Gone are the glory days of cable

Cable television was so cool when my family first got it. All these networks dedicated to "premium" programming... a station called Home Box Office that showed feature films 24/7, and best of all, no commercials.

I remember getting a little annoyed when commercials started creeping into these cable networks. After all, we're paying you guys an extra charge to get access to your network, why do we have to watch commercials like I'm watching a common local network?

Soon after, commercials were the norm. Premium television started to feel more like "somewhat special" television. And the strange thing was, all these networks dedicated to one particular subject... started to deviate from their programming. CNN has devolved considerably (something I'll discuss in another post); MTV, where music videos were born, has nary a music video to be found. What's happened?

The big "music" networks.. MTV, VH1, and to some extent, the country music station CMT, are barely even music-themed anymore. I admit I haven't seen too much of CMT, so I guess it's not fair to put it in the category. After all, what little I've seen does actually have music videos. And although they have their own reality tv show, its about being a country music star. But MTV and VH1, shame shame. MTV has their famous Video Music Awards, but where's the video music? Maybe early in the morning or late at night. The rest of it is filled with reality tv shows, Punk'd, and quite possibly one of the worst shows I've EVER seen, the Andy Milonakis Show. MTV had to even create a new station, MTV2, to fit videos in. And VH1, I don't even know if they show videos anymore. Most of the time all I happen to pass by is one of those "Top 100" shows or "Best Week Ever" shows where washed-up "comedians" think they can pass judgment on and make fun of everyday events.

The "movie" networks.. HBO, Cinemax, Showtime.. they still have movies, but on the "premium premium television" (i.e., digital cable and satellite) they have 10 different stations, so they can afford to deviate. These stations have taken it upon themselves to produce original programming that doesn't have the constraints of network TV. Say hello to unadulterated violence, language, and sexual content! And the critics are eating these shows up, so much so that they're being nominated at the Emmys and Golden Globes. There was a time where they had to make do with the Cable Ace Awards. (remember those?) Then they release the 13-episode seasons of these shows on DVD for largely inflated prices. Take that, free TV!

Other networks that were largely movie and/or old tv show related are joining in on the original programming bandwagon, such as FX and USA. I seem to recall a time where USA was mostly just showing "edited for television" movies along with maybe some sitcoms. Even ESPN has done original programming. But it is sports-themed, so I guess that's something.

There's so many channels out there that actually do offer strictly-themed content. Home Shopping, obviously.. Food TV, The Weather Channel, and the My-Husband-is-Secretly-An-Abusive-Mass-Murderer Movie Network. (Which has since been renamed the Lifetime Network. Ha!) I fear the day where I turn on the Home Shopping Network to find a reality tv show where they help some woman addicted to shopping networks.

Digital cable and satellite television is the new "premium" television, but it sure as heck doesn't feel like it. 10 different HBO networks, 10 different Showtimes.. the 24/7 Aquarium channel. (ok I made that one up but I wouldn't be surprised if there is one) Why are we paying the costs we are for premium TV? Seems to me we're at the point where cable networks are becoming so mainstream that most of them should be offered for free, or at least for a largely reduced price. It's all the same, anyway.