In theory, and often in practice, the 500+ channel tv universe allows for everyone to get a channel or two that caters to their specific interest.
Everybody, that is, but horror fans. We've got a channel, Chiller, but the problem with it is that it blows. Oh, there are some flashes of brilliance--they briefly brought back Kolchak: The Night Stalker, and they're showing a Brimstone marathon this weekend. But nine times out of ten, I turn to Chiller and find either some crap like Ripley's Believe it or Not or a movie from the last two or three years that makes the crappy killer animal movies they always show on the SciFi (or, if you will, SyFy) channel look like...well, something that doesn't suck horribly.
It seems times are not good at Chiller TV--most of the ads are of the "natural male enhancement" or "Cash 4 Gold" variety, and the promised HD channel never arrived.
So it's not just me who doesn't like this channel; basically, nobody likes it.
The problem as I see it is that Chiller is trying to be a niche channel that appeals to everyone; this is a contradictory mission that has led to Chiller's current low-rent, pleasing no-one status.
But it doesn't have to be this way. So Chiller TV execs: here are my recommendations.
1.)You are owned by NBC Universal. Universal, the studio that was syonymous with horror for years. Tap into this catalog and show some classy old horror movies. In fact, make them the hallmark of your channel. The niche you want will show up for this.
2.) Really, you have to ease up on the censorship. This is a horror channel. Your audience can handle at least the amount of profanity they allow on FX and TNT. Not to mention the gore. Horror fans like gore. Show us some severed limbs, some exploding heads, some zombies feasting on intestines, this kind of stuff. Are you afraid you're going to scare the Cash 4 Gold people away with this stuff?
3.) More original programming. Horror has always been the most robust independent film genre because you can make a decent horror movie for about twelve bucks plus beer for the crew. You've already got the dare 2 direct contest; why not give the winners a couple of cases of beer and a ten-to-midnight spot for their original movie? Could the results possibly be worse than the crap you've got in that time slot now?
You should feel free to take my advice without paying me my usual substantial consulting fee; just pay me with a better channel.
