USA Network

From Free net encyclopedia

(Redirected from USA network)

Template:Infobox TV channel

The USA Network is a popular American cable TV network with about 89 million household subscribers as of 2005. The network shows a variety of original and second-run programming, from syndicated TV series to edited movies. USA also shows some sports coverage, such as select golf tournaments, the U.S. Tennis Open, and annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show. Since 2004, they have broadcast portions of the Olympic Games, along with many other NBC Universal basic cable channels. Previously, it had a weekly boxing show named USA Tuesday Night Fights, which ran for 17 years. USA was also the home of World Wrestling Entertainment (then called the World Wrestling Federation or WWF)'s flagship cable TV shows from the channel's launch until September 2000, and again since October 2005.

Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily been gaining popularity recently, thanks in part to breakout hits like the detective series Monk and the sci-fi mini-series turned regular series The 4400. Reruns of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent are also frequently shown and are popular on the network, as is another NBC Universal property, House.

Alan Kalter was the network's main promotional voice throughout the '80s and much of the '90s.

Contents

USA Network timeline

Image:Usanetworkoldlogo.gif

  • 1980: The channel changed its name to USA Network after the ownership structure was reorganized under a joint operating agreement by the UA-Columbia Cablevision cable system (now known as Cablevision Systems Corporation ) and MCA Inc. (currently a part of NBC Universal).
  • 1981: Time Inc. (now Time Warner) and Paramount Pictures Corp. (now a part of Viacom) took minority ownership stakes in USA.
  • 1987: Ownership consolidates under Paramount and MCA, each with 50 percent ownership.
  • 1992: USA launches a sister network, the Sci Fi Channel
  • 1994: Viacom buys Paramount.

Image:Usanetwork1995logo.gif

Image:Logo USA.gif

  • 2003: General Electric's NBC agrees to buy 80% of Vivendi Universal's North American-based filmed entertainment assets, including Universal Pictures and Universal Television Group in a multibillion dollar purchase, renaming the merged company NBC Universal.
  • 2004: NBC Universal officially takes over as owner of USA and its sibling cable channels except for Newsworld International, which is bought by an investment group led by Al Gore and Joel Hyatt who rebrand the network with a new title, "Current TV", in fall 2005.

USA original programming

Children/Teen Programming Image:Usanetworklogo.gif

USA Late Night Series

USA Original Series

World Wrestling Entertainment Programming

  • All American Wrestling, WWF's Sunday-afternoon showcase series hosted by "Mean" Gene Okerland and co-hosted by the likes of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and Hillbilly Jim.
  • Monday Night RAW, WWE's primetime wrestling program
    • AM RAW, a program showing recaps from the previous week's RAW.
    • Sunday Night Heat, once a major show, now a B-show for RAW, now airing on wwe.com
  • Prime Time Wrestling, WWF's weekly primetime airing of certain matches from the syndicated WWF Superstars and WWF Wrestling Spotlight series, hosted by Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan; precursor to Monday Night RAW
  • Tuesday Night Titans, WWF's weekly interview series hosted by Vince McMahon and Lord Alfred Hayes, a precurson to Primetime Wrestling.

Programming Staples

Historical Programming Notes

USA Network slogans

  • 1980s: It's a Great Place to Stay
  • 1990-1994: America's Favorite Cable Network
  • 1994-1997: The Remote Stops Here
  • 1997-1999: The Cure for the Common Show
  • 1999-2001: You Are Here
  • 2005-present: Characters Welcome

See also

External links

Template:General Electricde:USA Network fr:USA Network ja:USAネットワーク