Satellite Program Network(SPN) was a satellite and cabletelevision networkthat broadcast in the United States from 1979 to 1989. Following a name change toTempo Televisionin 1986, it was bought byNBCand relaunched asCNBCin 1989.
 Original logo as Satellite Program Network | |
 Logo for network as Tempo Television (1986–1989) | |
| Type | Television network |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Broadcast area | United States Puerto Rico |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | SDTV4:3 |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Southern Satellite Systems (1979–1985) Satellite Syndicated Systems (1985–1986) Tempo Enterprises (1986–1988) NBC(1988–1989) |
| Parent | Satellite Syndicated Systems (1979–1985) |
| Sister channels | Tempol International (SPN International) (1986–1989) |
| History | |
| Launched | 1979 |
| Founder | Ed Taylor |
| Closed | April 1, 1989 |
| Replaced by | CNBC |
| Former names | Satellite Program Network (SPN) (1979–1986) Tempo Television (1986–1989) |
History
editEarly years
editThis sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(April 2019) |
SPN was created by Ed Taylor, an associate ofTed Turnerand the head of the Southern Satellite Systems company. The network, which began in 1979, was the second-oldest cable-only network.
Among the programs broadcast on SPN wereVideo Concert Hall,an earlymusic videoshow (before the launch ofMTV);News from Home,a program for Canadians in the US, hosted by earlyCNNnews anchor Don Miller;The Shopping Game,a Nicholson-Muirgame showproduced inNashvilleand hosted byArt James;The Susan Noon Show,featuring celebrity interviews;Nutrition Dialogue,hosted by Dr. Betty Kamen;Sewing with Nancy;ThePaul RyanShow,another celebrity interview program with the actor/interviewer of the same name; andMoscow Meridian,acurrent-affairsprogram produced bySovietauthorities and hosted byVladimir Posner.Rerunsof oldsituation comediesand movies, mostly fromlow-budgetstudios, rounded out the schedule.
In 1984, theNational Collegiate Athletic Association(NCAA) paid SPN to broadcast somecollege footballgames of theDivision I-AAplayoffs, including that season'schampionship game,[1]following aSupreme Courtruling (NCAA v. Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma) that halted the NCAA's practice of negotiating television contracts for its members.[2]
In 1985, SPN was acquired bySatellite Syndicated Systems.[3]
Later years
editIn March 1986, Satellite Syndicated Systems changed its name to Tempo Enterprises, and SPN and SPN International were changed to Tempo Television and Tempol International, respectively.[4][5]Tempo Television was a 24-hour national cable network serving all contiguous states,Alaska,HawaiiandPuerto Rico.
Using a counter-programming philosophy, Tempo Television fulfilled viewer needs by dividing its program schedule into various dayparts including international programming, finance, sports, leisure and classic films. Market studies clearly indicated that this unique programming approach attracted and retained upscale audiences who were looking for entertainment that was informative and substantially different from the standard options.[citation needed]
A Canadian regulatory description of the channel in 1988 said that Tempo's "schedule consists of outdoors, travel, general information and entertainment programming and classic feature films that are in the public domain."[6]In May 1988, by which time Tempo had 12 million subscribers, the channel was purchased byNBC,mainly for its existing carriage and not its programming.[7][8]It was relaunched on April 17, 1989, in a new guise as thebusiness newschannelCNBC.[9]
References
edit- ^Geise, George (December 15, 1984)."Bobcats ready for I-AA championship shootout".Great Falls Tribune.Great Falls, Montana.p. 1-B.Archivedfrom the original on November 18, 2019.RetrievedMay 5,2019– via newspapers.
- ^Nance, Roscoe (December 1, 1984)."I-AA playoffs spell trouble M-O-N-E-Y".The Clarion-Ledger.Jackson, Mississippi.p. 2D.Archivedfrom the original on April 30, 2019.RetrievedApril 22,2019– via newspapers.
- ^"Satellite Syndicated Systems reports earnings for Qtr to June 30."The New York Times.August 6, 1985.[1]Archived2023-04-02 at theWayback Machine
- ^"(TV column)".Akron Beacon Journal.Akron, Ohio.March 10, 1986. p. C4.Archivedfrom the original on April 30, 2019.RetrievedApril 22,2019– via newspapers.
- ^"(notice)".Chicago Tribune.March 23, 1986. p. 13.Archivedfrom the original on April 30, 2019.RetrievedApril 22,2019– via newspapers.
- ^"Public Notice CRTC 1988-58: Revised List of Part II Eligible Satellite Services and List of Part III Non-Canadian Eligible Satellite Services".Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.April 13, 1988.Archivedfrom the original on October 1, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 30,2010.
- ^"NBC buy latest as Hollywood goes cable".Battle Creek Enquirer.Battle Creek, Michigan.AP.May 3, 1988. p. 8A.Archivedfrom the original on April 30, 2019.RetrievedApril 22,2019– via newspapers.
- ^"The Media Business: NBC to Buy Cable Service".The New York Times.May 3, 1988.Archivedfrom the original on October 12, 2007.RetrievedFebruary 12,2017.
- ^Winfrey, Lee (April 18, 1989)."A pretty big baby just one day old".The Philadelphia Inquirer.p. 1-E.Archivedfrom the original on April 30, 2019.RetrievedApril 22,2019– via newspapers.
Further reading
edit- Richards, K. M."Satellite Program Network".History of UHF Television.RetrievedApril 22,2019.