If you’re a fan of country music, then Country Music Television is probably already on your radar. CMT burst onto the scene with music videos, original shows, and other great country-themed content. The channel’s focus has shifted tremendously in the decades since its debut, but it’s still worth watching for its sitcom reruns alone. Here’s how to find CMT on your Spectrum cable guide, regardless of where you’re at in the United States.
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Pick your choice of ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney Plus. Plans start as low as $4.99/month for ESPN+ only.
Free trial available. Watch 75+ channels, including local channels and special premium channel offers.
Take a 7-day free trial and stream more than 70 channels live. Record your favorites with unlimited DVR.
CMT Channel Guide
| City and State | CMT Channel on Spectrum |
|---|---|
| Albany, NY | 84 |
| Anaheim, CA | 293 |
| Austin, TX | 70 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 53 |
| Birmingham, AL | 79 |
| Buffalo, NY | 21 |
| Charlotte, NC | 51 |
| Cincinnati, OH | 72 |
| Cleveland, OH | 88 |
| Columbus, OH | 77 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 43 |
| Dallas, TX | 91 |
| Durham, NC | 69 |
| El Paso, TX | 71 |
| Indianapolis, IN | 43 |
| Kansas City, MO | 76 |
| Lexington, KY | 56 |
| Long Beach, CA | 154 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 293 |
| Louisville, KY | 66 |
| Milwaukee, WI | 91 |
| Montgomery, AL | 63 |
| New York, NY | 293 |
| Raleigh, NC | 69 |
| Reno, NV | 68 |
| San Antonio, TX | 51 |
| San Diego, CA | 66 |
The History of CMT
©BGStock72/Shutterstock.com
CMT stands for Country Music Television. The station emerged in 1983 as an alternative to MTV and other music-centric stations that revolved around contemporary pop. Its daily schedule was filled with music videos, concert documentaries, and other programs revolving around country artists, their lives, and their hit music. In the early years, CMT kept the focus strictly on music videos. It became the go-to station for country music lovers who didn’t connect with the MTV generation.
But, as time went on and audience needs shifted, CMT felt it needed to expand its programming beyond the initial premise. Conveniently, this coincided with the network’s acquisition by Westinghouse in 1997 — the same parent corporation behind CBS and MTV. This purchase marked a significant turning point for CMT. Music videos and other country music programming declined, but viewership was on the up and up.
From the addition of reality shows like CMT Crossroads and CMT Cribs to the development of the CMT Music Awards and eventually even scripted original dramas, CMT evolved tremendously throughout the 2000s and into the ‘10s. Alas, a restructuring move in 2017 put all scripted shows on hiatus and returned the network’s focus to unscripted original programming. Of course, this doesn’t include the many syndicated network dramas and sitcoms that air reruns on CMT.
CMT Sister Stations
| CBS |
| CMT Music |
| MTV |
| MTV2 |
| BET |
| VH1 |
| Comedy Central |
| TV Land |
| Logo |
| Pop TV |
| Showtime |
| The Movie Channel |
| Flix |
| Paramount Network |
| Smithsonian Channel |
CMT Programming
Yellowstone’s
reruns of past episodes air on CMT.©Paramount Global – License
Country Music Television might not have as much to do with country music these days, especially compared to its programming at launch in the 1980s. But, it nevertheless positions itself as a network for country music fans. Looking at the types of original programs and syndicated shows it plays, it’s hard to tell exactly what that means. By and large, it looks like your run-of-the-mill cable network stuffed to the gills with syndicated sitcoms. Here’s what you might encounter on a typical day on CMT.
Originals
Just ten years ago, CMT had a long list of original dramas, sitcoms, and reality shows to its name. From Nashville to The Dude Perfect Show, Still the King to Party Down South, CMT had plenty to offer its country music fanbase. Alas, all scripted shows and most of its unscripted programming have since been canceled. All that remains is CMT Crossroads: a program that brings together country artists with big-name musicians from other genres for unique musical collaborations. The CMT Music Awards also air on the network once a year.
Syndicated
Much of CMT’s daily programming now revolves around syndicated programming. The list is as extensive as the network’s lineup of originals once was. On any given day, you might find The Golden Girls, The King of Queens, Last Man Standing, or Mike & Molly. CMT also plays reruns of Mom, Reba, Roseanne, and Young Sheldon. Sister station Paramount Network has also given CMT the rights to rerun Yellowstone episodes. Out of everything on this list, Reba and Yellowstone are the only two that even remotely fit the country music theme.
