cable is losing some business from online customers, but I think that a lot of people see what's available for free and say "You know, I'd rather get 27 channels for free than pay $50+ for 150 channels of essentially the same crap".

We went from getting ABC/CBS/NBC/Fox/PBS, plus a local channel, for a total of 7 channels analog (2 of which were PBS), to getting 27 channels with the digital. A couple of the channels are just "place holders", with no content or content that is repeated on another, so we've actually got 25 different ones. Not too bad, for free.

/Digital cliff *STILL* sucks, though.

Not to segway too much, but this is going to be me until I know the answer. Getting ready for work this morning I turned on the TV and their was this movie I'm assuming was a Scottish flick. The accents sounded like some hybrid between Pikey and Scottish. It was so bad it was in English with English subtitles. In it, a kid stole drugs from his mom's boyfriend and started selling them. I caught a part about the kid going to a health club run by the main local dealer who brought the kid on as a dealer. The kid lived in a "caravan" he had just purchased by the water. Sorry to segway but it's bugging me and I don't have enough info to Google it.

undflickertail: MeTV is still doing it right, it has the old Hawaii Five O on which is still really good even today.

Awesome. I hope this is available in New York but I bet it isn't.

I'm a big fan of Hawaii 5-0 (1968-1980) and Magnum P.I. I was sad when RetroTV took down Magnum a few months ago, this was just when New York got RTN back after a long absence.

dervish16108: undflickertail: MeTV is still doing it right, it has the old Hawaii Five O on which is still really good even today.

Awesome. I hope this is available in New York but I bet it isn't.

I'm a big fan of Hawaii 5-0 (1968-1980) and Magnum P.I. I was sad when RetroTV took down Magnum a few months ago, this was just when New York got RTN back after a long absence.

I was stationed in Hawaii while they were filming Magnum P.I., so I like watching just to see places that I recognize. Sucks that RTN took it off.

dittybopper: dervish16108: undflickertail: MeTV is still doing it right, it has the old Hawaii Five O on which is still really good even today.

Awesome. I hope this is available in New York but I bet it isn't.

I'm a big fan of Hawaii 5-0 (1968-1980) and Magnum P.I. I was sad when RetroTV took down Magnum a few months ago, this was just when New York got RTN back after a long absence.

I was stationed in Hawaii while they were filming Magnum P.I., so I like watching just to see places that I recognize. Sucks that RTN took it off.

Well, OK, and I also like watching it for that hot little minx, Agatha Chumley.

RoosterCogburn: Free TV is soothing. Back before the blacks and mexicans started cluttering things up. When the most shocking thing on TV was the kerfuffle over whether the star quarterback would take the cute blonde, blue eyed girl to the prom. Gaw shucks, I miss those times. And so does Pepperidge Farms

On a related note, how shocked should anyone be that there is nothing better to do in Minnesota but to watch old re-runs of ethnically cleansed TV shows from the 50s and 60s.

You know, as someone who attends a school where he is a minority, I'd have to say that the prospect of living in a place where everyone spoke my language, looked vaguely like me, and had the same set of cultural values would be wonderful. It would radically simplify almost every social interaction I have ,a and allow me to stop having to regularly navel-gaze about my own language and word choices. Is there a way that me and my fellow bigots can go someplace and be left alone, or are we forever doomed to be invaded?

hbk72777: RoosterCogburn: Free TV is soothing. Back before the blacks and mexicans started cluttering things up. When the most shocking thing on TV was the kerfuffle over whether the star quarterback would take the cute blonde, blue eyed girl to the prom. Gaw shucks, I miss those times. And so does Pepperidge Farms


On a related note, how shocked should anyone be that there is nothing better to do in Minnesota but to watch old re-runs of ethnically cleansed TV shows from the 50s and 60s.

Yeah, we know they don't play Good Times and the Jeffersons......and Sanford and Son,

Whar Chico and the Man? whar?

Just came in to say Mary Tyler Moore was a babe back in the day.

That is all

When I saw this headline, I threw my hat in the air.

If not for TCM and Brewers/Badgers/Packers broadcasts on cable, I'd get rid of it.

dittybopper: I was stationed in Hawaii while they were filming Magnum P.I., so I like watching just to see places that I recognize. Sucks that RTN took it off.

Well, OK, and I also like watching it for that hot little minx, Agatha Chumley.

Nice.

Higgins was such an ass to Agatha in 5.01 "Echoes of the Mind".

hbk72777: RoosterCogburn: Free TV is soothing. Back before the blacks and mexicans started cluttering things up. When the most shocking thing on TV was the kerfuffle over whether the star quarterback would take the cute blonde, blue eyed girl to the prom. Gaw shucks, I miss those times. And so does Pepperidge Farms


On a related note, how shocked should anyone be that there is nothing better to do in Minnesota but to watch old re-runs of ethnically cleansed TV shows from the 50s and 60s.

Yeah, we know they don't play Good Times and the Jeffersons......and Sanford and Son,

And I Love Lucy. Nope, no hispanics there.

I'm lovin' subchannels ! My favorite is one our local PBS station carries and provides news from around the world. Japan, France, Germany and even Al Jazeera ! It's so refreshing to hear views other than those provided and paid for by Monolithic TV Inc. I've even learned some of the rules of Australian Rules Football.

Do they have lots of commercials aimed at old people? You bet. But the shows are so much better than cable or satellite and it's FREE !!

I am disappointed that my local Fox affiliate recently switched from Retro TV to Bounce, but other than that, I have no regrets about directing DirecTV out of my house.

Geotpf: hbk72777: RoosterCogburn: Free TV is soothing. Back before the blacks and mexicans started cluttering things up. When the most shocking thing on TV was the kerfuffle over whether the star quarterback would take the cute blonde, blue eyed girl to the prom. Gaw shucks, I miss those times. And so does Pepperidge Farms


On a related note, how shocked should anyone be that there is nothing better to do in Minnesota but to watch old re-runs of ethnically cleansed TV shows from the 50s and 60s.

Yeah, we know they don't play Good Times and the Jeffersons......and Sanford and Son,

And I Love Lucy. Nope, no hispanics there.

And it's all such a contrast to today's sit-coms where non-whites are all over the place! Man, if you thought oldies TV was sparse with their Amens, 227s, and I Spys, you should see the lineups today.

bhcompy: Such as MST3K out of Bumfark, Minnesota.

MST3k actually was out of a Minneapolis/StPaul Suburb. The same station that later would be a WB affiliate. Not really bumfark.

/watched some of the first run KTMA episodes

Knara: bhcompy: Such as MST3K out of Bumfark, Minnesota.

MST3k actually was out of a Minneapolis/StPaul Suburb. The same station that later would be a WB affiliate. Not really bumfark.

/watched some of the first run KTMA episodes

Sorry, all of Minnesota is Bumfark, Minnesota

/smug non-flyover-stater

RoosterCogburn: Free TV is soothing. Back before the blacks and mexicans started cluttering things up. When the most shocking thing on TV was the kerfuffle over whether the star quarterback would take the cute blonde, blue eyed girl to the prom. Gaw shucks, I miss those times. And so does Pepperidge Farms


On a related note, how shocked should anyone be that there is nothing better to do in Minnesota but to watch old re-runs of ethnically cleansed TV shows from the 50s and 60s.

I would like to think you're just trolling but you write so sincerely I truly think you're just an azzh*le.

As for the sub-channels: I get 30 and can almost always find something I want to see.

Here in Sioux Falls, I get 14 channels OTA. When we moved here, we never signed up for cable. I think only one of the local stations have no sub channels. I was disappointed when RTV took off Emergency! and the other ones. I would love to have MeTV. I don't miss cable and my HD is free and higher quality than I ever got through a cable receiver.

unicron702: Not to segway too much, but this is going to be me until I know the answer. Getting ready for work this morning I turned on the TV and their was this movie I'm assuming was a Scottish flick. The accents sounded like some hybrid between Pikey and Scottish. It was so bad it was in English with English subtitles. In it, a kid stole drugs from his mom's boyfriend and started selling them. I caught a part about the kid going to a health club run by the main local dealer who brought the kid on as a dealer. The kid lived in a "caravan" he had just purchased by the water. Sorry to segway but it's bugging me and I don't have enough info to Google it.

Sweet Sixteen. Not a bad film.

EmmaLou: Say what you want, but I love me some Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke, Donna Reed, and Leave it to Beaver. Why, yes, I'm only 30....but I miss the Nick at Nite of Yore. Those were my families as my parents sat at the kitchen table and got high.

PBS had a series called "America in Primetime" that examined the social context of every single show you just mentioned (plus a bunch of others). You would have loved it. Last one (of four) is on this Sunday, I think. Worth checking out.

unicron702: Not to segway too much, but this is going to be me until I know the answer. Getting ready for work this morning I turned on the TV and their was this movie I'm assuming was a Scottish flick. The accents sounded like some hybrid between Pikey and Scottish. It was so bad it was in English with English subtitles. In it, a kid stole drugs from his mom's boyfriend and started selling them. I caught a part about the kid going to a health club run by the main local dealer who brought the kid on as a dealer. The kid lived in a "caravan" he had just purchased by the water. Sorry to segway but it's bugging me and I don't have enough info to Google it.


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