The 40-Year Transformation Of How TLC Went From The Learning Channel To Home Of Honey Boo Boo

The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare along with NASA founded what was meant to be an informative and instructional network in 1972. The channel was to be distributed for free via a NASA satellite.

The network became privately acquired by the Appalachian Community Service Network in 1980 and was renamed "The Learning Channel."

The network featured adult education shows ("Learn to Read"), documentaries on nature, history ("Battles That Changed the World"), and science.

In 1991, Discovery bought the network for a reported $31.5 million a move which added more reality television shows to the mix.

It had educational programs for preschoolers under its "Ready Set, Learn!" set up in 1992 …

And documentary series "Paleoworld" from 1994 to 1997, which focused on everything about dinosaurs in 50 episodes.

There was an entire episode entitled "Dino Sex."

They also had this show, "Amazing Space," a documentary on constellations, planets, bottomless pits, and other worlds.

But, the network started branching out its content for a more mainstream audience in the mid-'90s with reality shows including "Medical Detectives" and "Trauma: Life in the ER" ...

And, construction do-it-yourself shows like "Hometime" and "Home Savvy" which made light of home decorating.

Both shows ran throughout the '90s on the network with "Home Savvy" ending in 2000. 

Soon after, in 1998, the channel rebranded itself as TLC and the programming began to drastically change.

That year, the network also bid farewell to its kid's lineup. Instead, it became a part of the Discovery Kids lineup, which is now known as The Hub.

Many of the older shows including "Paleoworld," "Trauma," and "Medical Detectives" went to live on different Discovery channels.

In their place came shows geared toward moms and housewives in the form of "Wedding Story" and "Baby Story."

... reality and design shows like room renovating series "Trading Spaces" …

... "What Not to Wear," which picked apart fashion ...

… and "Junkyard Wars," in which teams have a day to build a machine out of scrap metal. Around this time, the network's tagline became "Life Unscripted."

In an attempt to get back to its roots, the network changed its tagline again to "Live and learn." It strayed from home improvement shows with "Little People Big World" in 2006 and tattoo show "L.A. Ink" the following year.

Family centered shows "Jon & Kate Plus 8" and "17 And Counting" (now "19 and Counting) came front and center in 2008.

And, they got into the cake business with "Cake Boss" in 2009. The cupcake phenomenon later spawned "DC Cupcake" and "Ultimate Cake Off."

Today's shows, while they may be informative (who knew you could get $2000 worth of groceries for nearly $100 with enough coupons) consist of shock value.

"My Strange Addiction" has taught us about America's strange compulsive habits ...

While "Hoarding: Buried Alive," now in season 4, has shown us the perils that come with amassing piles of belongings.

And, then there's "Toddlers & Tiaras," following the drama behind tiny tots and beauty pageants, which gave birth to ...

... "Honey Boo Boo," currently TLC's third-highest rated series.

"Long Island Medium" and "Breaking Amish" come in ahead.

Here's a list of other comings and goings from TLC in the past few years: