History of USA Network in Timeline
USA Network is an American basic cable television channel that launched in 1977 as Madison Square Garden Sports Network. It is owned by the NBCUniversal Media Group, a division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. Originally focused on sports, it transitioned to a broader entertainment format.
September 22, 1977: USA Network Launched as Madison Square Garden Sports Network
On September 22, 1977, USA Network was launched as the Madison Square Garden Sports Network, founded by UA-Columbia Cablevision and the Madison Square Garden Corp. and run by Kay Koplovitz.
1977: USA Network Launched as Madison Square Garden Sports Network
In 1977, USA Network was launched as Madison Square Garden Sports Network. It became one of the first national sports cable television channels.
1977: Madison Square Garden Events Aired on USA Network
In 1977, broadcasts of Madison Square Garden events began airing on USA Network, marking the start of a long-standing relationship with WWE (formerly WWF).
1978: Children's programming added
In 1978, children's programming was added to the USA Network's lineup.
1979: USA Network Carries Major League Baseball Games
In 1979, USA Network, then the Madison Square Garden Network, began carrying Major League Baseball games on Thursday nights and the NHL on USA. The NBA on USA also aired from 1979 to 1984, marking the first time the NBA had a cable television partner.
April 9, 1980: Relaunch as USA Network
On April 9, 1980, the Madison Square Garden Sports Network was relaunched as USA Network.
1980: Original airing of Chain Reaction
In 1980, Chain Reaction originally aired.
1981: USA Aired a Weekly Boxing Show
From 1981 to 1998, USA aired a weekly boxing show, USA Tuesday Night Fights, which showcased bouts featuring up-and-coming boxers.
1981: Barry Diller Created Agreement
In 1981, Barry Diller put together the agreement which resulted in joint Paramount-Time-MCA ownership of the network.
1981: Ownership Changes
In 1981, ownership of USA Network changed. Time Inc. agreed to buy UA-Columbia's share contingent on Gulf + Western transferring its share to Paramount Pictures. MCA Inc. also bought into the network, with each company owning an equal share.
April 1, 1982: USA Network Operates on 24-Hour Schedule
On April 1, 1982, C-SPAN stopped sharing satellite space with USA, and USA began operating on a 24-hour schedule with programs like Coronation Street, Alive and Well, and afternoon movies.
1982: Programming Expansion
In fall 1982, USA Network began running Hanna-Barbera cartoons weekdays as part of USA Cartoon Express and mixed sports, movies, dramas, talk shows, and music videos into its programming.
August 1983: Increased relationship with the Madison Square Garden Network
In August 1983, Barry Diller focused on increasing USA Network's relationship with the Madison Square Garden Network, making USA a source for its programming and tying it more to sporting organizations that could air events in Madison Square Garden.
September 4, 1983: WWF All American Wrestling Debuts
On September 4, 1983, the first weekly WWE show on USA Network, WWF All American Wrestling, debuted.
October 1984: Afternoon Game Show Reruns Begin
In October 1984, USA Network started an afternoon lineup of game show reruns with The Gong Show and Make Me Laugh.
1984: Shift towards general entertainment
Between 1984 and 1986, USA's programming shifted from sports towards general entertainment programs and continued to air World Wrestling Federation programs.
1984: USA Aired Professional Tournaments in the United States
From 1984 to 2008, Tennis on USA aired professional tournaments in the United States, and was the longtime cable home of the US Open.
1984: USA Network Home of Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
In 1984, USA Network became the longtime home of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
August 5, 1985: USA Network began airing The Edge Of Night
On August 5, 1985, USA Network began airing late night reruns of Procter & Gamble soap opera The Edge Of Night. The Edge of Night was broadcast until January 19, 1989.
September 1985: Original Game Show Debut: Jackpot
In September 1985, USA Network began airing its first original game show, a revival of the mid-1970s game show Jackpot.
1985: WWF Prime Time Wrestling Broadcasts Begin
In 1985, WWF Prime Time Wrestling began broadcasting on USA Network.
1985: Original and Exclusive Shows
In 1985-1986 season, USA Channel had four hours of original and exclusive shows, one of them being the comedy Check It Out!.
September 1986: Original Game Shows Added
In September 1986, USA Network added two more original game shows: Love Me, Love Me Not, and a revival of Chain Reaction.
1986: Shift towards general entertainment
Between 1984 and 1986, USA's programming shifted from sports towards general entertainment programs and continued to air World Wrestling Federation programs.
1986: Increase of original programming commitment
In 1986-1987 season, USA committed to 26 half-hours of exclusive programming to compete with broadcast networks.
June 1987: Original Game Show Bumper Stumpers Debuts
In June 1987, USA Network debuted another original game show, Bumper Stumpers. All four of USA's original game shows in this era were taped in Canada.
1987: Airwolf pickup
In 1986-1987 season, USA picked up Airwolf for 58 off-network episodes, while commissioning 24 new episodes without the original cast.
January 1989: USA Up All Night Debuts
In January 1989, USA Network debuted USA Up All Night, a showcase of low-budget feature films on its weekend overnight schedule.
January 19, 1989: Final broadcast of The Edge Of Night
On January 19, 1989, the final broadcast of Procter & Gamble soap opera The Edge Of Night took place.
October 1989: Acquisition of Touchstone Pictures Film Package
In October 1989, USA Network acquired a package of 26 films from Disney's Touchstone Pictures library for $50 million to $60 million.
1989: USA Updates Broadcast Begins
In 1989, USA Updates, short news updates, began broadcasting and were produced out of KYW-TV in Philadelphia.
September 1991: Reduction of Game Show Block
In September 1991, USA Network reduced its game show block to three hours, running from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
1991: USA Network Aired Most Games of the NFL-Run World League of American Football
In 1991, USA Network aired most games of the NFL-run World League of American Football (later NFL Europe/Europa) in its first two seasons of operation. One innovation introduced for the network's WLAF telecasts was the in-helmet camera.
1991: Rhonda Shear replaces original co-host Caroline Schlitt in USA Up All Night
In 1991, model/actress Rhonda Shear replaced original co-host Caroline Schlitt in USA Up All Night.
September 24, 1992: Launch of Sci-Fi Channel
On September 24, 1992, USA Network launched a sister network, the Sci-Fi Channel (now Syfy), focusing on science fiction series and films.
1992: Departure of Steve Bell from KYW
In 1992, Steve Bell left KYW, when KYW's news operations were heavily revamped in response to falling ratings.
January 1993: WWF Monday Night Raw Premieres
In January 1993, USA Network began showing WWF Monday Night Raw, the first weekly WWF program on USA to air in front of a live audience.
January 1993: Raw Series Originally Aired on USA Network
In January 1993, the series Raw originally aired on USA Network when the promotion was known as the World Wrestling Federation.
March 1993: Additional Hour Added to Game Show Block
In March 1993, USA Network added an additional hour to its game show block.
September 1993: New On-Air Look
In September 1993, USA Network adopted a new on-air look centered on the slogan "The Remote Stops Here", with flat graphics and electric guitar and synthesized noises.
1993: USA Updates Production Taken Over
By 1993, production of USA Updates had been taken over by the All News Channel (ANC).
June 1994: Original Game Shows Added
In June 1994, USA Network added two more original game shows, Free 4 All and Quicksilver.
November 1994: Further Reduction of Game Show Block
In November 1994, USA Network cut back its game show block to only two hours, running from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Eastern.
1994: Paramount Communications Sold to Viacom
In 1994, Paramount Pictures parent Paramount Communications was sold to Viacom.
July 1995: Bloomberg Information TV Simulcast Begins
In July 1995, USA began simulcasting the business news channel Bloomberg Information TV Monday thru Saturday from 5:00 to 7:00 a.m. Eastern.
October 1995: Game Show Block Dropped, USA Live Introduced
In October 1995, USA Network dropped its game show block and replaced it with USA Live, a block featuring reruns of Love Connection and The People's Court with live hosted segments.
April 1996: Viacom Launches TV Land, MCA Sues Viacom
In April 1996, Viacom launched TV Land. MCA sued Viacom for breach of contract, claiming violation of the non-compete clause.
June 17, 1996: New On-Air Appearance and Logo Unveiled
On June 17, 1996, USA Network introduced a new on-air appearance, featuring a new logo incorporating a star in the "U" of "USA", replacing the 1980 logo. The network also shifted its focus towards off-network reruns and original programming, dropping game shows, court shows, and cartoons. This rebrand included new network IDs and feature presentation intros.
September 1996: USA Cartoon Express Replaced by USA Action Extreme Team
In September 1996, USA Network replaced the USA Cartoon Express with the action-oriented children's block, USA Action Extreme Team. This marked a shift away from animation programming on the channel.
1997: End of USA Live Block
By 1997, USA Network dropped the USA Live block.
February 1998: Barry Diller Acquires Controlling Interest
In February 1998, Seagram sold a controlling interest in USA and Sci-Fi Channel to Barry Diller, leading to the creation of USA Networks, Inc.
March 7, 1998: USA Up All Night Discontinued
On March 7, 1998, USA Up All Night was discontinued, though late-night movie telecasts continued under the "Up All Night" banner until 2002.
September 1998: USA Discontinues Animation Block
In September 1998, USA Network discontinued its animation block outright, replacing it with "USAM", which focused on sitcoms that were cancelled before reaching 100 episodes. Apart from 'USA High' and reruns of 'Saved by the Bell: The New Class', this marked the end of children's programming on the network.
June 2000: USA Loses WWF Broadcasting Rights
In June 2000, USA Network lost the broadcasting rights to the WWF to Viacom. Raw (retitled Raw is War) moved to TNN in September of that year.
September 2000: Raw Moves to TNN
In September 2000, the Raw series moved to TNN.
2000: USA Updates Broadcast Ends
In 2000, USA Updates ceased broadcasting.
2001: Paramount ownership of Black Entertainment Television
As of 2001, Black Entertainment Television is owned by Paramount.
2001: Sale of USA Broadcasting to Univision
In 2001, USA Broadcasting (formerly Silver King Broadcasting) sold its stations to Univision Communications to form the nucleus of Telefutura/UniMás.
May 2002: USA Networks Sold to Vivendi Universal
In May 2002, USA Networks sold its non-shopping television and film assets to Vivendi Universal for $10.3 billion. This included USA Network, the Sci-Fi Channel, Trio, USA Films (renamed Focus Features), and Studios USA. The channels were then integrated into Vivendi's Universal Television Group.
July 2002: Monk Premieres
In July 2002, USA Network premiered Monk, a comedy-drama police procedural starring Tony Shalhoub. The show became one of USA's first breakout hit series.
2002: End of "Up All Night" branding
In 2002, USA ended the "Up All Night" branding for its late-night movie telecasts.
2003: General Electric to Merge NBC with Vivendi Universal
In 2003, General Electric (GE) agreed to merge NBC and its sibling companies with Vivendi Universal's North American-based filmed entertainment assets, including Universal Pictures and Universal Television Group in a multibillion-dollar purchase. The merged company was renamed NBC Universal.
September 2004: Renaming of Latin American USA Networks to Universal Channel
In September 2004, regional versions of USA Network in Latin American countries were renamed under the Universal Channel banner.
2004: NBC Universal Takes Over USA Network
In 2004, NBC Universal officially took over as the owner of USA Network and its sibling cable channels (excluding Newsworld International). USA also premiered the sci-fi series The 4400 that year.
2004: Bloomberg Simulcast Moves to E!
In 2004, the Bloomberg simulcast moved from USA Network to E!.
2004: NBC Buys Vivendi Universal, USA's Sports Division Merges into NBC Sports
In 2004, upon NBC's purchase of Vivendi Universal, USA Network's sports division was immediately merged into NBC Sports.
October 2005: Raw Returns to USA Network
In October 2005, Raw returned to USA Network after Viacom did not renew its broadcasting agreement with the WWE. That same year, USA Network introduced a new logo and the "Characters Welcome" marketing campaign, focusing on comedic and "optimistic" programming.
May 13, 2007: Law & Order: Criminal Intent Moved to USA Network
On May 13, 2007, NBC Universal announced that new episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent would move to USA Network, beginning with the seventh season in the fall of 2007. The episodes would later re-air on NBC. This was the first time a broadcast series moved its first-run episodes to cable television and continued to air episodes on a broadcast network while still a first-run program.
September 2007: CRTC Initially Refuses Shaw's Request to Carry USA Network
In September 2007, the CRTC refused Shaw's request to carry USA Network in Canada because it carried too much programming that overlapped with Mystery TV. However, on September 20, the CRTC stated that it would reconsider their denial later, when Shaw offered to carry the channel on its digital cable tiers.
December 7, 2007: USA Network to Continue Broadcasting Raw
On December 7, 2007, it was announced that USA Network would continue broadcasting first-run episodes of Raw through at least 2010.
2007: USA Network Launches HD Feed
In 2007, USA Network launched a HD feed.
2007: Bloomberg Simulcast Ends on E!
In 2007, the Bloomberg simulcast ended on E!.
June 1, 2008: In Plain Sight Premieres
On June 1, 2008, the premiere of In Plain Sight, starring Mary McCormack, achieved USA's highest-rated series premiere since the 2006 debut of Psych, with 5.3 million viewers.
2011: Peak household reach
In 2011, USA Network reached its peak of 100 million households.
2014: USA Aired Premier League Soccer Matches During Winter Olympics
During the 2014 Winter Olympics, USA Network aired Premier League soccer matches in place of NBCSN.
2014: USA Viewership Declines
In 2014, USA Network experienced an 18% drop in viewership, falling out of first place among major cable channels, despite being a key NBCUniversal asset.
April 2015: WWE SmackDown Moves to USA Network
In April 2015, WWE SmackDown moved to USA Network from sister network Syfy.
2015: USA Airs Weekly Premier League Games & Participates in Survival Sunday
Starting in the 2015-16 season, USA Network began airing mid-afternoon Saturday Premier League games weekly and participated in NBC Sports' Survival Sunday matches.
January 7, 2016: SmackDown Moves to USA Network
On January 7, 2016, WWE's second flagship program SmackDown moved to USA Network from Syfy.
April 2016: USA Network Unveils "We the Bold" Branding Campaign
In April 2016, USA Network unveiled a new branding campaign and slogan, "We the Bold", reflecting a shift towards "rich, captivating stories about unlikely heroes". This marked a departure from the earlier "Characters Welcome" tagline and the end of the "blue sky" era. Premieres of shows like 'Mr. Robot' and 'Colony' spearheaded this programming strategy.
August 2016: NBCUniversal Acquires Harry Potter Film Rights
In August 2016, NBCUniversal acquired the television rights to the Harry Potter film franchise from 2018 through 2025. This deal included the main film series, spin-offs like 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them', and other related content. USA Network and Syfy would primarily air the films on cable.
2016: USA Incorporated into Stanley Cup Playoffs Coverage & Airs NASCAR Races
In 2016, USA Network was incorporated into NBC's coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and aired three NASCAR races as overflow during the 2016 Summer Olympics.
2016: USA Network's Run as Home of Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Ends
In 2016, USA Network's run as the longtime home of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show came to an end.
2018: USA Network Renews Rights to Raw
In 2018, USA Network renewed its rights to Raw for five additional years.
August 2019: WWE NXT Returns to USA Network
In August 2019, WWE announced that its tertiary weekly program WWE NXT would return to USA Network on September 18, 2019.
September 18, 2019: WWE NXT Returns to USA Network
On September 18, 2019, WWE NXT returned to USA Network, airing on Wednesday nights in a two-hour live format.
October 2019: USA Network Loses Rights to SmackDown
In October 2019, USA Network lost the rights for SmackDown to Fox.
September 2020: Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Game Scheduled for USA Network
In September 2020, a Notre Dame Fighting Irish football game was scheduled for USA Network due to NBC's commitments to the 2020 U.S. Open.
2020: USA Network Cancels Scripted Programming
In 2020, USA Network cancelled multiple scripted programs, including Dare Me, The Purge, The Sinner, and Treadstone. This was part of a shift towards reality shows, television events, and live programming amid the growth of streaming services.
2022: Increased sports coverage
In 2022, USA significantly increased its sports coverage, becoming the main cable component of NBC Sports after NBCSN shut down.
2022: USA Network Becomes Main Cable Outlet for NBC Sports
In 2022, with the shutdown of NBCSN, USA Network became the main cable outlet of NBC Sports, gaining sports properties like the Premier League, NASCAR, and the Olympics. Early-round telecasts of the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open, The Open Championship, and the Women's Open moved from Golf Channel to USA Network. USA Network also carried eight games as part of the inaugural season of the revived USFL and became a broadcast partner of the SuperMotocross World Championship.
September 2023: SmackDown to Return to USA in 2024
In September 2023, it was announced that SmackDown would return to USA in 2024 under a five-year deal with NBCUniversal, which would also include four annual primetime specials on NBC per-year.
October 1, 2023: USA Network relaunched in Latin America
On October 1, 2023, USA Network was relaunched in Latin America, replacing Syfy in the region. The channel will broadcast dramas like Briarpatch and Dr. Death, and also be the official broadcaster of the Miss Universe pageant.
November 2023: NXT to move to The CW
In November 2023, it was announced that NXT would move to The CW.
November 2023: Availability in Pay TV Households
As of November 2023, USA Network is available to approximately 70 million pay television households in the United States.
December 2023: USA Network Considers Return to Original Scripted Series
In December 2023, USA Network was reported to be considering a return to original scripted series in the vein of the "blue sky" era. This consideration was influenced by the resurgence in popularity of Suits on Netflix.
January 2024: Raw to Move to Netflix in 2025
In January 2024, it was announced that Raw would move to Netflix in 2025.
October 17, 2024: NBCUniversal Announces Canadian Version of USA Network
On October 17, 2024, NBCUniversal announced an agreement with Bell Media to launch a Canadian version of USA Network on January 1, 2025. The channel will be a relaunch of Bell's Discovery Channel, following that company's loss of rights to the former Discovery, Inc. channel brands to Rogers Communications.
November 2024: Comcast to Spin Off USA Network
In November 2024, Comcast announced its intent to spin off most of NBCUniversal's cable properties, including USA Network, as a new public company, which was later named Versant.
January 1, 2025: Launch of Canadian USA Network
On January 1, 2025, a Canadian version of USA Network launched as a relaunch of Bell's Discovery Channel. Operated by CTV Specialty Television, it mirrors some of USA Network's sports offerings via content sublicensed from TSN, including All Elite Wrestling and NASCAR Xfinity Series coverage. It continues to air some existing original factual programming, including Mayday and Highway Thru Hell.
Mentioned in this timeline
World Wrestling Entertainment WWE is a prominent American professional wrestling...
The United States of America is a federal republic located...
WWE Raw a professional wrestling television program produced by WWE...
NBC News is the news division of NBC operating under...
College football is a popular amateur sport in the United...
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr is an American politician who served...
Trending
29 days ago James Gunn Plans Superman Sequel Shooting Soon; Teases 'Peacemaker' Role in DCU.
29 days ago Motorcycle crash in Beloit on Cranston Road: Police investigate single-vehicle incident.
29 days ago Zion: Influencers' Storm, Hidden Trail & East Mesa Hike, Views and Fewer Crowds
29 days ago Qatar Airways and Accenture partner for AI-driven aviation excellence, creating 'AI Skyways'.
29 days ago Ketel Marte's Absence and Day Off Requests Cause Frustration Among Diamondbacks Teammates
29 days ago Jamie Lee Curtis Celebrates 'Freakier Friday' with Fan Event and Lookalike Screening
Popular
Charlie Kirk is a prominent American conservative activist author and...
Turning Point USA TPUSA is a conservative nonprofit organization founded...
Kash Patel is an American lawyer and former federal prosecutor...
Candace Owens is an American political commentator and author known...
Bernard Sanders is a prominent American politician serving as the...
George Soros is a prominent American investor and philanthropist As...