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Sportsvision (SV[1][2]) was a subscription sports television service founded by Chicago White Sox owners Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn and media mogul Fred Eychaner.[3] The service broadcast live sporting events, and for much of its time of operation was the broadcast network for the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Blackhawks, and Chicago Sting.[4]
| Type | Pay television service (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) |
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, as cable television gained a foothold in the Chicago area, the pay-TV business model dissolved and, in January 1984, Sportsvision was sold to Cablevision and was moved to basic cable. In 1989, it was unscrambled and renamed SportsChannel. In 1997, SportsChannel was purchased by Fox 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
edit- ^ "White Sox History: The story of SportsVision". South Side Sox. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ^ Liptak, Mark. "Biggest What Ifs in White Sox History, Part 2". chicagonow.com. Chicago Now. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ^ On-Tv & Spectrum
- ^ "White Sox History: The story of SportsVision". South Side Sox. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- Myslenski, Skip. "TV, Radio map out contingency plans" Chicago Tribune August 6, 1985
- Craig, Jack. "Einhorn bets on live cable TV" Boston Globe November 29, 1981
- Polzin, Elmer. "Arlington may try pay-TV" Chicago Tribune May 18, 1982
- Perricone, Mike. "Hawks Notes" Chicago Sun-Times April 7, 1986
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