Woodworks No longer showing?

[Ben Davis]

Their long time viewers have probably seen every episode--many more than once. For months, maybe over a year I've been recording them and I just end up deleting them off my DVR because I'd seen them before. Unfortunately that means an already small demographic is reduced even further. Add to that the fact that a fair number of people say they didn't watch the show due to they style of the pieces or their perception of David Mark's personality (which from what I've read is nothing like what came out on the show.) Then the fact that DIY is part of an extra-cost package on both satellite services and who knows what on cable and you cut the potential audience even further. Since DIY is supposed to be a money-making enterprise a niche market doesn't help them meet their goals. My guess is that there just weren't enough people watching to justify running it.

Now if they would start producing new shows then that would be great and might bring back a lot of viewers. But based on some interviews I've read or seen with David Marks, my guess is that he'd probably not be the host as it was a LOT of work for him and things have really taken off since.

BTW, there is a new woodworking show that is pretty decent. But its not on your TV (well, it could be if you connect your computer or iPod to your TV.) Check out The Wood Whisperer. Its not as polished as Woodworks or New Yankee Workshop and it doesn't follow the traditional project-per-episode approach all the other woodworking shows have done. I've just started watching it and downloaded all the episodes while I was out of town and had access to an unlimited internet connection. I like what I've seen so far. On the project I've been following, a lot more time has been spent than any TV show would have ever spent going over details of design. And he didn't pre-build a prototype to work out any bugs. He deals with them as they come up the way we all would.

Matt,

I understand where you're coming from regarding the cost to produce the shows. That's why it would be nice to have them available on DVD.

I don't want to get too far off topic from the original thread, but my liking of The Wood Whisperer has fallen off. It was great in the early going. I just don't like the show any more. It seems to be a "let me show you have to tune a table saw on my new one-off custom-made high speed low drag Powermatic table saw." There is occasionally good information on the show though. I don't blame him. I just don't care for the style; that's all.

Whatever. Wood Works should be aired at like 0300 or on DVD at the very least!

[Travis Rassat]

If it's any consolation, DIY has put some Wood Works episodes up online:

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/woodworking

[Daniel Heine]

I am am very frustrated because not only is Wood Works gone, but so are both woodturning shows, and the Wood Sculpture show. Not much left to watch on DIY!!!

dan

[alex grams]

email sent, thanks for the link.

[Eric Larsen]

Only one thing to do:

Create our own cable network! Sawmill Creek TV! SCTV! (Harold Ramis would probably sue.)

I imagine buying the rights to WW, NYW, and every other wood show would be quite expensive. I wonder if enough advertisers would be interested to make a WoodTV network viable? I know little about broadcasting.

I am am very frustrated because not only is Wood Works gone, but so are both woodturning shows, and the Wood Sculpture show. Not much left to watch on DIY!!!

dan

[Ben Davis]

Travis,

Well... kind of. Some of the shows are available, but not all of them. Even so, finding a particular show is terribly cumbersome due to DIYnetwork's terrible user interface. Try and find, for example, the WW episode where he built a Chippendale side table. You should be able to easily view a list and pick it out (see NYW website for a great example).

[Chris Padilla]

I have *most* of Woodworks recorded to DVD but I found that over the years, there are a handful of episodes that for whatever reason DIY just did not rebroadcast. So, I don't have them all.

[Alex Shanku]

Chris, did you capture the video to your computer throught the video-out?

I know the USB ports do not support DVR --> computer transfer?

I have 55 episodes on my DVR and am considering transfer this fall.

[Chris Padilla]

Alex,

I went the DVD recorder route and it works just fine. However, I hear that home DVD recorders may not be as good as commercial stuff and that the recordings may not last all that long. I guess we'll see.

[Ben Davis]

Anyone out there have all of the episodes?

[AL Ursich]

I am in a DIY Free zone and can only get Norm on weekends only Cable. Did watch DIY Wood Works when at Sony in Philly so I really love the show. Brother is in a Norm Free Zone in West Palm Beach.... No Norm for him.... Bummer...

I looked at the DIY Wood Works show list and wow what a pile of great shows.... I have some of the Router Workshop box sets from the Great North. They make some great stuff.

Are the Wood Works shows available for purchase anywhere? Would make a great Christmas Gift for ME......

AL

[Jerome Hanby]

They have such massive repeats on the DIY channel, why not start with the first episode of NYWS, Woodworks, whatever and show them in order until you get to the last one, then start over.

At the least, if they are going to can a show, why not pull a marathon like the Cartoon Network does when it kills off a shows slot.

[Ben Davis]

I don't understand why the don't show it at like 0400 when we can all DVR it.

[mike holden]

Guys -
Complaining will do no good.
They need a sponsor ($$$dollars$$$) to run a show.
We need to lobby some woodworking related companies to sponsor Woodworks.
THAT will get it back on view faster than anything else.
Mike