Turner Classic Movies celebrates its 25th anniversary

[TMC]

https://variety.com/2019/tv/features...er-1203183315/

Ted Turner's classic movie commercial-free cable channel premiered on April 14, 1994. When it celebrates its 25th anniversary Sunday, TCM will be bigger than ever, with cruises, a fan club, social media hashtags and the TCM Film Festival, which is back this week for its 10th year. “TCM is a brand, not just a TV network,” says Jennifer Dorian, executive vice president and general manager of TCM. “Much of our future growth will come from fan engagement initiatives.” As Cynthia Littleton explains, "TCM has a gold-plated brand because it was designed to appeal to movie devotees rather than a mass audience. The decision was made early on to keep it commercial-free, and the mantra of 'no edits and no interruptions' has held firm through successive regimes at Turner, and now Warner Bros." TCM was created with the mission of being "a magazine that was a smart read for people who love film," rather than a "channel to celebrate old Hollywood," says Brad Siegel, a former Turner executive who helped launch TCM. It was Siegel who picked Robert Osbourne to become the face of TCM. Osbourne, who died in 2017, served as TCM's main host from 1994 until his retirement in 2016. “Context and curation is what we’re known for,” adds Charlie Tabesh, senior vice president of programming for Turner Classic Movies. “We’ve never programmed the channel with ratings in mind. If we did, we wouldn’t be playing silent films or 1930s black-and-white movies.” ALSO: TCM's second host Ben Mankiewicz explains how Robert Osbourne conceived of the two-minute rule for movie introductions.

[Hawkee]

When it comes to classic movies Turner Classic Movies has been much better than American Movie Classics because when it was first launched in 1994 Turner Classic Movies introduced new and beginning classic movie fans to stars like Marilyn Monroe Rock Hudson Burt Lancaster Rita Hayworth John Wayne Lana Turner and other classic movie stars of the times and it was a neat idea that anyone could and still can enjoy on TV. I mean how long has it been since you've seen Casablanca or watched Singing In The Rain with Gene Kelly? Many times I bet and I just happen to be a fan of Turner Classic Movies because of all the neat movies they show and some movies that they show that you've never heard of before. Unlike American Movie Classics who changed their image by renaming themselves their old name AMC and focusing on movies from the 80's and 90's and airing shows like Mad Men rather than airing classic movies Turner Classic Movies has maintained their classic formula by still showing classic movies that everyone loves to watch. And now that Turner Classic Movies has grown bigger than ever by adding things like movie themed cruise vacations wine tastings for adults movie set bus tours Hollywood vacations and even now has their very own exclusive fan club with special deals just for fan club members such as movie premieres at theaters and special meet and greets with Turner Classic Movies hosts anywhere. And I hope Turner Classic Movies continues with their image for years to come because they have indeed become bigger than ever before and let's hope that they can continue this image by adding more things for movie fans everywhere. Next I think Turner Classic Movies will plan on building a classic movie theme park and hotel like Walt Disney World that will focus on classic movies based on whatever plans they have. But at least Robert Osborne's memory still lives on in Turner Classic Movies because when Robert and Ted Turner teamed up to launch Turner Classic Movies in 1994 who knew that it would become hugely successful in the years ahead and may Turner Classic Movies continue to improve itself in the futures on the horizon to keep things fresh for classic movie fans. Because there's something magical about movies that keeps people entertained throughout the world and beyond
Bestie

[AMackII]

Happy 25th/Silver Anniversary to TCM

[Mr. Television]

AMC used to be a great network too but it's been ruined. TCM is the best classic movie network on TV.

[PhoenixAcres]

I love TCM. It's the only channel that actually cares about its viewers. It's so rare to find a channel that's kept its original purpose for a quarter century.

[MA]

Originally Posted by PhoenixAcres

I love TCM. It's the only channel that actually cares about its viewers. It's so rare to find a channel that's kept its original purpose for a quarter century.

Me too. So many great movies that you can watch on there as well.

[DadTheKing]

Originally Posted by LaBestia

When it comes to classic movies Turner Classic Movies has been much better than American Movie Classics because when it was first launched in 1994 Turner Classic Movies introduced new and beginning classic movie fans to stars like Marilyn Monroe Rock Hudson Burt Lancaster Rita Hayworth John Wayne Lana Turner and other classic movie stars of the times and it was a neat idea that anyone could and still can enjoy on TV. I mean how long has it been since you've seen Casablanca or watched Singing In The Rain with Gene Kelly? Many times I bet and I just happen to be a fan of Turner Classic Movies because of all the neat movies they show and some movies that they show that you've never heard of before. Unlike American Movie Classics who changed their image by renaming themselves their old name AMC and focusing on movies from the 80's and 90's and airing shows like Mad Men rather than airing classic movies Turner Classic Movies has maintained their classic formula by still showing classic movies that everyone loves to watch. And now that Turner Classic Movies has grown bigger than ever by adding things like movie themed cruise vacations wine tastings for adults movie set bus tours Hollywood vacations and even now has their very own exclusive fan club with special deals just for fan club members such as movie premieres at theaters and special meet and greets with Turner Classic Movies hosts anywhere. And I hope Turner Classic Movies continues with their image for years to come because they have indeed become bigger than ever before and let's hope that they can continue this image by adding more things for movie fans everywhere. Next I think Turner Classic Movies will plan on building a classic movie theme park and hotel like Walt Disney World that will focus on classic movies based on whatever plans they have. But at least Robert Osborne's memory still lives on in Turner Classic Movies because when Robert and Ted Turner teamed up to launch Turner Classic Movies in 1994 who knew that it would become hugely successful in the years ahead and may Turner Classic Movies continue to improve itself in the futures on the horizon to keep things fresh for classic movie fans. Because there's something magical about movies that keeps people entertained throughout the world and beyond
Bestie

I agree with you, Bestie. TCM is a treasure. I like the colorized movies of westerns and musicals and the black and white Noirs.
DTK

[Schmoopie]

Oh I love TCM! 95% of the time they show amazing movies! Every once in a while I'll turn it on and think "Why are they showing this stuff?" But I have been introduced to some wonderful movies and even actors/actresses. It's to my advantage that Audrey Hepburn is my favorite actress, although I selfishly wish they would showcase her more often! I had DVR'd Sabrina (which I have on DVD anyway, ha ha) from TCM and they were interviewing a member of their TCM Backlot Club who was named Sabrina after the movie. Sigh... I was kind of jealous!