Originally Posted By Doobie This topic is for discussion of the April 29 article: Guest Column: The Disney Channel at <a href="News-ID107220.asp" target="_blank">http://LaughingPlace.com/News-ID107220.asp</a>.
Originally Posted By DlandDug What a great article! I am among those who miss a lot of the "Disney" programmimg from the Disney Channel (as in: Vault Disney). I didn't realize that the current mix had pushed the channel's ratings so high. Now I understand why it seems their appeal really is for pre-teen kids. I hope this columnist will be back with some more exploration of the Channel's history. At least that way some of us "older" viewers could vicariously enjoy some of the previous programming.
Originally Posted By rjrrzube I am a parent that enjoys Disney Channel with my kids ... if you've never watched Even Stevens or one of the better movies, you've missed something. I enjoy knowing that my kids - 13 and 10 - AREN'T watching other things out there.
Originally Posted By BDBopper i am so happy that the Sidney Channel is doing very well. Like the previous post I too miss all of the great programming the Disney Channel used to offer when I was a child. I am 21 and can atest my love and enthusiasm for the 50's culture through watching the original Mickey Mouse Club and other shows like Ozzie and Harriet (featuring a young Ricky Nelson). Broke my heart to see Vault Disney closed and feel really bad that I could not watch it when it was on (Vault Disney was past my bed time during High School). I completely understand how the current structure of TDC has introduced a new generation to Disney, but what is the cost? These kids are seeing more original sereis. What about the classics? I watch TDC sometiems (espeically when House of Mouse is on) but these kids (without help from their parents) does not know Snow White, Dumbo, etc exist based upon the programming now. My question is this: is Disney sacrificing their legacy and history just for ratings?
Originally Posted By ballard9 There seems to be a common theme here and, I couldn,y agree more. I miss Vault Disney most of all. No longer can we watch "Mars and Beyond", "Man in Space", or the other "Wonderful World of Disney" programs from the past. While I understand Disney's mission to attract new, young viewers, I wonder what child is watching Kim Possible at 2 a.m. Let's hope the powers that be don't forget those of us (consumers) who made Disney what it is today. They need realize that there are many adult Disney fans that spend a lot of money at the parks and otherwise and we should not be forgotten.
Originally Posted By schnebs From the posts I've seen about TDC in this thread and others, there's obviuosly at least some audience for the classic Disney shows. Unfortunately, with TDC being the ratings juggernaut with tweeners that it is, and given what happened to TDC's ratings the last time they tried to program for anyone other than kids or tweeners, it doesn't seem likely that it's an audience that's going to be served anytime soon. That's a real shame. Of course, there could be an out for Disney on this. Why couldn't they run these shows overnight on ABC Family? I mean, I understand that they're making a killing off the infomercials they're showing right now, but the shows would cost next to nothing to air and they could sell commercial time they could make money off of anyway (since most of the programs include commercial beaks anyway), so they'd still make money off the deal. I'm surprised Anne Sweeney and her people haven't come up with this idea themselves - I mean, Nick at Nite and TV Land make it fairly obvious that there's an audience for this kind of stuff...
