Why, why, why does Discovery Channel do this crap?

[BushOut06]

Anyone catch the promos that Discovery Channel is running for "Ocean of Fear", about the shark attacks that took place after the USS Indianapolis sank during WWII? If you remember Jaws, they referred to that incident.

After all the respectable shows that Discovery has run trying to educate people about sharks, why would they show some sensationalist crap like this? With one single show - especially emphasizing the "true story" nature of it - they can undo years of good work that they've done.

[chelsea0011]

1. It's "Shark Week", their ratings hit for ad $$$$$$$$$$$. Why else?

[BushOut06]

6. I've watched Shark Week many times - don't recall too much stuff like this

Sure, they always play up Shark Week. But usually the most exciting stuff you see during Shark Week is someone swimming with sharks without protection. The last few years, they've had people who dive with great whites. There might be a few shows here and there that are semi-sensational, but I honestly don't recall seeing anything quite this sensational before.

[dflprincess]

2. They do it because Americans wouldn't watch it if they thought it was just a history lesson

n/t

[rurallib]

3. Winger talkers always say there is no place for public broadcasting

and they always cite Discovery channel as something that for profit does much better than public broadcasting. I seldom watch Discovery or the History channel. Always seemed like they went for the sensationalist crap.

[Swamp Rat]

4. Animal Planet

;)

[dorkulon]

5. Yes, I'm tired of this anti-shark bigotry.

:mad:

I get your point, just thought that was funny. But if you really want to see a channel go to hell, check out the "History" channel.

[BushOut06]

7. You mean the Nazi-UFO channel?

Seems like that's all they have on that channel nowadays. It's amusing to watch every now and then, but hardly qualifies as "history".

I say we start enforcing "truth in advertising" when it comes to cable channels. Let's start by bringing music videos back to MTV!

[dorkulon]

9. It used to be all WWII, but now it's ridiculous bible crap and

nostradamus, conspiracy ridiculousness. And yes the UFO thing. They really should change the name.

[Sonicmedusa]

8. Actually I like it. It exposes the dangers of Deep Secret Military Missions

And the way the military have "eaten their own"....Time after time.

[libertypirate]

10. Uh because Bush family friend the Moonies own it...

After all he was crowned in the Senate Office Building...

http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2004/06/21/moon/index.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61932-2004Jun22.html

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3944/is_200405/ai_n9396558

Weird Shit Folks...

[lastknowngood]

11. some winger group bought discovery history and national geographic

now they run all sorts of fundy crap and call it science.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

13. Ain't that the truth!

I remember loving Discovery, because it had all these great, off-beat documentaries from all over the world. Once they featured a whole week of TV programs from Russia. Another time, they ran a British series about Victorian England that slyly pointed out parallels with Margaret Thatcher's ideology. They used to show travelogues, too, not Travel Channel blurbs for Las Vegas, but real documentaries about places you rarely hear of, like China's Hainan Island or Uruguay.

Now...what's the point?

[cynatnite]

12. What do you call Deadliest Catch? n/t

[FlaGranny]

14. Lessons on why those

crabs are so expensive. ;-)

[Toasterlad]

15. It's a Grisly, Scary, Horrifying TRUE Story! Who'd Want to Watch THAT???

:eyes: