Indeed, the very reason many TCM fans may be worried about Turner Classic Movies is the history of AMC, which began life as American Movie Classics. American Movie Classics was launched on October 1 1984. Its original focus was classic movies made before the 1950s, in contrast to TCM which from its launch was intended to show not only films from the Silent Era, the Thirties, Forties, and Fifties, but movies from the Sixties, Seventies, and Eighties as well. In other respects, however, American Movie Classic was TCM before there was a TCM. Like TCM, American Movie Classics had hosts who would introduce movies on the channel, most notably Bob Dorian, but also Nick Clooney and Gene Klavan. Like TCM, American Movie Classics would sometimes show marathons of related movies (for example, the Marx Brothers films). Like TCM, American Movies also had its own original programming devoted to classic cinema, such as the interview show Classic Stories from Classic Stars and Star Facts. American Movie Classics even had a programming block not unlike TCM Underground or Noir Alley. American Pop! was devoted to youth-oriented films from the Fifties and Sixties (for example, the "Beach Party" movies). Much like Turner Classic Movies, American Movie Classic was involved with film preservation. It even had its annual Film Preservation Festival, devoted to preserving rare film that was organized with The Film Foundation.
Unfortunately, American Movie Classics would not last as a classic movie channel. Originally the channel had shown movies without commercial interruption much like TCM. It was in 1998 that AMC began showing commercials between films. By 2001 commercials were being shown during movie broadcasts. It was in 2002 that American Movie Classics was rebranded as simply "AMC" and shifted from showing only classic movies to showing movies from all eras. Over time AMC would drift almost entirely from showing older movies to showing movies from the Eighties, Nineties, Naughts, and Teens. As to AMC's shift away from classic movies, at least part of the reason may have been due to competition from Turner Classic Movies. Founded in 1994 and able to draw upon those libraries owned by Warner, among them the Warner Bros. library and the MGM library, TCM proved to be stiff competition for American Movie Classics.
Another classic movie channel to drift away from showing classic movies is the FX Movie Channel. It was launched on October 31 1994 as fxM: Movies from Fox. Its focus was classic movies from the 20th Century Fox library. Like American Movie Classics and Turner Classic Movies, in the beginning movies were shown commercial free. It was in 2000 that the channel's name was changed to the less awkward Fox Movie Channel. Fox Movie Channel's status as a channel that only showed classic movies came to an end in 2012. Its programming was divided into two programming blocks: from 3:00 AM to 3:00 PM Eastern it would show classic movies, while from 3:00 PM to 3:00 AM Eastern it would show more recent films. It was the same time that Fox Movie Channel started showing commercials. While the channel would change its name back to FXM in 2014, it has continued to show the two programming blocks of recent movies from late afternoon to early morning and classic movies from early morning to late afternoon.
A third channel that drifted away from showing classic movies is a broadcast channel rather than a cable channel as AMC, TCM, and FXM are. getTV was launched February 3 2014 by Sony Pictures as a digital broadcast channel devoted to classic movies. getTV would cease being solely a classic movie channel rather early in its history. In 2016 its programming expanded to classic television as well as classic movies. Over time getTV would drift entirely away from showing classic movies to concentrate on showing classic TV shows. Among the shows currently on getTV are The Rockford Files, Sanford and Son, and Nichols.
Given the histories of FXM, getTV, and particularly AMC, it is easy to understand why TCM fans are anxious when it comes to the future of Turner Classic Movies. And I am not going to say my fellow TCM fans have no reason for concern, particularly given I am worried about Turner Classic Movies as well. Even so, I think we do have some reasons for hope. First, TCM is in a much better position than AMC was in the late Nineties and early Naughts. Turner Classic Movies is still received by many homes across the United States. At the end of 2020 68.2 million homes received TCM. Furthermore, it really has no competition. There simply aren't any other channels out there devoted solely to airing classic movies, let airing them commercial free. Second, as seen in the ongoing outcry at the layoffs at Turner Classic Movies, TCM has a large and fiercely loyal fandom. Indeed, for many of us TCM isn't merely a classic movie channel, it is a way of life. What is more, it isn't just we fiercely loyal TCM fans (who might quite rightfully be called "fanatics") who were angered by last week's layoffs, but even casual fans like my brother. In nearly gutting TCM, Warner Discovery awakened a sleeping giant, and I think they are well aware of that. Third, while Turner Classic Movies may not generate the revenue that some of Warner Discovery's other channels do, it has always made a profit. What is more, its production costs are considerably lower than many of Warner Discovery's other channels. Shutting down TCM or changing its format would be in effect looking a gift horse in the mouth.
Despite the fact that nearly every other classic movie channel drifted away from showing classic movies or only showing classic movies, I think it is quite possible that Turner Movie Classics could continue showing classic movies for many years to come. Right now I think it is important that we fans do not give up hope and that we continue to apply pressure to Warner Discovery. It's time they realize how special TCM really is.
Epilogue: If you want to write the Warner Discovery Board of Directors, you can do so at Board of Directors; Warner Discovery; c/o Office of the Corporate Secretary; 230 Park Avenue South; New York City, New York 10003. If you do write them, please be firm, but remain polite and please refrain from insults or any demeaning language. Simply let them know how much you love TCM and if they close TCM or attempt to change it beyond recognition, you will not watch any of their other channels. No TLC, no Discovery Channel, no HGTV. Right now it is difficult to determine how much danger TCM is in, but I believe we can save it.
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