TV for Teens

Cable TV for Teens

Some of the most popular TV for teens can be found on cable and satellite channels.

The N

The N delivers a steady diet of teen-focused programming. Along with original shows, the channel also offers reruns of popular series that aired on other networks, including My So-Called Life, Dawson's Creek, Moesha, Clueless and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Even The N's website is in tune with teen tastes, featuring a blog, message boards, games, quizzes, podcasts, and other interactive content.

The N's original programming is topped by Degrassi, a Canadian-produced teen soap opera that isn't afraid to tackle difficult topics. With frank discussions of sexuality, and storylines dealing with everything from school shootings to drug abuse, it's easy to see why commercials for the show have used the tagline, "It goes there." South of Nowhere sets the teen drama in California, as the main character deals with the changes of moving from Ohio to the West Coast. Like Degrassi, the series doesn't shy away from hot-button issues like racism and gay teens. Instant Star draws on the popularity of star-making talent competitions like American Idol to take a look at the life of a teen instantly thrust into the limelight when she wins a singing competition. The Best Years is The N's latest offering, bringing its signature style to the college years.

MTV

Of course, the core of MTV is its music programming. Viewers of all ages check out blocks of music videos and countdown shows like TRL to find out about the hottest songs and artists. However, many teens are also drawn to the channel's reality programming:

• The Real World – This is the show that started it all. Watch a house full of strangers interact and react as they meet for the first time.
• Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County – Follow the lives of the rich and the trendy, as cameras capture the friendships, loves, and rivalries in a ritzy high school.
• The Hills – This spin-off of Laguna Beach follows characters from the original series as they leave home for the first time and try to make it on their own.
• Made – Dreams come true, but not without a lot of hard work. Each episode focuses on a teen being "made" into something they aspire to, from a cheerleader to a breakdancer.
• My Super Sweet 16 – Be there for every over-the-top detail as teen girls celebrate their sixteenth birthday in style.
• Making the Band – Watch the creation of a hot new group while reveling in all the drama a competition-based reality show can bring.

Cartoon Network/Adult Swim

While most teens have outgrown typical cartoon network fare like My Gym Partner's a Monkey and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, they still turn to the channel for its late-night Adult Swim programming block. Comedy shows like Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Futurama, The Boondocks, and Family Guy draw in young audiences with their twisted sense of humor. Fans of anime, animated shows from Japan, enjoy Inuyasha, Fullmetal Alchemist and Bleach, to name just a few programs in the block's action-oriented lineup.

Teen Network Programming

Not all TV for teens is found on niche cable networks.

The CW

The CW, the network born from the merging of UPN and The WB, is a hit with teen viewers. Smallville, One Tree Hill, and Supernatural are popular dramas, with Smallville and Supernatural mixing supernatural elements with the traditional relationship and family issues. In addition, the trend of releasing series on DVD means you don't have to say good-bye to your favorite WB and UPN favorites of the past, like Felicity, Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Fox

Fox is another network with strong appeal for young audiences, lead by the powerhouse American Idol. Even fans that were in diapers when the show first debuted enjoy the comedy of The Simpsons. Family Guy and American Dad round out the Sunday-night animation block, drawing on a similar sense of humor.