How TLC went from educational programming to featuring reality TV, including Honey Boo Boo's show and "Extreme Cougar Wives," has left many people befuddled. Why has everything about the channel changed so completely since 1972?
Originally, TLC was distributed for free by NASA via satellite. Then eight years later, in 1980, the network came under the ownership of the Appalachian Community Service Network. It focused on adult education shows, some of which were for teaching adults how to read. Additionally, there were documentaries featured on topics ranging from history to science to nature.
Then 1991 came along, which proved to be a watershed year. TLC was purchased for $31.5 million by Discovery. That event added the element of reality television to the channel. Still, TLC retained educational value, but it was directed towards preschoolers.
By the mid '90s, TLC wanted a broader audience, hence the turn towards reality TV with which it is still associated. Today, the channel is known for "Trading Spaces," "Extreme Couponing," "Jon & Kate Plus 8," "What Not to Wear," "Little People Big World," "19 and Counting," "Hoarding: Buried Alive" and many more programs.
