SportsChannel

SportsChannel
SportsChannel logo from 1995 to 2000
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaNationwide
(available in select regions)
HeadquartersNew York City
Programming
Language(s)English
Ownership
OwnerCablevision (1979–1998)
Rainbow Media (1983–1998)
NBC (1988–1998)
Sister channelsPrime Network
History
Launched1976; 48 years ago (1976)
(New York Tri-State area; as Cablevision Sports 3)
March 1, 1979; 45 years ago (1979-03-01)
(launch of SportsChannel brand)
ClosedJanuary 1998; 26 years ago (January 1998)
(most)
March 2000; 24 years ago (March 2000)
(Florida)
Replaced byFox Sports Networks
Comcast SportsNet

SportsChannel is the collective name for a former group of regional sports networks in the United States that was owned by Cablevision, which from 1988 until the group's demise, operated it as a joint venture with NBC.

Operating from March 1, 1979, to January 27, 1998, it was the country's first regional sports network, and along with Prime Network, was an important ancestor to many of the regional sports outlets in the U.S., particularly Fox Sports Networks and Comcast SportsNet. At its peak, SportsChannel operated nine networks serving several of the nation's largest cities including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia.