TCM, or Turner Classic Movies turns 20 years old next Monday, and it’s one of the few things I’m willing to thank Ted Turner for.  There’s no way to describe it other than “the old movie channel”, since they air movies almost exclusivley made before 1970.

They are also uninterupted by commercials, unedited and usually introduced by a host who will pass some information about the stars of the film or some anecdotes about the making of the film which I find adds to my appreciation of the film.

When the channel was first introduced, it offered access to a library of films not often seen on commercial television, nor easily found in the once ubiquitous video stores, films one usually had to buy in order to watch them.  Also, you may have had to stay up late or get up early in order to catch a movie you wanted to see, but with the advent of the DVR (and the death of the walk in video rental store) you don’t have to stay up until 3:00AM to see that obscure film.  Schedule the recording and watch at your leisure!

Since the audience that these old films appeal to is aging, the looming question is will the channel be able to attract younger viewers with it’s current fare?  Let’s hope they find a way, or that younger people find an interest in classic films.  So Happy Birthday TCM and may you adapt to change better than Blockbuster Video!