What's your favorite oddball channel?

[swinca]

What is your favorite channel outside of the major networks (ABC, etc) and other big players like HBO, A&E, etc?

Mine is Gallery HD. It's part of the VOOM network on Dish. I love watching shows about art in HD. Watching these shows makes me want to take vacations to visit different art museums and galleries all around the world. Maybe I'll combine a museum vacation with a bbq tour (my other dream vacation). :)

[visionary]

Nasa-TV. You have to have Dish or DTV to get it, no cable system will carry it even though it is free and tax paid. It has far more than just launches, all kinds of science shows and all the current exploration as well as history shows. It is a shame so few can see it, a disgrace to our country and its dumb people. Overseas far more know about out space program than we do here and follow it.

[Fleegle]

Nasa-TV. You have to have Dish or DTV to get it, no cable system will carry it even though it is free and tax paid. It has far more than just launches, all kinds of science shows and all the current exploration as well as history shows. It is a shame so few can see it, a disgrace to our country and its dumb people. Overseas far more know about out space program than we do here and follow it.

It's on one of teh Cox digital tiers here in Phoenix. My dad thought it was the best thing since sliced bread when he got it.

[pkscout]

HGTV. It's basically the default channel if there is nothing else on and I still want to have something on in the background. I must watch something like 25 hours of HGTV every week.

[TiVoCrastinator]

PBS. Does that count ? I'm an OTA subscriber, so I don't get cable channels.

[rhuntington3]

If there's nothing else on, I'll watch the Weather Channel.

[trainman]

Nasa-TV. You have to have Dish or DTV to get it, no cable system will carry it even though it is free and tax paid.

From the late '80s to at least 1997, the cable system in Tampa, Florida, carried NASA TV while space missions were underway on one of their "educational access" channels -- haven't lived there in 10 years, so I don't know if it's still available.

That said, my favorite channel no one's ever heard of is RFD-TV, because they have more train-related programming than any other network (except on days when there's a derailment, and then the news channels beat them :D ).

[stalemate]

Unfortunately for me, QVC has taken the place of our off switch on the TV.

[JETarpon]

If there's nothing else on, I'll watch the Weather Channel.

The weather channel is dead to me.

[Cearbhaill]

HGTV, DIY, Chiller.

[doom1701]

MeTV--a local independent out of Chicago. They run lots of old stuff, but I regularly watch Star Trek TOS (the new version with the updated FX) and the old Mission: Impossible series.

[FilmCritic3000]

MeTV--a local independent out of Chicago. They run lots of old stuff, but I regularly watch Star Trek TOS (the new version with the updated FX) and the old Mission: Impossible series.

I wish they could launch MeTV nationally. That's a great, great, great lineup they air. It's what TV Land should be airing.

[Sirius Black]

From the late '80s to at least 1997, the cable system in Tampa, Florida, carried NASA TV while space missions were underway on one of their "educational access" channels -- haven't lived there in 10 years, so I don't know if it's still available.

That said, my favorite channel no one's ever heard of is RFD-TV, because they have more train-related programming than any other network (except on days when there's a derailment, and then the news channels beat them :D ).

To my knowledge, no public access channel in the Tampa area covers the launches as you describe here. Even if they did, I've seen local coverage of sporting events, their "HD" is terrible. I'd rather Discovery HD cover the launches or something like that. At least then you know they are being produced with high quality professional-grade equipment, which isn't alway the case in the "public access" domain.

[TonyTheTiger]

TLC/Discovery/Travel for shows like Overhaulin' and Best places to...
BBC America - The F Word, Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, Graham Norton, MI-5 (Spooks) - although I never forgave them for dropping EastEnders.
HGTV - Househunters

[sieglinde]

I thought you all meant really odd channels. If you include things like BBCA then my list expands, BBCA, Military (all the History channels) All the Discovery Channels, SF channel etc.

[panictivo]

I like to check out the RFD (Rural / Farm) channel. They have lots of "interesting" shows on trains (toy and real), and old tractors. You learn more that you ever thought you would want to know about train and tractor history.

I like the old music shows that they have. I am not a big fan of country music, but some of these shows are so old it is like a trip through a TV museum. You get to see some stars before they became famous.

I don't think you can find such a wide mixture of Blue Grass, Gospel, and Polka music on any other TV channel. Even if you don't care for those types of music, you can appreciate the skill of the performers and joy they bring to their performances.

Checkout the rfdtv web site for more details.

I watch on DirecTV channel 379.

[swinca]

The weather channel is dead to me.

Me too. I used to love getting the local weather on the 8's when I had Comcast. The Dish doesn't seem to know where I live, so no local weather. :down:

[marksman]

I can't say, it is too embarrassing.

[Jesda]

HGTV, especially when Kendra Todd is on "My House Is Worth What?" There's some really odd shows on late at night on that channel, so its a nice alternative to infomercials.

http://www.theapprenticeblog.com/photos/uncategorized/kendra.jpg

[Zephyr]

I spent the extra $ to get the old OLN channel, now VERSUS, on DTV. After I saw the first live tv coverage of the America's Cup, I knew I had to watch more. And of course, they're right now doing the Tour d'France. Some of the fishing coverage, particularly Tred Barta, is off the wall also. I would also add the RFD channel for the old loco stuff. And never, NEVER, start watching the cattle or horse auctions without pushing the red thumb... if tivo selects it for wishlist recording, you can lose other stuff in 10 to 20 hour chucks as those go forever. The auctioneers on these are a riot to watch also. I find the skiing stuff on FUEL to be some pretty amazing stuff also and some of the skate boarding overseas stuff is fascinating.

[rich]

I've recently been checking out some stuff on Court TV. Their "Speeders" show is fun ... shows cops pulling over speeders and we get to hear the excuses.

[NinerK]

HGTV, especially when Kendra Todd is on "My House Is Worth What?" There's some really odd shows on late at night on that channel, so its a nice alternative to infomercials.

http://www.theapprenticeblog.com/photos/uncategorized/kendra.jpg

Dude, she needs an appraiser. Oh BTW, I happen to be an appraiser. She needs me. :)

[NinerK]

Unfortunately for me, QVC has taken the place of our off switch on the TV.

My condolences.....be strong my brother.

[Bondelev]

Animal Planet.

[super dave]

Sleuth

[sieglinde]

Most people if allowed to, would probably only have 20 or so select channels on their cable system. Though if I dropped a sports channel for example, knowing my luck the one time they had a sport on it that was interesting, I would miss it.

I probably will never watch the new Fox business channel but you never know.

[That Don Guy]

Of the "semi-oddball" channels, probably GSN, with BBC America a close second.

Of the ones most people don't know exist, TVG (mainly live horse racing from around the country). Sure, the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders Cup get all the credit, but every now and then you're just in the mood for a good maiden $5000 claiming race.

-- Don

[jones07]

AmericanLife TV Network


The American Life channel, just made my favorite list. Great old programming every night of the week


http://www.americanlifetv.com/index.php

[anom]

Turner Classic Movies is by far my favorite cable channel, and worth the cost of my cable subscription by itself, in my opinion.