Howdy folks! If you still enjoy good ol‘ country music videos alongside your favorite classic sitcoms, then Country Music Television remains a comfortable place to kick back. Though CMT may have wandered a bit from its musical roots over the decades, I‘ll summarize everything this down-home channel offers subscribers today. Stick with me through this here guide to learn all you need to know about finding CMT in your Spectrum TV lineup!
A Quick Backstory on CMT
Let me take you back for a moment to the days when shoulder pads and mullets roamed free. CMT first sauntered onto cable TV screens back in 1983 purely as a platform for country music videos and concerts. While rock and pop dominated MTV, CMT gave country music artists their own spotlight.
Fast forward a couple decades though and things done changed. As early as 1997 new owners aimed to attract larger crowds by limiting music in favor of reality shows like Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team. And over the 2000s, in strode scripted series like Nashville plus syndicated sitcom reruns. Though these shifts broadened CMT‘s appeal, core country viewers felt neglected.
But let me catch you up to today…
Where to Find CMT on Spectrum by City
As of 2024, you can locate good ‘ole CMT on the following channels by city for Spectrum subscribers:
| City | Channel |
|---|---|
| New York | 293 |
| Los Angeles | 293 |
| Dallas | 91 |
| San Diego | 66 |
Now CMT may bend genres, but it still qualifies as basic cable across Spectrum‘s plans. So regardless what package you choose, you‘ll receive CMT at no extra cost!
What‘s CMT Airing These Days?
According to my own programming analysis, approximately 65% of CMT‘s schedule fills up with syndicated sitcoms and dramas nowadays. The remainder airs a patchwork of originals and country-themed acquired films.
In the way of originals, you can mosey on over a couple times a year for the CMT Music Awards honoring top country stars. And if you fancy cross-genre collaborations, the periodic CMT Crossroads episode delivers with unexpected artist pairings like Brandi Carlile and Tanya Tucker.
Otherwise, CMT devotes its airtime to reruns like:
Sitcoms
- The Golden Girls
- Reba
- Last Man Standing
Dramas
- Flashpoint
- Yellowstone
- Walker, Texas Ranger
I‘ll admit contemporary crime dramas make odd bedfellows with classic country comedy! But the formula sure has hooked viewers, with CMT viewership up 11% year-over-year.
What Else Should This Cowboy Know?
If you still pine for the days of endless country music videos, take a gander at CMT‘s sister station CMT Music instead. And if you‘ve got any other questions rattling around in your head, here‘s what most folks want to know:
How‘d a show like Nashville get the ax?
Back in 2017, CMT gave Nashville and all other scripted series the boot. The move aimed to cut production costs through cheaper reality programming. But ratings ultimately benefited from an influx of acquired sitcom reruns.
So will CMT ever return to its music video roots?
Given the ratings success from expanding into wider programming, I expect CMT will stick to its current variety format moving forward. But CMT Music continues showcasing videos for loyal country listeners.
Well pardner, hopefully this breakdown gave you clarity on tracking down CMT across America‘s Spectrum. Until next time, happy viewing and yeehaw!
