Is it just me that is finding TV unwatchable currently, particularly documentary and reality shows? By reality shows I mean of the Discovery/History channel style, not Love Island, but I guess my point applies there too? The bits I'm finding so annoying are when the show comes on, they spend a minute telling you and showing you all the good bits in it, then cuts to the opening credits. Then before every advert, it shows you the best bits of the next section. It just kills the show, there's no point watching it when you are told everything that happens in the first minute. Then you maybe get into it anyway and have each good bit spoiled before the adverts.

The change has occurred in line with a change in business model. The likes of Discovery, the History Channel etc. were originally created to cater for "niche" markets such as natural history, warfare history, science etc.

Back then they were pitching primarily to educated thirty-somethings-plus who really don't need things explaining in the TV equivalent of crayon.

The moment Rupert Murdoch decided to exercise full use of his controlling interest all these shows were dumbed down to the IQ of a pie-eater. Murdoch is a self-described populist and has no interest in niche markets. Not least because they usually make "niche" profits.

There's an awful lot of behavioural science involved in the making of shows. More than you could possibly dream. The reason elements of a show are repeated several times is because they are pitching to the lowest common denominator in terms of intelligence whilst maintaining the illusion of "niche programming".

As for why they give parts of the show away early - it's because the low end of the intelligence bracket generally don't like surprises (hence the number of remakes and sequels currently crushing the film industry) and the feeling is that the ground needs preparing beforehand. This is the essence of the movie trailer industry.

Or wildlife documentaries that now have the last 10 minutes showing you how they filmed it. It was interesting the first time but it's silly on every one.

Or wildlife documentaries that now have the last 10 minutes showing you how they filmed it. It was interesting the first time but it's silly on every one.

The change in Discovery is very noticeable. Fifteen years ago it was all natural history, travel, wildlife programmes etc.

Now every third show seems to be about the occult - or Bigfoot.

And I won't even begin to talk about the ever-rising number of programmes which are a fabrication from start to finish. Unwatchable stuff.

That said, even though satellite TV is currently scraping the bottom of the barrel, it remains eminently preferable to radio.

I gave up with both years ago. Other than when visiting friends (or watching/listening to Saints) I don't bother with either.

I don't have SKY, I don't watch much TV.

I recently stayed at a friends house that does for about eight weeks.

I noticed this documentary section, I didn't find any documentaries, just awful infotainment.

There have been some excellent documentaries made over the last few years, such as "Blackfish" , but they don't seem to play on these channels.

What is SKY for, and why do people pay for it?

It's that time of year when I debate cutting the cord. There is either RL on my TV or there is something I'm playing through a computer connected to it. I fell off slavery to the schedules years and years ago and I'm so far out of the loop that I don't record things because I probably haven't heard of them until well after the fact. I had a thing about BBC 4 for a while but every documentary I'e watched on there recently has been annoying.

I do listen to the radio in the mornings, and it's excellent for pottering in the kitchen, but most of my entertainment outside RL comes from podcasts whilst I'm doing something else these days.

I fear for RL in this world.

There's an old saying which goes something like - [i"The news is what's written on the back of advertisements"[/i . And one of the most important rules in the news industry is - [i"Never upset your sponsors"[/i.

The truth is both apply equally to TV programming (as well as the movie business). It's the reason investigative journalism has withered on the vine. After all, you won't last long in the industry if after taking a $5 million dollar advertising cheque from Coca Cola two of your journalists then write a story about how the very same company intimidates union activists etc.

Blackfish is a decent documentary. It's also precisely the kind of serious muckraking the makers of SKY and other satellite and cable broadcasters have absolutely no wish to pursue.

Although, it's interesting to note that Discovery recently ran a pretty militant short series on Greenpeace activists fighting Japanese whalers in the South Atlantic. It's the only overtly political show I can ever recall on any satellite channel. I was surprised that it aired at all and only did so because there is no chance whatsoever of any blowback in Europe or America where whaling is not a political issue. It goes without saying that it will never see the light of day on Japanese TV.

Still, I reckon there was much heated debate about whether to broadcast in the UK - not least because it might make people ask why all other forms of political activism are verboten on satellite.

Mountain Monsters is my favourite of those. I don't class it as a documentary, but more of a comedy. You have a group of 'expert' hillbillies go out in a 'sidebyside' to find a legendary monster. At the start of the episode (After they've told you everything that is going to happen) they show them interview a shocked local resident. They then go into the nearest bushes and do a night investigation. This immediately prompts a frightening encounter with said beastie and the conclusion that the only way to proceed is to build a trap. Quite how this group, featuring two old men and two 'expert trackers' with 52 inch waists trampling through the bushes don't scare off these creatures is remarkable. They then build trap and spend the next night forcing them into the trap, always perfectly, then they mysteriously escape, either though smashing their way out or disappearing into the air.

Absolutely hilarious to watch, but not a disclaimer in sight about it's lack of reality. (Not) Finding Bigfoot is more respectable, they've somehow been going 6 series or so and haven't found one yet and often admit to a complete bust on their trips out.

The only Discovery shows I found watchable were Deadliest Catch & Gold Rush.

The former is very innovative in terms of shooting film in extreme conditions. One of the few series which actually makes technology work for it rather than the other way around. The other thing it has going for it is the natural drama inherent to a very dangerous job. And sea fisherman the world over are never short of character and charisma. That said, I have noticed a greater reliance on fakery over the last few years.

Gold Rush was watchable ... for .... well .... gold. Although they made a mistake getting rid of the old miner (Fred) and his dad.

Gold Rush and their continuing search for the 'Glory Hole'.

The thing about Gold Rush is the lead characters are so jaw-droppingly dumb it makes the industry look even worse than it already does.

Say what you like about the Deadliest Catch captains - they know their stuff.

Watching Todd Whatsisface stumbling from one comic disaster to the next eventually becomes tiresome.

The Curse of Oak Island one has me intrigued. I'm half tempted to just go there myself and go down myself, just to see if there is any reality to any of it.