This blog was originally published on Xanga February 3, 2013.
That is the question I have been asking myself for a while. Originally, I started watching Chiller TV for Horror Anime such as Descendants of Darkness (Yami no Matsuei) and Tokko.
Considering that Chiller TV is Syfy's sister channel, I should've known the network was going to be a disappointment. Once it turns March 1st next month, it will be 6 YEARS, since Chiller was launched. After 6 years, some of us Horror fans already lost interest.
Chiller TV looks like a network that was only launched 5 minutes ago. Most of its programming consists of censored Horror Movies and TV shows in syndication.
NOTHING about the network "chills" me to the bone. I have watched movie trailers both old and new, as well as movies on other networks with more frightening scenes than what is being aired on Chiller. Is that pathetic or what?
NBC Universal owns Chiller TV AND Syfy. Both have phenomenal special effects used in their commercials to help promote each network. yet their content is like eating a Shit Sandwich.
Sometimes, I watched Chiller TV to help me fall asleep in the morning because I have Chronic Insomnia.
Does anybody other than myself find that last statement to be somewhat abnormal?
Horror was NOT meant to be used as a sleeping aid. It is meant to frighten its audience to the extent, that we are too scared to sleep for days, not bore us to sleep. I understand that Chiller TV is supposed to be low budget.
If NBC Universal is advertising Chiller TV and Syfy, the quality of programming should be much better than they are on both networks.
Maybe LESS time and money should be spent on their promos and MORE time and money should be spent on their content.
Chiller TV should NOT repeatedly marathon the same shows everyday, while occasionally airing new Horror countdowns and documentaries like some fine china.
It would not be so bad, if Chiller left every syndicated movie and TV show UNCENSORED.
Horror is not meant to be censored. If Chiller TV is supposed to be attracting Horror fans, the network is doing a poor job of it.
When it comes to airing content, Chiller TV should be a premium channel like HBO, Starz, Encore, etc; Chiller TV should be an UNCENSORED Horror network, that can be watched on basic or premium cable and satellite packages.
By Chiller not being included on Time Warner's basic cable package, its viewership is extremely niche. Only those with Direct TV and Dish Network can watch Chiller.
Coming from a Horror fan and author, Chiller TV is disappointing. When I see a channel for Horror fans, I expect to watch independent, mainstream, and banned movies that were too controversial to be released in movie theaters.
At the rate Chiller TV is going, the network would be better off airing R.L. Stine's Goosebumps TV series from the mid-90's, which used to air on Nickelodeon.
Don't get me wrong, I do NOT hate R.L. Stine's novels. He's like the Stephen King for pre-teens and younger. Also, I find Stine's novels more entertaining than King's.
However, I like movies based on Stephen King's novels better than movie's based on R.L. Stine's.
Anyway, with decades worth of Horror movies, Chiller TV could air so many of them throughout the hours.
Instead, the network's programmers choose to air censored, syndicated shows from over 10 to 30 years ago. Follow those same shows up with films, which have terrible script writing and talentless, unknown actors we don't care about watching.
If NBC Universal and Chiller TV want to maintain their viewers and attract more fans, they should modify the network's programming. Chiller's programming is barely worth watching, most of the time. I occasionally watch the channel for their documentaries.
Chiller TV's programming is starting to mimic music channels. Just like MTV and VH-1 spend most of their time discussing music videos from the last 10 to 30 years, Chiller mostly wastes time discussing Horror films throughout the decades.
That is when the network OCCASIONALLY decides to air a new Horror documentary.
For the love of God, Chiller TV, please air uncensored Horror and NOT "child-friendly" content. STOP discussing Horror and START showing it. Be like Nike and "Just DO it," already!
Trust me, your ratings would probably soar, if you actually aired something, that Horror fans WANT to watch.
Do you agree or disagree? Let me know what you think!
