To the OP's broader point, the main things I get from most travel programs are:

(1) Entertainment value or as travel pr0n - i.e., well done shows with good video can be purely fun to watch and enjoy the sights and sounds.

(2) They sometimes pique my interest in a destination I wasn't aware of or hadn't been thinking of. Mind you, I'm not making a decision based on a show, but it can be a starter for me to further research.