I recently lambasted several television networks for what I considered their inability to properly program their own schedules due to a variety of factors (OK, the number one factor was ineptitude). The post got considerable feedback, but I don't want everyone to think that I am completely negative towards the television landscape. In fact, there are several channels in the vast cable universe that I feel hit the nail right on the head when it comes to their style, lineup, and programming selection.

1. Great American Country

We'll call this the anti-CMT. While "Country Music Television" continues to drift away from its core demographic, Great American Country seems to be embracing it with long playlists of both classic and modern music videos, live broadcasts of the Grand Ole Opry, and even gospel music.

Thanks to the network's reliance on aiming directly at the country music audience, GAC has become one of the fastest growing networks this decade, expanding into more cable systems (including getting their channel on DirecTV and Dish Network) and becoming available in nearly 60 million homes nationwide. Not too shabby for a lineup that certain other executives consider only good for a "niche market."

2. Turner Network Television (TNT)

TNT has garnered a following amongst television viewers for both its first run shows and its syndicated features, without a single reality show dirtying up its schedule. The channel focuses more on drama than anything and has produced a string of critically and viewer acclaimed series such as Leverage, Hawthorne, Men of a Certain Age, Memphis Beat, and The Closer that have helped TNT develop a strong reputation within the media and, most importantly, the viewing audience at home. In addition, TNT also has a partial contract with the National Basketball Association, which draws in millions of viewers every year.

As a result of these factors, TNT is one of the top three highest rated networks on cable television and has proven that the days of a cable channel being stigmatized as second best are long gone.

3. Cinemax

Everyone has made the "Skinemax" joke from time to time, and most network executives would freak out and break into hives to have such a brand placed on them. After all, who wants to be known as a porno network? Well, Cinemax does.

By the late 90s, Cinemax had embraced its role as a network whose primary fame comes from its late night features to the point that original, softcore programming was being produced for it. Today, Cinemax has branched out to market the "Max After Dark" block and openly advertises these shows with a seemingly unflinching pride.

Cinemax understood that their big brother HBO would always get the top movies and the bigger budgets, so they went with what brought them to the dance, so to speak, allowing skin flicks to anchor their lineup and continue to bring them notoriety and a bit of infamy. It may not be the best idea, but no one can say they don't understand their core viewers.

4. Fuse TV

Fuse is like the rocker cousin of GAC. As MTV drifted further away from the music scene throughout the 90s and into the new millennium, Fuse saw a market ready for the taking and jumped on it like a lion going after a wounded antelope.

Since 1994, Fuse has aired almost exclusively musical content either in the form of music videos, specials, or concert broadcasts. They even picked up former MTV and VH1 programming like Pop Up Video long after they were dropped by their original networks.

Today, Fuse has become a full-fledged, 24-hour music channel, making it the only music network to have done away with a late night paid programming block and replacing it with more music videos and related programming. One might consider that the best measure of success for any network..

5. The USA Network

I saved the best for last. USA is currently one of the top-rated networks on cable television and often seems as high quality and top of the line as its broadcast network cousins.

USA has become a juggernaut in the cable world thanks to a string of major first run programming that is as diverse as it is entertaining. Hits such as Monk (a comedic mystery series), Psych (a detective spoof), In Plain Sight (drama), and Burn Notice (action/adventure) all got their start (and/or continue to run) on the USA Network while garnering monstrous ratings, proving once and for all that just because unscripted television is cheaper, it doesn't make it better (as seems to be the logic with all other channels these days, even on the major networks).

The channel is also trimmed with popular but niche sports such as professional wrestling, golf, and even dog shows. While these may seem strange, they all combine to help USA find a wide variety of viewers that often end up finding at least one or two of their vast lineup of original programming to their liking. It is one of the best setups of any network on cable or network airwaves today.

Do you feel that these networks understand how to entertain their viewers?

Yes, they are some of my
favorites on TV.

 

No, all television is
boring these days

 

OR