Trains.com

It's time for a "Hobby Channel" on cable or dish.

986 views
10 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: My Old Kentucky Home
  • 599 posts
It's time for a "Hobby Channel" on cable or dish.
Posted by mackb4 on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 6:42 PM

 After reading a post on the Model Railroader forum, about the shelving of the show "Working on the Railroad" on the DIY channel,don't you all think it's time for a channel devoted entirely to hobbies and crafts.

 I know that HGtv,DIY,PBS and some of the hunting networks have some hobby and craft shows,but theres not a channel totaly devoted to crafters and hobbists.

 I like watching Norm,Bob Villa and the other home repair people,as well as flipping homes,selling homes,hunting for homes,trading spaces,etc,etc.But man Banged Head [banghead] ,I've seen enough !

 Don't the network people know what kind of money can be made off advertisements from hobby and craft companies ?

 Theres plenty of older hobby shows from all the mentioned networks,I'm sure I haven't seen and some I'd like to watch again,if only there was a channel that I knew they could be found on.

 Is there a channel like that out there that I don't know about ? I would love to know about it if there is.

 Whats everybodys thoughts on this subject ?Smile [:)]

Collin ,operator of the " Eastern Kentucky & Ohio R.R."

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 7:04 PM
I think its an idea worth a shot at least. There are so many channels out there for things now, why not give it a chance?
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Upstate New York
  • 899 posts
Posted by nblum on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 7:50 PM

DIY does a lot of model railroading stuff and they usually rerun the series.  I don't think  the series has been put on hiatus, it's completed for the moment:

 

For those of you who get the DIY Network, their series on model railroading is excellent. Their episode on animation features the Choo Choo Barn and Lionel (and one MTH) animation in three rail O gauge.  Don't know when the next time this will be shown, but DIY does rerun series over time.

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/shows_dwrr/

 

 Notable is that CTT and Model Railroader have provided editorial expertise.  Nice going Kalmbach and thanks.

 

Neil (not Besougloff or Young) :)
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 8:05 PM

My wife watches a TON of craft shows on HGTV and DIY.

They do a lot of hobbies like scrapbooking, quilting, sewing,

home-decorating, etc. The only "guy" hobby that is shown

is OCCASSIONALLY  on RFD (and their line-up is spotty at

best and times / middle of the night 0200-2400 EST stinks.)

Many times programs are scheduled on the listing and are

changed without notice. Maybe we need to lobby the HGTV

types to give guys an equal share. As another said, maybe

they just don't know about the revenue to be made from this

segment of the hobby industry. Notify 'em! 

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Southwest of Houston. TX
  • 1,082 posts
Posted by jimhaleyscomet on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 8:20 PM

RFD TV is on dish network.

Jim H 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Colorado
  • 707 posts
Posted by joe-daddy on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 8:37 PM

From my understanding, Television is all about viewers and advertising, cable being no different.

I remember, as a child watching the AC Gilbert show featuring American Fliers and Erector sets.  Loved that show.

We can suppose that today, there are not enough 'watchers' of train related and hobby related shows to make the business case. 

 

 

 

My website and blog are now at http://www.joe-daddy.com
  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: Southwest Georgia
  • 5,028 posts
Posted by dwiemer on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 8:40 PM
 jimhaleyscomet wrote:

RFD TV is on dish network.

Jim H 

We have RFD and DIY on Direct-TV as well.  I have also seen some train programs on History International and the regular History Channel.

Dennis

TCA#09-63805

 

Charter BTTs.jpg

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: new york or virginia (split domiciles)
  • 531 posts
Posted by thor on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 10:45 AM

It's a nice idea and something I'd like to have a shot at myself, were I in the business.  To attract both viewers and advertisers it would need to be a careful balance of hobbies and be based on an in-house studio with a mix of talk show and how to as well as visits to various external events and displays.  Done right it could be a winner and would probably give a big boost to our hobby.

What I would NOT want though, is some awful bozo family hogging the limelight with their unimaginative cookie cutter remakes of basically the same old stuff or the usual cliche ridden approach with ghastly 'rock' background music and dimwits trying to make it look 'manly' by fake contests between tattooed 'builders' or worse yet, whatever the media mavens have pictured as the 'typical' ralroad modeller!

I do wish some brave soul would question the cynical P.T Barnum approach to the general public and instead try operating under a different set of assumptions that the audience is intelligent and capable and willing to learn.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Hightstown, NJ
  • 2,886 posts
Posted by anjdevil2 on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 4:35 PM
Kalmbach had a hand in the production of the DIY thing, why not just let Kalmbach do it?  Maybe get OGRR mag involved.  Hey, it's for the good of the hobby, right?  I was suprised that DIY yanked Chris and WOTRR without a trace (My son TIVO's it and we watch it after dinner on Tuesday nights...OR USED TOO!!!)  Sounds like something for HGtv or TLC.  It'll sell!! How about something like Orange County Choppers for O guage (father/son clash while building custom layouts...crashing classic Lionels ala Addams Family, but I digress...)Black Eye [B)]Big Smile [:D]Laugh [(-D]

I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.
I am the venom in your skin  --- Breaking Benjamin


  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Holland
  • 1,404 posts
Posted by daan on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 5:08 PM

I would love a show on model trains but there are not enough viewers. Long ago we had a 4 part serie about model railroading which lasted 2 or 3 times but that was way back in the 80's.. I'll drop Discovery channel a line to mention the lack of programs on trains and their models. They also had series about rc cars, so may be there is a chance.

Daan. I'm Dutch, but only by country...
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 6:15 PM

 Skullie wrote:
I think its an idea worth a shot at least. There are so many channels out there for things now, why not give it a chance?

 

All you need to do is get rid of 1 of the cooking shows ...or 1 of the shopping channels ....Banged Head [banghead]

Tim

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month