8 replies to this topic

[Drew]

Well, public funded BBC Frozen Planet, produced with Discovery Channel and Open University, has a 7th episode called On Thin Ice, which deals with the issue of climate change. However, when the US Discovery channel screens the series, they will only have 6 episodes. The "On Thin Ice" episode will be dropped and aspects "integrated" into the 6th episode instead. Is this another BS move by Discovery Channel to avoid talking about climate change in the highly volatile political climate? I mean I'd gladly skip any of the shark week programs or any other banal "reality" based programs for a heavy dose of reality! What do you all think?

On Thin Ice skipped in the US

[Drew]

I just watched "On Thin Ice" on GEM via Slingbox (Thanks buddy!) I'm baffled how Discovery will "squeeze" the topics into the rest of the series. They say it's a scheduling issue. However, with the farce of the political scene in the US the way it is, I'd say it's more an issue with politics. Very sad.

[uwxplorer]

I just watched "On Thin Ice" on GEM via Slingbox (Thanks buddy!) I'm baffled how Discovery will "squeeze" the topics into the rest of the series. They say it's a scheduling issue. However, with the farce of the political scene in the US the way it is, I'd say it's more an issue with politics. Very sad.

I am not watching Discovery Channel (or TV for that matter), but I'd say, check who is advertising on the channel. Wikipedia mentions that they already dropped an episode of MythBusters that could have upset credit card companies... If, say, Chevron or BP are advertising, or if there are a lot of car and bike shows, of course explaining that big engines and more oil drilling is bad will not fly.
I found this provocative link while looking for info about this: http://spankmymarket...ng-channel.html
Apparently, Discovery Communication, the parent company of the Discovery Channel is very found of Advertiser Funded Programming. I guess that leaves penguins and polar bears to incorporate themselves and finance that missing episode's broadcasting :-)

[loftus]

To paraphrase the bard
'All the world's a marketing scheme'
and as Dr House would say ' They ALL lie'
(even Al Gore)

[tdpriest]

... Dr House would say ' They ALL lie'...

Sometimes it is lupus, you know...

Tim

[Drew]

I always hear perineumplasty when House et al actually mean paraneoplasty! Some would say I'm obsessed!

Still, I'm not really surprised the same Discovery which comes up with crap like Shark Week and the stupid antics would also dodge real issues. That's one of the reasons I don't sell any clips to Discovery productions, although invariably BBC productions will transfer to Animal Planet/Discovery Channels.

[loftus]

I always hear perineumplasty when House et al actually mean paraneoplasty! Some would say I'm obsessed!

Do I hear 'paraneoplastic' as in syndrome?

[Drew]

Well it seems there's been a change of plans since the negative press started when the story broke in the UK. This is Discovery's statement:

DISCOVERY CHANNEL ANNOUNCES MARCH 18 PREMIERE DATE FOR FROZEN PLANET
From the Makers of PLANET EARTH, Epic Natural History Series Narrated by Alec Baldwin

(Los Angeles, Ca., December 6, 2011) – Discovery Channel announces today that FROZEN PLANET, the seven-part series from the acclaimed documentary team behind PLANET EARTH, will premiere in the United States on Sunday, March 18 from 8-10PM, ET/PT, and air on subsequent Sundays at 8PM ET/PT. A Discovery Channel/BBC co-production four years in the making, FROZEN PLANET will be narrated by award-winning actor Alec Baldwin.

FROZEN PLANET will provide the ultimate portrait of our earth’s polar regions, where the scale and beauty of the scenery and sheer power of the natural elements are unlike anywhere else on the planet. To capture nature’s majestic power – as well as its ultimate fragility – FROZEN PLANET’s filmmakers utilized the latest cinematographic techniques and technology to capture groundbreaking imagery both above and below the ice in some of the most extreme and remote regions of our planet. The series’ seventh episode, hosted on camera by British naturalist David Attenborough, will investigate what rising temperatures will mean for the people and wildlife that live there – and for the rest of the planet.

It's going to be re-edited and narrated by Alec Baldwin but the 7th episode will have Sir David. I guess they'll edit out Sir David from the few scenes he's in in various episodes. Still good to know public opinion does matter!

[Fontaine]

Theres an incredibly good book out called "Merchants of Doubt" all about how the right have fought to discredit certain issues using slimy PR experts and dodgy scientists, from the Tobacco industry in the 1950's to global warming now, and lots in-between, its an excellent read. After reading it I am extremely pessimistic of anything that comes out in the media. Anyway my point is that this is probably a politically motivated move and it stinks, either that or Discovery thinks Americans don't have the stomach for reality. Read the book, its awesome!

Edited by Fontaine, 09 December 2011 - 01:23 AM.