Dear Travel Channel,
We need to talk... I want to break up. It's not me, it's you. You've changed. We have been through rocky patches before when you decided to become "all Vegas, all the time" about nine years ago, but we got through it because, like it or not, Las Vegas IS still a travel destination. This time, I am afraid that you have gone too far, and have proven that you no longer care about travel at all. Just yesterday, I scrolled through your schedule on my DVR, trying in vain to find something of interest to record. What I discovered was unforgivable. For the next week, the average of travel related content on your channel was 2 hours a day. (And I am counting "Ultimate Thrills: Coasters" in that total) What are you showing instead? Food.
We need to talk... I want to break up. It's not me, it's you. You've changed. We have been through rocky patches before when you decided to become "all Vegas, all the time" about nine years ago, but we got through it because, like it or not, Las Vegas IS still a travel destination. This time, I am afraid that you have gone too far, and have proven that you no longer care about travel at all. Just yesterday, I scrolled through your schedule on my DVR, trying in vain to find something of interest to record. What I discovered was unforgivable. For the next week, the average of travel related content on your channel was 2 hours a day. (And I am counting "Ultimate Thrills: Coasters" in that total) What are you showing instead? Food.
Now, as my scale can attest, I love food. Probably too much. And yes, I love to eat when I travel, and perhaps one show on great restaurants or street food in different cities would be nice. But, you haven't stopped there. No, you have Anthony Bourdain eating fancy stuff, Andrew Zimmerman eating gross stuff, and Adam Richman just eating as much as he can. In between, you have reruns of Rachael Ray eating cheaply and Giada eating slowly and sensually. Oh, and don't forget all of the Food Paradise specials (which I have to admit to watching a marathon of when I was in labor). Now, don't get me wrong, your food related content, or I should say these days, your content, is often better than much of the content on the Cooking Channel or Food Network, and I know that you are owned by Scripps who also owns those channels. I would watch Adam Richman stuff his face over Guy Fieri any day, but, and I feel like I am stating the obvious here, this content doesn't fit the travel channel!
Remember Great Hotels? Back then, Samantha Brown used to annoy me, but now, I would be thrilled to watch her laze around luxury hotels in great locations. I still tune into the one hour of Samantha (usually Passport to Europe or Great Weekends) that you show on weekdays, even though I have seen them multiple times, because I need my travel fix. But, I will admit that I have been cheating on you for quite some time. It started with Rudy Maxa who popped up on PBS, then HDNet, and moved on to my donating money to PBS for the entire series of Rick Steves videos.
You might be wondering what, exactly, would be required for me to take you back, and I am so glad you asked. First, keep Samantha working and hire some new blood. I am available (knowledgable in cruising, Europe, and US destinations) but there are many talented people in the travel universe that are constantly coming up with amazing content like JD Andrews and Iain Mallory. If you want, have a silly competition like Food Network Star to find the next Travel Network Star; that will get some ratings. But, most importantly, TRAVEL! Take us to Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, Australia and all the great places on our own continent. Help us to plan our vacations and to get excited about all the travel opportunities throughout our world. We don't mind if you get a bit informercially at times like you do with Walt Disney World and some of the cruise lines. Just show us the world.
Sincerly,
A Traveler
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