Sportsvision

Not to be confused withSportvision.

Sportsvision

Type	Pay televisionservice (sports)
Availability	United States
Headquarters	Chicago,Illinois
Owner	Jerry Reinsdorf
Key people	Jerry Reinsdorf,Eddie Einhorn,Fred Eychaner
Launch date	1982
Dissolved	1989 (became SportsChannel Chicago)

Sportsvision(SV) was a subscription sports television service founded byChicago White SoxownersJerry ReinsdorfandEddie Einhornand media mogulFred Eychaner.The service broadcast live sporting events, and for much of its time of operation was the broadcast network for theChicago White Sox,Chicago Bulls,Chicago Blackhawks,andChicago Sting.

In April 1982,WPWR-TV,then on Channel 60, dedicated a large percentage of its broadcast schedule to Sportsvision. To access the service, viewers had to buy a TV set-top converter and pay monthly subscription fees to watch a number of sports broadcasts. Ultimately, ascable televisiongained a foothold in the Chicago area, the pay-TV business model dissolved and, in January 1984, Sportsvision was sold toCablevisionand was moved to basic cable. In 1989, it was unscrambled and renamedSportsChannel.In 1997, SportsChannel was purchased byFox Sports Net.Now starting in October 2004 through current day the games reside on Comcast Sports Network Chicago which is owned by Chicago sports owners and Comcast's NBC venture.

References

• Myslenski, Skip. "TV, Radio map out contingency plans"Chicago TribuneAugust 6, 1985
• Craig, Jack. "Einhorn bets on live cable TV"Boston GlobeNovember 29, 1981
• Polzin, Elmer. "Arlington may try pay-TV"Chicago TribuneMay 18, 1982
• Perricone, Mike. "Hawks Notes"Chicago Sun-TimesApril 7, 1986