Thanks to the person who mentioned TLC, which has gone the same dismal way. And Animal Planet is also now showing trash TV animal shows. Is there no end? OTOH, all this trash means that I have time to do useful things and to turn off the TV, so that's a good thing.

The National Geographic Channel is killing the National Geographic Society all for some cheap ratings. If the Society has veto power over programming, they should use it as much as possible, not reluctantly. I am an archaeologist because of National Geographic's educational programming on PBS when I was growing up. I cancelled our membership to the magazine and Society because of the terrible programming on its channel. Many natural and social scientists have abandoned National Geographic as I have, and we are their base. National Geographic can't afford to lose their base of support and their reputation and integrity just so Rupert Murdoch and News Corp. can turn a quick profit riding on their name.

Hosted by Bob Garfield, this podcast disgusts that channels that were once used for education and knowledge have now turned into pulp fiction. Channels like the national geographic channel that hold a show called “diggers” and “pawn stars”. It’s saying that what these shows are teaching is just wrong which follow treasure hunters with metal detectors which are then used to find treasures in order to sell them. In the show there were high priced hookers, men in diapers, women in prison, and Nazi’s so as you can see people were more disturbed than offended. The behavior these shows hold is unbearable and barbaric; it’s not something that should be aired all the time or at all really. The shows performed these unsightly acts only seem to stem from wanting to keep their financial value up, they aren’t thinking of what it’s doing to their viewers. Spike TV is the channel that the shows are being aired on and this is the channel that is basically uncensored for viewers, Fred Limp makes a remark that national geographic channel is held to a higher standard than Spike TV. The CEO of National Geographic was also shocked at the behavior on spike TV but he explained that he and everyone were a little naïve when it came to the archeologist and the fact that it was a major topic for them. He spoke to other organization and apologized for what happened but never said that it wouldn’t end up happening again so I guess they will see.

I wish you Bob Garfield would have pressed the Manager of NatGeo channel on the difference between the National Geogrpahic Society's board promise to steer the balance from all reality TV toward a more balance between the "highbrow" documentaries and reality TV. It seems that the National Geographic Society's role is more like a toothless watchdog over the NatGeo Channel's management.

While the National Geographic Society said that they were going for a total reboot of the Channel's fare to strike a better balance between the educational and the reality TV aspects of the channel, the channel's CEO goal is to make the channel as profitable as possible in the 18-54 demographics. This, along with the National Geographic Society's reluctance to use its veto power on programing, means that NatGeo will be following the path blazed by the paragon of educational television gone wrong, TLC (you know, what used to be known The Learning Channel?).

I was so pleased to hear your remarks today about the trash on TV that is being blessed with the National Geographic seal of approval. It would appear to be simply a question of boosting ratings on the cable networks, etc., and a corporation or two (or three) making more money with higher Nielson ratings, etc. I don't expect the Nat Geo program to change its course to any degree but I was pleased to learn that other people, besides myself, were horrified by what passes under the Nat. Geo banner. Keep up the good work.

I'm grateful for your exposure of the content you found in "Diggers"
I hope Nat Geo is REALLY embarrased, they should be.
I don't buy the excuse that the people involved didn't know any better. I think it is more likely the people who were in charge didn't know any better and if this is the case they really need to be dismissed.
With only 30% control can N.G. turn around this misguided notion that you can't find an audience unless you appeal to the lowest common denominator? Why on earth would they choose to partner with News Corp?
I have found the Mag to be very worthwhile, and I know I will be rewarded it I pick it up and look inside. If I associated the Mag with the stupidity(STUPIDITY!) you found in the t.v. program, I wouldn't touch it. And I would gladly heap ridicule on anyone who did. Tell John Fahey to put that in his pipe and smoke it.