Ovation invites viewers to brush up on their history and geography. The six-part documentary series “The Pacific: In the Wake of Captain Cook With Sam Neill” (10 p.m. and 11 p.m., TV-14) examines the scope and legacy of James Cook’s voyages some 250 years after the fact.
The first episode brings the story to Tahiti, where Neill (“Dead Calm,” “The Piano”) interviews Tahitians about the impact of Cook’s arrival. He also talks to experts on the Polynesian culture and society that predated European discovery.
“Pacific” will air in two-episode installments over the next three weeks. The second episode brings Neill to New Zealand, where he lives and farms between movie projects.
Born in Northern Ireland, it’s the place the “Jurassic Park” (8 p.m., AMC) star calls home.
Viewers who don’t have access to Ovation on their cable system, or don’t have cable at all, can stream “Pacific” on an app called Journy. Created by Ovation, the app can be installed on a Roku device or Apple TV or downloaded from Google Play or the Amazon Appstore.
Dedicated to series about travel and culture, Journy’s many offerings include “Rock the Park,” an exploration of America’s national parks, and “Chicks on Boards,” following female surfers all over the globe. The app requires no subscription.
— While we’re on the subject of streaming, the Locast app offers a new twist on an old idea. Locast allows cord cutters to stream broadcast channels in nine major markets. These are the local channels you might get for free over the air via digital antenna if you lived within range of their frequency. Of course, many don’t and that’s why cable was born.
Some years ago, the Barry Diller-backed service Aereo tried to offer something similar. But it was shut down when a lawsuit filed by broadcasters went all the way to the Supreme Court.
Locast hopes to get around that ruling by operating as a nonprofit service. But even nonprofits ask for donations. If you watch Locast for more than 10 minutes or so, as I did to sample the app, your viewing will be persistently interrupted by a solicitation.
Will Locast go the way of Aereo? Stay tuned.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— Gordon assembles a team to take on Eduardo Dorrance on “Gotham” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— Gunfire at a parade fills the wards on “Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
— “The Top 14 Greatest Valentine’s Day Movies of All Time” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14) rounds up the usual suspects.
— Ryn tinkers with mermaid storage on “Siren” (8 p.m., Freeform, TV-14).
— The deflector shield looms large on “The Orville” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— Rome’s brother drops by on “A Million Little Things” (9 p.m. ABC, TV-14).
— Annalise takes stock over a holiday break on “How to Get Away With Murder” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
CULT CHOICE
Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart star in the 1940 romantic comedy “The Philadelphia Story” (8 p.m., TCM).
SERIES NOTES
Trial and error on “The Big Bang Theory” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) … Dwayne Johnson presents “The Titan Games” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) … Double indemnity on “Young Sheldon” (8:30 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG).
Bonnie includes Christy in her Valentine’s Day plans on “Mom” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … Grief impedes an investigation on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14) … Alaric throws open the selection process for the honor council on “Legacies” (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-14) … Shannon defends her privacy on “Fam” (9:30 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … Grace and Jack count calories on “Will & Grace” (9:30 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
The team searches for a cop killer on “S.W.A.T.” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … An overdose death raises suspicions on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
LATE NIGHT
Chris Wilson is booked on “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) … Aubrey Plaza appears on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS, TV-14) … Bradley Cooper, Pete Buttigieg and Jacques Torres are booked on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Kendall Jenner, Fred Armisen and Florida Georgia Line on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Ben Affleck, Dane Cook and Bring Me the Horizon appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:35 p.m., ABC).
John Mulaney and Stacey Abrams visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) … Ray Romano and Lukas Graham appear on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (12:35 a.m., CBS).
(Kevin McDonough can be reached at [email protected].)
