Turner Classic Movies

[FrauBlucher]

Or even worse. Banners on the bottom that say, this movie is brought to you by Pfizer.

[Matt]

If you watch the video posted on TCM's social media, you'll notice the TCM logo at the end turning into a C. Not a "wacky" C, but more of a "classic yet modern" C. I think they're just rebranding to something like "Classics" or, god forbid, "Classix." I think as Ted Turner is no longer associated with WarnerMedia, they want to de-Turner their network holdings and streamline them into a single unit with all that Discovery shit they're merging with (which now becomes Warner Bros. Discovery).

I don't think there will be any other significant changes, but I really hope they announce a stand-alone streaming version or at least add the live feed and on-demand options to HBO Max.

[FrauBlucher]

If it’s a name change I’m all for that.

[JakeStewart]

I wouldn’t mind a stand-alone streaming service. I pay way too much for YouTube TV pretty much only to get TCM. But I’ve heard the one they currently have is ridiculously clunky.

[senseabove]

If you watch the video posted on TCM's social media, you'll notice the TCM logo at the end turning into a C. Not a "wacky" C, but more of a "classic yet modern" C. I think they're just rebranding to something like "Classics" or, god forbid, "Classix." I think as Ted Turner is no longer associated with WarnerMedia, they want to de-Turner their network holdings and streamline them into a single unit with all that Discovery shit they're merging with (which now becomes Warner Bros. Discovery).

Ha—he also puts a little more emphasis than necessary on "see" in the slightly non-sequitur "See for yourself."

[FrauBlucher]

Out of curiosity, can TCM join the Criterion Channel? Almost like the opposite structure of FilmStruck

[Matt]

In poking around press releases and news databases for hints, I didn't really find anything, but I did learn that TNT, where it is available in Europe, will be re-branded as Warner TV. That is already the case for some European countries as well as the African, Asian, and Latin American countries where the channel exists. So, some evidence of a de-Turnerization process underway.

[fdm]

Commercial breaks... and those annoying little animated icons in the corner(s) full-time.

[Matt]

Out of curiosity, can TCM join the Criterion Channel? Almost like the opposite structure of FilmStruck

At this point, anything could happen, but I think Criterion is probably very happy to continue with their current licensing arrangements and not be yanked around by "content partners" who are soon to be swallowed up in yet another merger (pending regulatory approval).

[DeprongMori]

TCM’s Twitter response only lets on the following in responses to the comments on the video:

You won’t have to log in to watch, and will still be able to enjoy TCM as you do now.

which doesn’t sound like bad news.

[Matt]

They also said on Twitter “We're not adding commercials” and “We are and always will be committed to celebrating the Golden Age of Hollywood.” I was just thinking that Viacom’s Paramount+ and NBC Universal’s Peacock both have a selection of free live stream channels (and Viacom also owns the free live streamer Pluto TV), so maybe HBO Max is set to launch something similar. It would be a good way to draw viewers to the platform. They currently have no free content at all.

[dekadetia]

It's all speculation for now, of course, but this feels like a programming change:

[domino harvey]

They play Green Day on classic rock radio stations now, get ready for whatever the TCM equivalent of that is

[MongooseCmr]

The TCM Hub on HBOMax seems to include any and every movie made before 2000. Would be a big leap to be that broad with the programming, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the daytime 30s-40s programmers were cut down a bit on this newer platform

[Fred Holywell]

If you watch the video posted on TCM's social media, you'll notice the TCM logo at the end turning into a C. Not a "wacky" C, but more of a "classic yet modern" C. I think they're just rebranding to something like "Classics" or, god forbid, "Classix."

I suspect you're right. Not the most original of logos though, considering how much it looks like the Criterion one. Unless that's part of the idea.

[Habit Rouge]

They play Green Day on classic rock radio stations now, get ready for whatever the TCM equivalent of that is

Sodergergh and Mamet.

[hearthesilence]

They play Green Day on classic rock radio stations now, get ready for whatever the TCM equivalent of that is

Sodergergh and Mamet.

The first South Park movie actually comes to mind.

[FrauBlucher]

In between movies they aired a short on the composers of the Hollywood system. Man, that was good! It was no more than 5 minutes, I wish it was 2 hours.

[DarkImbecile]

NYT article on the rebranding

[Ribs]

It seems somewhat odd to do all this showbusiness and not any programming changes or new services or anything whatsoever - I understand the old logo was old and could be updated and have no issues with the new one and am extremely happy they aren't changing the brand name for sentimental reasons. I know TCM is a formula that just fundamentally works and makes money for Turner/WB because its fundamental truth of being 90% contingent of things they already own is extremely profitable and I wasn't rooting for that format to change but I really wasn't thinking it would just be... the same with a new coat of paint.

[swo17]

Where Then Meets Now

[FrauBlucher]

So, Teddy lives on.

[Fred Holywell]

This might take a little getting used to.

[Matt]

It seems somewhat odd to do all this showbusiness and not any programming changes or new services or anything whatsoever

Yes, all this hubbub for a logo change and some new sets. And yet the new bumpers and graphics seem already dated—neon bright colors, simple fonts in all caps, bubbly “hip” music. Whatever keeps the staff employed, I guess.

[FrauBlucher]

I’m glad that it’s just a cosmetic change and they left the programming alone. At the end of the day it’s about the movies they play along with TCM produced programming in between