Wikipedia pamwiki https://pam.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pun_Bulung MediaWiki 1.45.0-wmf.6 first-letter Media Special Talk User User talk Wikipedia Wikipedia talk File File talk MediaWiki MediaWiki talk Template Template talk Help Help talk Category Category talk TimedText TimedText talk Module Module talk Event Event talk 0 13354 310289 298558 2025-06-20T08:13:43Z InternetArchiveBot 18050 Rescuing 1 sources and tagging 0 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0.9.5 310289 wikitext text/x-wiki {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | Name = BoA | Img = Kwonboa.jpg | Img_capt = I BoA aniang 2006 | Background = solo_singer | Birth_name = Kwon Boa (권보아) | Alias = | Born = {{birth date and age|1986|11|5}} | Origin = [[Gyeonggi-do]], [[Mauling Korea]] | Genre = K-Pop, J-Pop, C-Pop, Pop | Occupation = [[talakanta]], [[kompositor]], [[manenerak]], [[modelu]] | Years_active = 2000–kasalukuyan | Label = [[SM Entertainment]]<br />[[Avex Trax]] | Associated_acts = [[SM Town]]<br />[[Anyband]] | URL = http://boa.iple.com/ (Official Korean website)<br />http://www.avexnet.or.jp/boa/ (Official Japanese website)<br />http://www.boaamerica.com (Official American website) | Current_members = | Past_members = | Notable_instruments = }} I '''BoA''' (Kwon Bo Ah) metung yang [[talakanta]] ampong [[manenerak]] king [[Hapon]], [[Mauling Korea]] ampong kareng aliwang bangsa king [[Asia]]. == Kawing Palwal == * [http://boa.ilikepop.com BoA Korean official website] {{Wayback|url=http://boa.ilikepop.com/ |date=20040713050335 }} * [http://avexnet.or.jp/boa/ BoA Japanese official website] {{Wayback|url=http://avexnet.or.jp/boa/ |date=20041024234521 }} * [http://www.avex.com.tw/boa/ BoA Taiwan official website] * [http://blog.oricon.co.jp/boa/ BoA's blog on Oricon] * [http://www.boaamerica.com/ BoA American official website] {{Wayback|url=http://www.boaamerica.com/ |date=20080911173635 }} * [http://www.myspace.com/boamusicusa BoA Official MySpace] * [http://www.youtube.com/user/boamusicusa?ob=4 BoA Official YouTube Channel] {{BoA single ampong album}} {{s-start}} {{s-ach|aw&ach}} {{s-bef|before=[[Kim Gun-mo]]}} {{s-ttl|title=13th [[Seoul Music Awards]] – Daesang Award|years=2002}} {{s-aft|after=[[Lee Hyori]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Baek Ji Young]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Mnet Asian Music Awards]] – Best Female Solo Artist|years=2010}} {{s-aft|after=Inkumbido}} {{end}} {{Stub}} [[Category:Korea]] [[Category:Deng Koreanu]] pkjw1ml8mipu14w224sc6lsi5lu0jvo 0 20175 310286 306720 2025-06-19T13:01:48Z InternetArchiveBot 18050 Rescuing 1 sources and tagging 0 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0.9.5 310286 wikitext text/x-wiki {{Infobox person | image = Alicia Silverstone 2019 by Glenn Francis.jpg | imagesize = | caption = I Silverstone at the Gushcloud Grand Opening Party in Studio City California June 2019 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|10|4}} | birth_place = [[San Francisco]], [[California]], Estados Unidos | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = | occupation = Artista, producer, talasulat libru | years_active = 1992–present | spouse = {{marriage|[[Christopher Jarecki]]|2005||}} | children = 1 | website = {{url|http://www.thekindlife.com}} }} I '''Alicia Silverstone''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|l|iː|s|i|ə|_|ˈ|s|ɪ|l|v|ər|s|t|oʊ|n}}; mibait Octubre 4, 1976) metung yang Americanang artista, prodyuser da reng pelikula ampong telebisyon, talasulat libru ampong aktibista para king [[katulirang animal rights]] (''animal rights'') ampong pang-[[kapatulugan]] (''environmental'').<ref name=MorganVaughnRodale>* {{cite book|last=Morgan|first=Adam|title=Eating the Big Fish: How Challenger Brands Can Compete Against Brand Leaders|year=2009|publisher=Wiley|isbn=978-0470238271|page=144}} * {{cite book|last=Vaughn|first=Jacqueline|title=Environmental Activism: A Reference Handbook|year=2003|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1576079010|page=167}} * {{cite web |author=Photography By Rodale Images |url=http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition/alicia-silverstones-vegan-tips |title=Alicia Silverstone: The Kind Diet &#124; Women's Health Magazine |publisher=Womenshealthmag.com |date=2012-04-05 |accessdate=2012-04-11 |archivedate=2012-03-31 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331005117/http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition/alicia-silverstones-vegan-tips }}</ref> Minuna yang linage kareng pelikula i Silverstone king ''[[The Crush (1993 a pelikula)|The Crush]]'', at uli na niti, sinambut yang 1994 [[MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance]], at lalu ya pang sinikat antimong [[teen idol]] anyang linage ya kareng atlung music video ning bandang [[Aerosmith]]. Ya ing bida king 1995 [[sleeper hit]] a ''[[Clueless (film)|Clueless]]'' (at uli na niti menikwa yang kontratang multi-million-dollar king Columbia) at king matas budget a pelikula anyang 1997 a ''[[Batman & Robin (pelikula)|Batman & Robin]]'' nung nu ya linageng [[Batgirl]]. Lalage ya pa murin king pelikula, telebisyon ampong teatro. Metung yang vegan i Silverstone, a susuporta kareng aktibidad ning [[PETA]], at milimbag yang librung maki pamagat a ''[[The Kind Diet]].'' ==Dalerayan== {{Reflist|2}} ==Suglung palwal== {{Portal|biography}} {{Commons category|Alicia Silverstone}} * [http://www.thekindlife.com/ The Kind Life with Alicia Silverstone] Silverstone's website, an interactive extension of her book, The Kind Diet * {{IMDb name|0000224|Alicia Silverstone}} * {{tcmdb name|177694|Alicia Silverstone}} * {{amg name|65707|Alicia Silverstone}} * [http://www.peta.org/feat/alicia_psa/index.asp Alicia Silverstone at PETA (including the ad)] {{Wayback|url=http://www.peta.org/feat/alicia_psa/index.asp |date=20080102005810 }} {{MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance}} {{MTV Movie Award for Best Performance}} {{MTV Movie Award for Best Villain}} {{Authority control|VIAF=116622357}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Silverstone, Alicia}} [[Category:1976 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:20th-century American actresses]] [[Category:21st-century American actresses]] [[Category:Actresses from San Francisco, California]] [[Category:Aerosmith]] [[Category:American child actresses]] [[Category:American female models]] [[Category:American film actresses]] [[Category:American people of British-Jewish descent]] [[Category:American people of English descent]] [[Category:American people of Scottish descent]] [[Category:American stage actresses]] [[Category:American television actresses]] [[Category:American voice actresses]] [[Category:Jewish American actresses]] [[Category:Shakespearean actresses]] ahb5sjllwgl10ncqqo69tiy8wqwgt6w 0 30302 310287 2025-06-20T03:24:17Z 2001:4456:C2B:B300:F1BC:C2BF:26BA:8083 Bayung bulung: {{short description|US television program}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox television | image = SportsChannel.JPG | caption = | alt_name = ''NHL on SportsChannel''<br/>''Hockey Night America'' | genre = Sports | creator = [[SportsChannel|SportsChannel America]] | writer = | director = Larry Brown<br/>Billy McCoy <small>(senior director)</small> | creative_director =... 310287 wikitext text/x-wiki {{short description|US television program}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox television | image = SportsChannel.JPG | caption = | alt_name = ''NHL on SportsChannel''<br/>''Hockey Night America'' | genre = Sports | creator = [[SportsChannel|SportsChannel America]] | writer = | director = Larry Brown<br/>Billy McCoy <small>(senior director)</small> | creative_director = | developer = | presenter = [[Bob Papa]]<br>[[Leandra Reilly]]<br>[[Lee Zeidman]] | starring = [[#Announcers|See ''announcers'' section below]] | voices = | narrated = | theme_music_composer = | opentheme = | endtheme = | composer = | country = United States | language = English | num_seasons = 4 | num_episodes = | list_episodes = | executive_producer = Jeff Ruhe<ref name="1992FinalsClose">{{YouTube|title=Cup Finals Close 1992 SC America|id=fK3AdHkw9dw}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hasen|first=Jeff|date=October 4, 1989|title=Broadcast Column: Sportscast Preview Release at will|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/10/04/Broadcast-Column-Sportscast-PreviewRelease-at-will/9707623476800/|work=UPI|location= |access-date=June 4, 2022}}</ref> | producer = John Shannon <small>(senior producer)</small><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-01-16-9101050382-story.html| title= AS TV FARE, HOCKEY STILL OUT IN COLD|first=Steve|last=Nidetz|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]| date= January 16, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><br>Mike Connelly<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.sportsvideo.org/2019/01/23/the-svg-podcast-michael-connelly-svp-ep-fox-sports-regional-networks/| title= The SVG Podcast: Michael Connelly, SVP/EP, Fox Sports Regional Networks|first=Brandon|last=Costa|work=Sports Video Group| date= January 23, 2019| access-date= March 15, 2021}}</ref> | location = | cinematography = Terry Ford<br/>Dean Anderson<br/>Bob Boykin<br/>Marty Muzik | camera = | runtime = 180 minutes or until game ends (including commercials) | network = [[SportsChannel|SportsChannel America]] | company = [[National Hockey League]]<br/>[[NBC Sports]] | first_aired = {{Start date|1988|10|16}} | last_aired = {{End date|1992|06|01}} | related = {{Plainlist| * ''[[NHL on ESPN]]''/''[[NHL on ABC]]'' * ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' * ''[[NHL on NBC]]'' }} }} The '''''NHL on SportsChannel America''''' was the presentation of [[National Hockey League]] broadcasts<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/search?q=NHL+on+SportsChannel+America&btnG=Search+Books&tbm=bks |title=NHL on SportsChannel America, About 769 results (0.43 seconds) |website=Google Books |accessdate=29 April 2013}}</ref> on the now defunct [[SportsChannel|SportsChannel America]]<ref>{{YouTube|title=NHL Open SportsChannel America 1988|id=a56I5li3IpI}}</ref> [[Cable television|cable]] [[television network]]. ==Terms of the deal== Taking over for [[NHL on ESPN|ESPN]],<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1988-11-16-2663778-story.html| title= MAYBE ESPN DID FANS A FAVOR IN LOSING THE NHL|first=Gary|last=Blockus|newspaper=[[The Morning Call]]| date= November 16, 1988| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1988-08-19-8802170671-story.html| title= PICK ANY HOUR -- OR HEMISPHERE -- TO TUNE IN COSTAS|first=Jim|last=Sarni|work=[[Sun Sentinel]]| date= August 19, 1988| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> SportsChannel's contract paid US$51 million<ref>{{cite book |last=Kunz|first=William M.|author-link= |date= 23 April 2020|title=The Political Economy of Sports Television|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kuzeDwAAQBAJ&dq=1990+stanley+cup+finals+sportschannel+america&pg=PT64|location= |publisher= Routledge|page= |isbn=9781000060447}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/06/22/sportschannel-america-interested-in-buying-hts/fbab2dfb-af45-49f4-bd98-0b20a61c3b00/| title= SPORTSCHANNEL AMERICA INTERESTED IN BUYING HTS|first=Norman|last=Chad|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]| date= June 22, 1988| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-03-sp-4343-story.html| title= NHL 1991-92 : There's a Lot Not to Watch : Hockey: There is no national TV, no collective bargaining agreement and no Eric Lindros. But there are Sharks.|first=Steve|last=Springer|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]| date= October 3, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> ($17 million per year<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1990/10/08/the-bucks-start-here-this-off-season-the-blues-unexpectedly-made-two-players-very-rich-and-the-fallout-has-been-felt-throughout-the-league-title-3dthe|date=October 8, 1990|first=Jay|last=Greenberg|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=THE BUCKS START HERE}}</ref>) over three years,<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=April 2, 1991|title=The News - Apr 2, 1991|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1290&dat=19910402&id=UjBUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ao0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4322,509279|work=news.google.com|location= |access-date=}}</ref> more than double<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/11/26/nhl-and-sportschannel-more-is-less/f82b8589-b0e8-47fb-919f-832aca20dc7b/| title= NHL AND SPORTSCHANNEL MORE IS LESS|first=Norman|last=Chad|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]| date= November 26, 1988| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Bass|first=Alan|date= 25 January 2011|title=The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk That Changed the Nhl Forever|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JgLqzbebH4gC&q=nhl+sportschannel+america&pg=PA198|publisher=iUniverse|page=198|isbn= 9781450286077}}</ref> what ESPN had paid ($24 million) for the previous three years<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/03/18/shooting-star-brett-hull-has-become-a-goal-scorer-of-near-gretzkian-dimensions|date=March 18, 1991|first=Richard|last=Demak|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=SHOOTING STAR}}</ref> SportsChannel America managed to get a fourth NHL season<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-10-04-9103300943-story.html| title= NHL FEELS PINCH IN TV DEAL|first=Steve|last=Nidetz|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]| date= October 4, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> for just $5 million.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/04/sports/hockey-nhl-again-signs-contract-with-sportschannel-america.html| title= HOCKEY; N.H.L. Again Signs Contract With SportsChannel America|first=Joe|last=LaPointe|newspaper=[[New York Times]]| date= October 4, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1992/02/17/scorecard|date=February 17, 1992|first=Richard|last=Demak|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=SCORECARD}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Gatehouse|first=Jonathon|date= October 2012|title=The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the NHL and Changed the Game Forever|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ryb0O7riZnQC&q=nhl+sportschannel+america&pg=PA158|publisher= Triumph Books|page=158|isbn= 9781623686567}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Moshavi|first=Sharon D.|date=January 13, 1992|title=BC-1992-01-13.pdf|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1992/BC-1992-01-13.pdf|page=78}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-09-26-1991269142-story.html| title= Lack of TV contract doesn't shake up NHL|author=[[Newsday]]|newspaper=[[Baltimore Sun]] | date= September 22, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1991-10-04-0000211242-story,amp.html| title= NHL, SPORTSCHANNEL SIGN ONE-YEAR DEAL| first= Jim| last= Shea| newspaper= [[Hartford Courant]]| date= October 4, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016| archive-date= July 13, 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210713120813/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1991-10-04-0000211242-story,amp.html| url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-19911004-1991-10-04-9110040190-story.html| title= LOCAL TV STATION GIVES NFL FANS OPTION PLAY|first=Jennifer|last=Williams|newspaper=Daily Press| date= October 4, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> The SportsChannel America deal was in a sense, a power play created by [[Charles Dolan]] and [[Bill Wirtz]]. Dolan was still several years away from getting control of [[Madison Square Garden]], and Wirtz owned 25% of [[Fox Sports Net Chicago|SportsChannel Chicago]]. [[NHL commissioner|NHL president]] [[John Ziegler Jr.|John Ziegler]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://puckjunk.com/2018/10/29/john-ziegler-did-more-harm-than-good-for-hockey/|title=John Ziegler Did More Harm Than Good for Hockey|last=Barry|first=Sal|date=October 29, 2018|website=Puck Junk}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Deacon|first=James|date=June 8, 1992|title=Palace revolt|url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1992/6/8/palace-revolt|work=Maclean's|location=|access-date=|archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316151019/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1992/6/8/palace-revolt|url-status=dead}}</ref> convinced the [[National Hockey League#Organizational structure|board of governors]] that SportsChannel America was a better alternative than a proposed NHL Channel backed by [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] and [[Viacom (1952–2006)|Viacom]] that had interests in the [[MSG Network]] and [[NESN]]. ===SportsChannel's availability=== Unfortunately, [[SportsChannel America]] was only available in a few<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Guest-Writer/The-Good-the-Bad-and-the-Ugly-of-John-Zieglers-NHL-reign/163/95608|title=The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of John Ziegler's NHL reign|last=Moncour|first=Gilles|date=October 29, 2018|website=HockeyBuzz.com}}</ref> major markets (notably absent though were [[Detroit]], [[Pittsburgh]], and [[St. Louis]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Strachan|first=Al|date=March 15, 2005|title=NHL needs a TV partner|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Columnists/Strachan/2005/03/15/961494.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103093933/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Columnists/Strachan/2005/03/15/961494.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2019|newspaper=Toronto Sun}}</ref>)<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1988/08/22/woe-canada-a-nation-wept-as-its-hero-nhl-star-wayne-gretzky-was-traded-from-edmonton-to-los-angeles|date=August 22, 1988|first=E.M.|last=Swift|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=WOE, CANADA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=NHL broadcast boss pleased with cable move|date=May 2, 1989|first=Rudy|last=Martzke|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Staudohar|first=Paul D.|date= 31 May 2018|title=Playing for Dollars: Labor Relations and the Sports Business|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XLdcDwAAQBAJ&q=1990+nhl+all+star+game+on+nbc&pg=PA138|publisher= Cornell University Press|page=138|isbn= 9781501717857}}</ref> and reached only a 1/3 of the households that [[ESPN]]<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-10-03-1991276186-story.html| title= Underexposed NHL needs to write Dear John letter to Ziegler|first=Bob|last=Ryan|work=[[Baltimore Sun]]|authorlink=Bob Ryan| date= October 3, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> did at the time.<ref>{{cite book |title=Playing for dollars: labor relations and the sports business |last=Staudohar |first= Paul D. |year=1996 |publisher=Cornell University Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/playingfordollar00stau/page/n150 137] |isbn=9780801483424 |url=https://archive.org/details/playingfordollar00stau |url-access=registration }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1988/06/27/117913/a-better-open-too-much-brent-abc-improved-at-brookline-but-brent-musburgers-ego-showed-in-the-nba-finals|title=A Better Open; Too Much Brent|date=June 27, 1988|magazine=Sports Illustrated|first=William|last=Taaffe}}</ref> SportsChannel America was seen in fewer than 10 million households.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://buffalonews.com/news/sportschannels-coverage-wont-be-seen-line-is-overdrawn-here/article_04bb7535-d2c7-5f74-bbed-5bf660e04cc6.html| title= SPORTSCHANNEL'S COVERAGE WON'T BE SEEN LINE IS OVERDRAWN HERE|first=Alan|last=Pergament|newspaper=[[The Buffalo News]]| date= October 4, 1990| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-19900119-1990-01-19-9001180311-story.html| title= HOCKEY RETURNS TO NETWORK TV WITH ALL-STAR GAME|first=Terry|last=Armour|work=Daily Press| date= January 19, 1990| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> In comparison, by the [[1991–92 NHL season|1991–92 season]],<ref name=":2">{{cite web| url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-06-01-9202190025-story.html| title= NHL'S TV POLICY RILES ANNOUNCERS |first=Steve|last=Nidetz|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]| date= June 1, 1992 | access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> ESPN was available in 60.5 million<ref>{{cite book |last=Gatehouse|first=Jonathon|date= October 2012|title=The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the NHL and Changed the Game Forever|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ryb0O7riZnQC&q=John+Ziegler+SportsChannel+America+nhl&pg=PA158|publisher= Triumph Books|page=158|isbn= 9781623686567}}</ref> homes whereas SportsChannel America was available in only 25 million. As a matter of fact, in the first year of the deal ({{NHL Year|1988}}), SportsChannel America was available in only 7 million homes when compared to ESPN's reach of 50 million.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/10/07/greed-indeed-in-its-expansion-strategy-as-in-too-many-other-matters-the-nhl-has-shown-a-passion-for-fools-gold-title-3dgreed|date=October 7, 1991|first=Jay|last=Greenberg|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=GREED, INDEED}}</ref> When the SportsChannel deal ended in [[1991–92 NHL season|1992]], the league returned to ESPN<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1992/10/19/dont-change-that-channel-contrary-to-conventional-wisdom-the-nhl-can-make-it-on-tv-with-a-few-alterations-title-3ddon|date=October 19, 1992|first=E.M.|last=Swift|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=DON'T CHANGE THAT CHANNEL}}</ref> for another contract that would pay US$80 million over five years.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1992/09/03/nhl-okays-espn-deal/| title= NHL okays ESPN deal|first=Cammy|last=Clark|work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]| date= September 3, 1992| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> SportsChannel America took advantage of using their [[regional sports network]]s' feed of a game, graphics and all, instead of producing a show from the ground up, most of the time. Distribution of SportsChannel America across the country was limited to cities that had a SportsChannel regional sports network or affiliate.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Reed|last2=Reed|first1=R.M.|first2=M.K.|author-link= |date= 6 December 2012|title=The Encyclopedia of Television, Cable, and Video|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gU3uBwAAQBAJ&dq=1992+Stanley+Cup+Finals+SportsChannel+America&pg=PA89|location= |publisher= Springer|page=89|isbn=9781468465211}}</ref> Very few cable systems in non-NHL territories picked it up as a stand-alone service, with many only taking it on a [[pay-per-view]] basis during the [[Stanley Cup Finals]]. In addition to the SportsChannel regional networks, [[Maryland]]-based [[NBC Sports Washington|Home Team Sports]] and [[Minneapolis]]-based [[Bally Sports North|Midwest Sports Channel]] (independently owned and operated despite the similar sounding name) carried the games. In 1991, two [[Prime Sports]] networks, [[AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh|KBL]] ([[Pittsburgh]]) and [[Root Sports Northwest|Prime Sports Northwest]] agreed to carry the playoff package, expanding it reach to an additional 2.6 million homes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hasen |first1=Jeff |title=Broadcast Column: Sportscast |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/03/29/Broadcast-Column-Sportscast/3589670222800/ |access-date=25 June 2021 |work=UPI |date=March 29, 1991 |language=en}}</ref> ====Philadelphia==== {{See also|1988–89 Philadelphia Flyers season|1989–90 Philadelphia Flyers season}} Since [[SportsChannel Philadelphia]] did not air until January [[1990 in television|1990]], [[PRISM (TV channel)|PRISM]] (owned by Rainbow Media, the owners of SportsChannel, at the time) picked up the [[1989 Stanley Cup Finals]]. Other than that, there was no NHL television coverage in Philadelphia except for the [[Philadelphia Flyers|Flyers]] for the first half of the original deal. ===Lawsuit=== As previously mentioned, the NHL would return to ESPN following the [[1991–92 NHL season|1991–92 season]]. Shortly after the ESPN deal was signed, SportsChannel America would contend<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1992-09-04-0000112893-story.html| title= SPORTSCHANNEL SUES OVER NHL DEAL|first=Jim|last=Sarni|newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]]| date= September 4, 1992| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1992-10-11/the-puck-stops-here-for-espn| title= The Puck Stops Here For Espn|first=Julie|last=Tilsner|work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]| date= October 11, 1992| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> that its contract with the NHL gave them the right to match third-party offers for television rights for the [[1992–93 NHL season|1992–93 season]]. SportsChannel America accused the NHL of violating a nonbinding clause. SportsChannel America argued that it had been deprived of its contractual [[right of first refusal]] for the 1992–93 season. [[New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division|Appellate Division of New York State Supreme Court]] justice Shirley Fingerwood would deny SportsChannel America's request for an [[injunction]] against the NHL. Upholding that opinion, the [[Court of Appeals|appellate court]] found the agreement on which SportsChannel based its argument to be "too imprecise and ambiguous" and ruled that SportsChannel failed to show irreparable harm. In the aftermath of losing the NHL, SportsChannel America was left with little more than outdoors shows and [[Canadian Football League]] games. For SportsChannel, the deal was a disaster overall. While the cable channel three years later, was available in 20 million homes (as previously mentioned), the broadcaster lost as much as $10 million on the agreement, and soon faded into obscurity. Some local SportsChannel stations – which carried NHL games in their local markets – were not affected. ==Coverage overview== ===Regular season coverage=== SportsChannel America televised about 80–100 games a season<ref>{{cite news|title=USA NETWORK MAKING SOME MAJOR-LEAGUE CUTS|date=February 10, 1984|newspaper=Miami Herald|page=7F}}</ref><ref> {{cite book |last= |first= |author-link= |title=FCC Record: A Comprehensive Compilation of Decisions ..., Volume 8, Issue 5|year= 1993|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DUqvJBWqgfsC&dq=1982+Stanley+Cup+Finals+USA+Network&pg=PA4900|location= |publisher= |page=4900|isbn=}}</ref> (whereas ESPN aired about 33 in the {{NHL Year|1987}} season). Whereas the previous deal with ESPN called for only one nationally televised game a week, SportsChannel America televised hockey two nights a week in NHL cities and three nights a week elsewhere. It was very rare to have a regular-season game on SportsChannel America that wasn't a regional SportsChannel production from the [[Chicago Blackhawks]], [[Hartford Whalers]], [[New Jersey Devils]], [[New York Islanders]], or [[Philadelphia Flyers]]. The [[San Jose Sharks]] were added in {{NHL Year|1991}}. As previously suggested, SportsChannel America for the most part, used the local telecasts. The dedicated SportsChannel America station was little more than an overflow channel in the New York area for SportsChannel New York. ===Special programming=== In [[1989 in television|1989]], SportsChannel America provided the first ever American coverage of the [[1989 NHL Entry Draft|NHL Draft]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=A look at the NHL's 27th draft|date=June 16, 1989|first=Kevin|last=Allen|newspaper=USA Today|page=8C}}</ref> In September 1989, SportsChannel America covered the [[1989–90 Washington Capitals season|Washington Capitals]]' training camp in Sweden and [[Season (sports)|pre-season]] tour<ref>{{Cite news|title=Soviets In, With Army and Dynamo|newspaper=Washington Post|date=December 26, 1988|first=Robert|last=Fachet}}</ref> of the Soviet Union. The Capitals were joined by the Stanley Cup champion [[Calgary Flames]], who held training camp in [[Prague, Czechoslovakia]] and then ventured to the Soviet Union. Each team played four games against [[Soviet National League]] clubs. Games were played in Moscow, [[Leningrad]], [[Kiev]] and [[Riga]]. The NHL clubs finished with a combined 6–2 record against the top Soviet teams, including the [[HC CSKA Moscow|Red Army]] club and [[HC Dynamo Moscow|Dynamo Moscow]]. Five of the eight contests were televised by SportsChannel America. ==Production== SportsChannel America's [[master control]] facilities were located in Floral Park, NY at Cablevision's Rainbow Network Communications facilities, and their studios were located at Dempster Hall at the [[Hofstra University]] in Hempstead, NY. Most games aired on the network were simulcasts of the other SportsChannel Regional games. However, there were times when the network produced games of importance that were unavailable on one of the regional networks. If any of the aforementioned teams made the playoffs, SportsChannel America focused on those teams. For example, [[Fox Sports Net Chicago|SportsChannel Chicago]] produced the SportsChannel America coverage for the [[1989–90 Chicago Blackhawks season|Blackhawks]]' 1990 playoff run. Because of Blackhawks owner [[Bill Wirtz]]' disdain for free and basic cable home game telecasts, the road games were shown in Chicago, with the home games only given short live look-ins as "bonus coverage". The same occurrence happened in 1992, but this time, [[1991–92 Chicago Blackhawks season|their]] home games were broadcast on a pay-per-view basis via "[[Hawkvision]]".<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1992/06/01/for-nhl-to-grow-zieglers-got-to-go/4cca3fce-dabf-4e86-83be-0bc08773d992/| title= FOR NHL TO GROW, ZIEGLER'S GOT TO GO|first=Michael|last=Wilbon|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]| date= June 1, 1992| access-date= February 9, 2016|authorlink=Michael Wilbon}}</ref> The Blackhawks broadcasts were also simulcast on Chicago's WBBM radio during those years. The typical outcue to commercial break was...."(score) on SportsChannel......(pause) and WBBM" SportsChannel America would run their own bumper music from the Floral Park Master Control facility so that they could fade out the remote's audio after the announcers said "SportsChannel". For the [[Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup playoffs]], SportsChannel America used Bob Papa as the anchor for the coverage. The studio kicked off coverage of each night with a pregame show for all of the regions. Once the games began, the studio produced live cut-ins of every goal for each of the regional games aired. The studio also switched viewers of one game to another game when a period ended or when the game was over. After the early games, the studio then took all viewers out to a West Coast game. After all the hockey for the night, the studio finished the night with a postgame wrap-up show. In 1989, both Conference Finals series involved two of SportsChannel's regional teams. Sometimes, they would use the [[Hockey Night in Canada|CBC]] feed for other series involving Canadian teams (the [[Bruins–Canadiens rivalry|Boston Bruins–Montreal Canadiens]] series, for example). For the [[Stanley Cup Finals]], SportsChannel America used its own facilities regardless of the involvement of regional teams. They would also use their own facilities for any Conference Final series that did not involve one of SportsChannel's regional teams. ===Announcers=== [[Bob Papa]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=Lighter load at ABC doesn't bother McKay|date=April 12, 1990|first=Steve|last=Woodward|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C}}</ref> and [[Leandra Reilly]] were the studio hosts while [[Denis Potvin]] was the studio analyst during the regular season coverage. For the [[Stanley Cup Finals]], [[Jiggs McDonald]]<ref name="1992FinalsClose"/> called the [[Sports commentator|play-by-play]], and [[Bill Clement]] was the [[color commentator]]. Also during the Stanley Cup Finals, [[Mike Emrick]]<ref name=":0">{{YouTube|title=1989 Second Round - Chicago vs. St. Louis, Game 3, PART 3|id=JmMOQMyypNs}}</ref> served as the host while [[John Davidson (ice hockey)|John Davidson]]<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/05/13/a-strong-voice-for-hockey-john-davidson-has-become-his-sports-top-broadcaster-in-part-by-outworking-everybody-else-title-3da|title=A STRONG VOICE FOR HOCKEY|date=May 13, 1991|first=Jeff|last=Bradley|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> served as the rinkside<ref name=":0" /> and studio analyst<ref name="SweptAway">{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1992/06/08/swept-away-the-penguins-staked-a-claim-to-greatness-by-winning-their-second-straight-stanley-cup-4-0-over-the-blackhawks|title=SWEPT AWAY|date=June 8, 1992|first=Jon|last=Scher|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> ([[Herb Brooks]] filled that role in 1989). Sometimes, they would use the [[Hockey Night in Canada|CBC]] feed for other series (the [[Bruins–Canadiens rivalry|Boston Bruins–Montreal Canadiens]] series, for example). For the [[Stanley Cup Finals]], SportsChannel America used its own facilities regardless of the involvement of regional teams. They would also use their own facilities for any Conference Final series that did not involve one of SportsChannel's regional teams. SportsChannel America's [[master control]] was at a [[Cablevision]] studio in [[Oak Park, Illinois]] with its NHL studios located at [[Adelphi University]] on [[Long Island]]. ====Play-by-play==== *[[Chris Cuthbert]] *[[Mike Emrick]] *[[Pat Foley]] *[http://www.knx1070.com/pages/3274.php?contentType=4&contentId=94498 Steve Grad] *[[Randy Hahn]] *[[Dave Hodge]] *[[John Kelly (sportscaster)|John Kelly]] *[[Jiggs McDonald]] *[[Rick Peckham]] *[[Jeff Rimer]] *[[Joe Starkey]] *[[Gary Thorne]] *[[Ken Wilson (sportscaster)|Ken Wilson]] ====Color commentary==== *[[Bruce Affleck]] *[[Mike Bossy]] *[[Scotty Bowman]] *[[Herb Brooks]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=NBC's O'Neil known for boldness, making changes|date=May 11, 1989|first=Rachel|last=Schuster|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Mirlis|first=Eric|author-link= |date= May 2018|title=I Was There!: Joe Buck, Bob Costas, Jim Nantz, and Others Relive the Most|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RTKCDwAAQBAJ&dq=herb+brooks+sportschannel+america&pg=PT257|location= |publisher= Simon and Schuster|page= |isbn=9781683582120}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-11-01-1991305047-story.html| title= He's baaack: Herb Brooks leaves sales for pro hockey| first=Don|last=Markus|work=[[Baltimore Sun]]| date= November 1, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> *[[Gerry Cheevers]] *[[Bill Clement]]<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1993-05-28-1993148025-story.html| title= ESPN gives hockey its moment on center ice|first=Ray|last=Frager|newspaper=[[Baltimore Sun]]| date= May 28, 1993| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> *[[John Davidson (ice hockey)|John Davidson]] *[[Don Edwards (ice hockey)|Don Edwards]] *[[John Garrett (ice hockey)|John Garrett]] *[[Dennis Hull]] *[[John Kelly (sportscaster)|John Kelly]] *[[Craig Laughlin]] *[[Dave Maloney]] *[[Peter McNab]] *[[Joe Micheletti]] *[[Jim Peplinski]] *[[Denis Potvin]] *[[Pete Stemkowski]] *[[Dale Tallon]] *[[Ed Westfall]] ====Studio/ice level personalities==== *[[Mike Breen]] *[[Herb Brooks]] *[[John Davidson (ice hockey)|John Davidson]] *[[Stan Fischler]] *Al Koken *[[Dave Maloney]] *[[Bob Papa]] *[[Denis Potvin]] *Leandra Reilly *Lee Zeidman ==Commentating crews== *[[Chicago Blackhawks]]: [[Pat Foley]] and [[Dale Tallon]] (in [[1991–92 Chicago Blackhawks season|1992]], SportsChannel America rode them all the way through the [[1992 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]]) **[[NBC Sports Chicago|SportsChannel Chicago]] *[[Hartford Whalers]]: [[Rick Peckham]] and [[Gerry Cheevers]] **[[NBC Sports Boston|SportsChannel New England]] *[[New York Islanders]]: [[Jiggs McDonald]] and [[Ed Westfall]] **[[MSG Sportsnet|SportsChannel New York]] *[[New Jersey Devils]]: [[Gary Thorne]] and [[Peter McNab]] **[[MSG Sportsnet|SportsChannel New York]] *[[Philadelphia Flyers]]: [[Mike Emrick]] and [[Bill Clement]] **[[SportsChannel Philadelphia]] *[[San Jose Sharks]]: [[Joe Starkey]] or [[Randy Hahn]] and [[Dennis Hull]], [[Pete Stemkowski]] (most games), or [[Brian Hayward]] (when Hayward is injured) **[[NBC Sports California|SportsChannel Pacific]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== <div style="font-size: 85%"> * [http://drewlbucket.blogspot.com/2005/08/can-oln-help-rescue-nhl.html The DrewL Bucket: Can OLN Help Rescue NHL?] * [https://archive.today/20130126061302/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-11423010.html?refid=ip_hf NHL inks SCA deal for $5.5m. (cable television contract between National Hockey League and SportsChannel America) (Multichannel News)] * [http://www.andrewsstarspage.com/CBA/8-17cba.htm CBA: TV and the price of expansion] * [http://www.plaidworks.com/chuqui/blog/001885.html Is the NHL better off?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026174732/http://www.plaidworks.com/chuqui/blog/001885.html |date=2006-10-26 }} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070707200404/http://inthecrease.blogs.com/in_the_crease/dallas_stars/index.html ESPN fails to match, Comcast gets NHL] * [http://ezra.cornell.edu/posting.php?timestamp=702619200 Dear Uncle Erza] * [http://www.dbsforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=69983 The NHL on SportsChannel America (1988-1992)] * [http://puckthemedia.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/great-moments-from-er-uh-nhl-on-sportschannelamerica/ Great Moments From, er, uh, NHL On SportsChannelAmerica?] * [https://archive.today/20130102062559/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1126563/index.htm The NHL's latest TV deal is a bad one for fans] </div> {{Navboxes|list1= {{S-start}} {{Succession box|before=[[ESPN National Hockey Night|ESPN]]| title=NHL pay television carrier in the United States| years=[[1988–89 NHL season|1988]]–[[1991–92 NHL season|1992]]| after=[[ESPN National Hockey Night|ESPN]]}} {{S-end}} {{National Hockey League on national television}} {{NHL on SportsChannel America}} {{Hockey Night in Canada}} {{SportsChannel America}} }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Nhl On Sportschannel America, The}} [[Category:1980s American sports television series]] [[Category:1990s American sports television series]] [[Category:1988 American television series debuts]] [[Category:1992 American television series endings]] [[Category:National Hockey League on television]] [[Category:SportsChannel]] [[Category:Simulcasts]] [[en:NHL on SportsChannel America]] t0h9q5w29n6827pab1kppoy3ak9ybg8 310290 310287 2025-06-20T10:43:19Z InternetArchiveBot 18050 Rescuing 3 sources and tagging 0 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0.9.5 310290 wikitext text/x-wiki {{short description|US television program}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox television | image = SportsChannel.JPG | caption = | alt_name = ''NHL on SportsChannel''<br/>''Hockey Night America'' | genre = Sports | creator = [[SportsChannel|SportsChannel America]] | writer = | director = Larry Brown<br/>Billy McCoy <small>(senior director)</small> | creative_director = | developer = | presenter = [[Bob Papa]]<br>[[Leandra Reilly]]<br>[[Lee Zeidman]] | starring = [[#Announcers|See ''announcers'' section below]] | voices = | narrated = | theme_music_composer = | opentheme = | endtheme = | composer = | country = United States | language = English | num_seasons = 4 | num_episodes = | list_episodes = | executive_producer = Jeff Ruhe<ref name="1992FinalsClose">{{YouTube|title=Cup Finals Close 1992 SC America|id=fK3AdHkw9dw}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hasen|first=Jeff|date=October 4, 1989|title=Broadcast Column: Sportscast Preview Release at will|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/10/04/Broadcast-Column-Sportscast-PreviewRelease-at-will/9707623476800/|work=UPI|location= |access-date=June 4, 2022}}</ref> | producer = John Shannon <small>(senior producer)</small><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-01-16-9101050382-story.html| title= AS TV FARE, HOCKEY STILL OUT IN COLD|first=Steve|last=Nidetz|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]| date= January 16, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><br>Mike Connelly<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.sportsvideo.org/2019/01/23/the-svg-podcast-michael-connelly-svp-ep-fox-sports-regional-networks/| title= The SVG Podcast: Michael Connelly, SVP/EP, Fox Sports Regional Networks|first=Brandon|last=Costa|work=Sports Video Group| date= January 23, 2019| access-date= March 15, 2021}}</ref> | location = | cinematography = Terry Ford<br/>Dean Anderson<br/>Bob Boykin<br/>Marty Muzik | camera = | runtime = 180 minutes or until game ends (including commercials) | network = [[SportsChannel|SportsChannel America]] | company = [[National Hockey League]]<br/>[[NBC Sports]] | first_aired = {{Start date|1988|10|16}} | last_aired = {{End date|1992|06|01}} | related = {{Plainlist| * ''[[NHL on ESPN]]''/''[[NHL on ABC]]'' * ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' * ''[[NHL on NBC]]'' }} }} The '''''NHL on SportsChannel America''''' was the presentation of [[National Hockey League]] broadcasts<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/search?q=NHL+on+SportsChannel+America&btnG=Search+Books&tbm=bks |title=NHL on SportsChannel America, About 769 results (0.43 seconds) |website=Google Books |accessdate=29 April 2013}}</ref> on the now defunct [[SportsChannel|SportsChannel America]]<ref>{{YouTube|title=NHL Open SportsChannel America 1988|id=a56I5li3IpI}}</ref> [[Cable television|cable]] [[television network]]. ==Terms of the deal== Taking over for [[NHL on ESPN|ESPN]],<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1988-11-16-2663778-story.html| title= MAYBE ESPN DID FANS A FAVOR IN LOSING THE NHL|first=Gary|last=Blockus|newspaper=[[The Morning Call]]| date= November 16, 1988| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1988-08-19-8802170671-story.html| title= PICK ANY HOUR -- OR HEMISPHERE -- TO TUNE IN COSTAS|first=Jim|last=Sarni|work=[[Sun Sentinel]]| date= August 19, 1988| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> SportsChannel's contract paid US$51 million<ref>{{cite book |last=Kunz|first=William M.|author-link= |date= 23 April 2020|title=The Political Economy of Sports Television|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kuzeDwAAQBAJ&dq=1990+stanley+cup+finals+sportschannel+america&pg=PT64|location= |publisher= Routledge|page= |isbn=9781000060447}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/06/22/sportschannel-america-interested-in-buying-hts/fbab2dfb-af45-49f4-bd98-0b20a61c3b00/| title= SPORTSCHANNEL AMERICA INTERESTED IN BUYING HTS|first=Norman|last=Chad|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]| date= June 22, 1988| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-03-sp-4343-story.html| title= NHL 1991-92 : There's a Lot Not to Watch : Hockey: There is no national TV, no collective bargaining agreement and no Eric Lindros. But there are Sharks.|first=Steve|last=Springer|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]| date= October 3, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> ($17 million per year<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1990/10/08/the-bucks-start-here-this-off-season-the-blues-unexpectedly-made-two-players-very-rich-and-the-fallout-has-been-felt-throughout-the-league-title-3dthe|date=October 8, 1990|first=Jay|last=Greenberg|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=THE BUCKS START HERE}}</ref>) over three years,<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=April 2, 1991|title=The News - Apr 2, 1991|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1290&dat=19910402&id=UjBUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ao0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4322,509279|work=news.google.com|location= |access-date=}}</ref> more than double<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/11/26/nhl-and-sportschannel-more-is-less/f82b8589-b0e8-47fb-919f-832aca20dc7b/| title= NHL AND SPORTSCHANNEL MORE IS LESS|first=Norman|last=Chad|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]| date= November 26, 1988| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Bass|first=Alan|date= 25 January 2011|title=The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk That Changed the Nhl Forever|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JgLqzbebH4gC&q=nhl+sportschannel+america&pg=PA198|publisher=iUniverse|page=198|isbn= 9781450286077}}</ref> what ESPN had paid ($24 million) for the previous three years<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/03/18/shooting-star-brett-hull-has-become-a-goal-scorer-of-near-gretzkian-dimensions|date=March 18, 1991|first=Richard|last=Demak|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=SHOOTING STAR}}</ref> SportsChannel America managed to get a fourth NHL season<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-10-04-9103300943-story.html| title= NHL FEELS PINCH IN TV DEAL|first=Steve|last=Nidetz|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]| date= October 4, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> for just $5 million.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/04/sports/hockey-nhl-again-signs-contract-with-sportschannel-america.html| title= HOCKEY; N.H.L. Again Signs Contract With SportsChannel America|first=Joe|last=LaPointe|newspaper=[[New York Times]]| date= October 4, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1992/02/17/scorecard|date=February 17, 1992|first=Richard|last=Demak|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=SCORECARD}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Gatehouse|first=Jonathon|date= October 2012|title=The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the NHL and Changed the Game Forever|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ryb0O7riZnQC&q=nhl+sportschannel+america&pg=PA158|publisher= Triumph Books|page=158|isbn= 9781623686567}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Moshavi|first=Sharon D.|date=January 13, 1992|title=BC-1992-01-13.pdf|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1992/BC-1992-01-13.pdf|page=78}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-09-26-1991269142-story.html| title= Lack of TV contract doesn't shake up NHL|author=[[Newsday]]|newspaper=[[Baltimore Sun]] | date= September 22, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1991-10-04-0000211242-story,amp.html| title= NHL, SPORTSCHANNEL SIGN ONE-YEAR DEAL| first= Jim| last= Shea| newspaper= [[Hartford Courant]]| date= October 4, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016| archive-date= July 13, 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210713120813/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1991-10-04-0000211242-story,amp.html| url-status= dead| accessdate= June 20, 2025| archivedate= July 13, 2021| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20210713120813/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1991-10-04-0000211242-story,amp.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-19911004-1991-10-04-9110040190-story.html| title= LOCAL TV STATION GIVES NFL FANS OPTION PLAY|first=Jennifer|last=Williams|newspaper=Daily Press| date= October 4, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> The SportsChannel America deal was in a sense, a power play created by [[Charles Dolan]] and [[Bill Wirtz]]. Dolan was still several years away from getting control of [[Madison Square Garden]], and Wirtz owned 25% of [[Fox Sports Net Chicago|SportsChannel Chicago]]. [[NHL commissioner|NHL president]] [[John Ziegler Jr.|John Ziegler]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://puckjunk.com/2018/10/29/john-ziegler-did-more-harm-than-good-for-hockey/|title=John Ziegler Did More Harm Than Good for Hockey|last=Barry|first=Sal|date=October 29, 2018|website=Puck Junk}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Deacon|first=James|date=June 8, 1992|title=Palace revolt|url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1992/6/8/palace-revolt|work=Maclean's|location=|access-date=|archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316151019/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1992/6/8/palace-revolt|url-status=dead|accessdate=June 20, 2025|archivedate=March 16, 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316151019/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1992/6/8/palace-revolt}}</ref> convinced the [[National Hockey League#Organizational structure|board of governors]] that SportsChannel America was a better alternative than a proposed NHL Channel backed by [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] and [[Viacom (1952–2006)|Viacom]] that had interests in the [[MSG Network]] and [[NESN]]. ===SportsChannel's availability=== Unfortunately, [[SportsChannel America]] was only available in a few<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Guest-Writer/The-Good-the-Bad-and-the-Ugly-of-John-Zieglers-NHL-reign/163/95608|title=The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of John Ziegler's NHL reign|last=Moncour|first=Gilles|date=October 29, 2018|website=HockeyBuzz.com}}</ref> major markets (notably absent though were [[Detroit]], [[Pittsburgh]], and [[St. Louis]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Strachan|first=Al|date=March 15, 2005|title=NHL needs a TV partner|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Columnists/Strachan/2005/03/15/961494.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103093933/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Columnists/Strachan/2005/03/15/961494.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2019|newspaper=Toronto Sun}}</ref>)<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1988/08/22/woe-canada-a-nation-wept-as-its-hero-nhl-star-wayne-gretzky-was-traded-from-edmonton-to-los-angeles|date=August 22, 1988|first=E.M.|last=Swift|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=WOE, CANADA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=NHL broadcast boss pleased with cable move|date=May 2, 1989|first=Rudy|last=Martzke|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Staudohar|first=Paul D.|date= 31 May 2018|title=Playing for Dollars: Labor Relations and the Sports Business|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XLdcDwAAQBAJ&q=1990+nhl+all+star+game+on+nbc&pg=PA138|publisher= Cornell University Press|page=138|isbn= 9781501717857}}</ref> and reached only a 1/3 of the households that [[ESPN]]<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-10-03-1991276186-story.html| title= Underexposed NHL needs to write Dear John letter to Ziegler|first=Bob|last=Ryan|work=[[Baltimore Sun]]|authorlink=Bob Ryan| date= October 3, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> did at the time.<ref>{{cite book |title=Playing for dollars: labor relations and the sports business |last=Staudohar |first= Paul D. |year=1996 |publisher=Cornell University Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/playingfordollar00stau/page/n150 137] |isbn=9780801483424 |url=https://archive.org/details/playingfordollar00stau |url-access=registration }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1988/06/27/117913/a-better-open-too-much-brent-abc-improved-at-brookline-but-brent-musburgers-ego-showed-in-the-nba-finals|title=A Better Open; Too Much Brent|date=June 27, 1988|magazine=Sports Illustrated|first=William|last=Taaffe}}</ref> SportsChannel America was seen in fewer than 10 million households.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://buffalonews.com/news/sportschannels-coverage-wont-be-seen-line-is-overdrawn-here/article_04bb7535-d2c7-5f74-bbed-5bf660e04cc6.html| title= SPORTSCHANNEL'S COVERAGE WON'T BE SEEN LINE IS OVERDRAWN HERE|first=Alan|last=Pergament|newspaper=[[The Buffalo News]]| date= October 4, 1990| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-19900119-1990-01-19-9001180311-story.html| title= HOCKEY RETURNS TO NETWORK TV WITH ALL-STAR GAME|first=Terry|last=Armour|work=Daily Press| date= January 19, 1990| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> In comparison, by the [[1991–92 NHL season|1991–92 season]],<ref name=":2">{{cite web| url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-06-01-9202190025-story.html| title= NHL'S TV POLICY RILES ANNOUNCERS |first=Steve|last=Nidetz|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]| date= June 1, 1992 | access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> ESPN was available in 60.5 million<ref>{{cite book |last=Gatehouse|first=Jonathon|date= October 2012|title=The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the NHL and Changed the Game Forever|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ryb0O7riZnQC&q=John+Ziegler+SportsChannel+America+nhl&pg=PA158|publisher= Triumph Books|page=158|isbn= 9781623686567}}</ref> homes whereas SportsChannel America was available in only 25 million. As a matter of fact, in the first year of the deal ({{NHL Year|1988}}), SportsChannel America was available in only 7 million homes when compared to ESPN's reach of 50 million.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/10/07/greed-indeed-in-its-expansion-strategy-as-in-too-many-other-matters-the-nhl-has-shown-a-passion-for-fools-gold-title-3dgreed|date=October 7, 1991|first=Jay|last=Greenberg|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=GREED, INDEED}}</ref> When the SportsChannel deal ended in [[1991–92 NHL season|1992]], the league returned to ESPN<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1992/10/19/dont-change-that-channel-contrary-to-conventional-wisdom-the-nhl-can-make-it-on-tv-with-a-few-alterations-title-3ddon|date=October 19, 1992|first=E.M.|last=Swift|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=DON'T CHANGE THAT CHANNEL}}</ref> for another contract that would pay US$80 million over five years.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1992/09/03/nhl-okays-espn-deal/| title= NHL okays ESPN deal|first=Cammy|last=Clark|work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]| date= September 3, 1992| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> SportsChannel America took advantage of using their [[regional sports network]]s' feed of a game, graphics and all, instead of producing a show from the ground up, most of the time. Distribution of SportsChannel America across the country was limited to cities that had a SportsChannel regional sports network or affiliate.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Reed|last2=Reed|first1=R.M.|first2=M.K.|author-link= |date= 6 December 2012|title=The Encyclopedia of Television, Cable, and Video|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gU3uBwAAQBAJ&dq=1992+Stanley+Cup+Finals+SportsChannel+America&pg=PA89|location= |publisher= Springer|page=89|isbn=9781468465211}}</ref> Very few cable systems in non-NHL territories picked it up as a stand-alone service, with many only taking it on a [[pay-per-view]] basis during the [[Stanley Cup Finals]]. In addition to the SportsChannel regional networks, [[Maryland]]-based [[NBC Sports Washington|Home Team Sports]] and [[Minneapolis]]-based [[Bally Sports North|Midwest Sports Channel]] (independently owned and operated despite the similar sounding name) carried the games. In 1991, two [[Prime Sports]] networks, [[AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh|KBL]] ([[Pittsburgh]]) and [[Root Sports Northwest|Prime Sports Northwest]] agreed to carry the playoff package, expanding it reach to an additional 2.6 million homes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hasen |first1=Jeff |title=Broadcast Column: Sportscast |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/03/29/Broadcast-Column-Sportscast/3589670222800/ |access-date=25 June 2021 |work=UPI |date=March 29, 1991 |language=en}}</ref> ====Philadelphia==== {{See also|1988–89 Philadelphia Flyers season|1989–90 Philadelphia Flyers season}} Since [[SportsChannel Philadelphia]] did not air until January [[1990 in television|1990]], [[PRISM (TV channel)|PRISM]] (owned by Rainbow Media, the owners of SportsChannel, at the time) picked up the [[1989 Stanley Cup Finals]]. Other than that, there was no NHL television coverage in Philadelphia except for the [[Philadelphia Flyers|Flyers]] for the first half of the original deal. ===Lawsuit=== As previously mentioned, the NHL would return to ESPN following the [[1991–92 NHL season|1991–92 season]]. Shortly after the ESPN deal was signed, SportsChannel America would contend<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1992-09-04-0000112893-story.html| title= SPORTSCHANNEL SUES OVER NHL DEAL|first=Jim|last=Sarni|newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]]| date= September 4, 1992| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1992-10-11/the-puck-stops-here-for-espn| title= The Puck Stops Here For Espn|first=Julie|last=Tilsner|work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]| date= October 11, 1992| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> that its contract with the NHL gave them the right to match third-party offers for television rights for the [[1992–93 NHL season|1992–93 season]]. SportsChannel America accused the NHL of violating a nonbinding clause. SportsChannel America argued that it had been deprived of its contractual [[right of first refusal]] for the 1992–93 season. [[New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division|Appellate Division of New York State Supreme Court]] justice Shirley Fingerwood would deny SportsChannel America's request for an [[injunction]] against the NHL. Upholding that opinion, the [[Court of Appeals|appellate court]] found the agreement on which SportsChannel based its argument to be "too imprecise and ambiguous" and ruled that SportsChannel failed to show irreparable harm. In the aftermath of losing the NHL, SportsChannel America was left with little more than outdoors shows and [[Canadian Football League]] games. For SportsChannel, the deal was a disaster overall. While the cable channel three years later, was available in 20 million homes (as previously mentioned), the broadcaster lost as much as $10 million on the agreement, and soon faded into obscurity. Some local SportsChannel stations – which carried NHL games in their local markets – were not affected. ==Coverage overview== ===Regular season coverage=== SportsChannel America televised about 80–100 games a season<ref>{{cite news|title=USA NETWORK MAKING SOME MAJOR-LEAGUE CUTS|date=February 10, 1984|newspaper=Miami Herald|page=7F}}</ref><ref> {{cite book |last= |first= |author-link= |title=FCC Record: A Comprehensive Compilation of Decisions ..., Volume 8, Issue 5|year= 1993|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DUqvJBWqgfsC&dq=1982+Stanley+Cup+Finals+USA+Network&pg=PA4900|location= |publisher= |page=4900|isbn=}}</ref> (whereas ESPN aired about 33 in the {{NHL Year|1987}} season). Whereas the previous deal with ESPN called for only one nationally televised game a week, SportsChannel America televised hockey two nights a week in NHL cities and three nights a week elsewhere. It was very rare to have a regular-season game on SportsChannel America that wasn't a regional SportsChannel production from the [[Chicago Blackhawks]], [[Hartford Whalers]], [[New Jersey Devils]], [[New York Islanders]], or [[Philadelphia Flyers]]. The [[San Jose Sharks]] were added in {{NHL Year|1991}}. As previously suggested, SportsChannel America for the most part, used the local telecasts. The dedicated SportsChannel America station was little more than an overflow channel in the New York area for SportsChannel New York. ===Special programming=== In [[1989 in television|1989]], SportsChannel America provided the first ever American coverage of the [[1989 NHL Entry Draft|NHL Draft]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=A look at the NHL's 27th draft|date=June 16, 1989|first=Kevin|last=Allen|newspaper=USA Today|page=8C}}</ref> In September 1989, SportsChannel America covered the [[1989–90 Washington Capitals season|Washington Capitals]]' training camp in Sweden and [[Season (sports)|pre-season]] tour<ref>{{Cite news|title=Soviets In, With Army and Dynamo|newspaper=Washington Post|date=December 26, 1988|first=Robert|last=Fachet}}</ref> of the Soviet Union. The Capitals were joined by the Stanley Cup champion [[Calgary Flames]], who held training camp in [[Prague, Czechoslovakia]] and then ventured to the Soviet Union. Each team played four games against [[Soviet National League]] clubs. Games were played in Moscow, [[Leningrad]], [[Kiev]] and [[Riga]]. The NHL clubs finished with a combined 6–2 record against the top Soviet teams, including the [[HC CSKA Moscow|Red Army]] club and [[HC Dynamo Moscow|Dynamo Moscow]]. Five of the eight contests were televised by SportsChannel America. ==Production== SportsChannel America's [[master control]] facilities were located in Floral Park, NY at Cablevision's Rainbow Network Communications facilities, and their studios were located at Dempster Hall at the [[Hofstra University]] in Hempstead, NY. Most games aired on the network were simulcasts of the other SportsChannel Regional games. However, there were times when the network produced games of importance that were unavailable on one of the regional networks. If any of the aforementioned teams made the playoffs, SportsChannel America focused on those teams. For example, [[Fox Sports Net Chicago|SportsChannel Chicago]] produced the SportsChannel America coverage for the [[1989–90 Chicago Blackhawks season|Blackhawks]]' 1990 playoff run. Because of Blackhawks owner [[Bill Wirtz]]' disdain for free and basic cable home game telecasts, the road games were shown in Chicago, with the home games only given short live look-ins as "bonus coverage". The same occurrence happened in 1992, but this time, [[1991–92 Chicago Blackhawks season|their]] home games were broadcast on a pay-per-view basis via "[[Hawkvision]]".<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1992/06/01/for-nhl-to-grow-zieglers-got-to-go/4cca3fce-dabf-4e86-83be-0bc08773d992/| title= FOR NHL TO GROW, ZIEGLER'S GOT TO GO|first=Michael|last=Wilbon|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]| date= June 1, 1992| access-date= February 9, 2016|authorlink=Michael Wilbon}}</ref> The Blackhawks broadcasts were also simulcast on Chicago's WBBM radio during those years. The typical outcue to commercial break was...."(score) on SportsChannel......(pause) and WBBM" SportsChannel America would run their own bumper music from the Floral Park Master Control facility so that they could fade out the remote's audio after the announcers said "SportsChannel". For the [[Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup playoffs]], SportsChannel America used Bob Papa as the anchor for the coverage. The studio kicked off coverage of each night with a pregame show for all of the regions. Once the games began, the studio produced live cut-ins of every goal for each of the regional games aired. The studio also switched viewers of one game to another game when a period ended or when the game was over. After the early games, the studio then took all viewers out to a West Coast game. After all the hockey for the night, the studio finished the night with a postgame wrap-up show. In 1989, both Conference Finals series involved two of SportsChannel's regional teams. Sometimes, they would use the [[Hockey Night in Canada|CBC]] feed for other series involving Canadian teams (the [[Bruins–Canadiens rivalry|Boston Bruins–Montreal Canadiens]] series, for example). For the [[Stanley Cup Finals]], SportsChannel America used its own facilities regardless of the involvement of regional teams. They would also use their own facilities for any Conference Final series that did not involve one of SportsChannel's regional teams. ===Announcers=== [[Bob Papa]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=Lighter load at ABC doesn't bother McKay|date=April 12, 1990|first=Steve|last=Woodward|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C}}</ref> and [[Leandra Reilly]] were the studio hosts while [[Denis Potvin]] was the studio analyst during the regular season coverage. For the [[Stanley Cup Finals]], [[Jiggs McDonald]]<ref name="1992FinalsClose"/> called the [[Sports commentator|play-by-play]], and [[Bill Clement]] was the [[color commentator]]. Also during the Stanley Cup Finals, [[Mike Emrick]]<ref name=":0">{{YouTube|title=1989 Second Round - Chicago vs. St. Louis, Game 3, PART 3|id=JmMOQMyypNs}}</ref> served as the host while [[John Davidson (ice hockey)|John Davidson]]<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/05/13/a-strong-voice-for-hockey-john-davidson-has-become-his-sports-top-broadcaster-in-part-by-outworking-everybody-else-title-3da|title=A STRONG VOICE FOR HOCKEY|date=May 13, 1991|first=Jeff|last=Bradley|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> served as the rinkside<ref name=":0" /> and studio analyst<ref name="SweptAway">{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1992/06/08/swept-away-the-penguins-staked-a-claim-to-greatness-by-winning-their-second-straight-stanley-cup-4-0-over-the-blackhawks|title=SWEPT AWAY|date=June 8, 1992|first=Jon|last=Scher|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> ([[Herb Brooks]] filled that role in 1989). Sometimes, they would use the [[Hockey Night in Canada|CBC]] feed for other series (the [[Bruins–Canadiens rivalry|Boston Bruins–Montreal Canadiens]] series, for example). For the [[Stanley Cup Finals]], SportsChannel America used its own facilities regardless of the involvement of regional teams. They would also use their own facilities for any Conference Final series that did not involve one of SportsChannel's regional teams. SportsChannel America's [[master control]] was at a [[Cablevision]] studio in [[Oak Park, Illinois]] with its NHL studios located at [[Adelphi University]] on [[Long Island]]. ====Play-by-play==== *[[Chris Cuthbert]] *[[Mike Emrick]] *[[Pat Foley]] *[http://www.knx1070.com/pages/3274.php?contentType=4&contentId=94498 Steve Grad] *[[Randy Hahn]] *[[Dave Hodge]] *[[John Kelly (sportscaster)|John Kelly]] *[[Jiggs McDonald]] *[[Rick Peckham]] *[[Jeff Rimer]] *[[Joe Starkey]] *[[Gary Thorne]] *[[Ken Wilson (sportscaster)|Ken Wilson]] ====Color commentary==== *[[Bruce Affleck]] *[[Mike Bossy]] *[[Scotty Bowman]] *[[Herb Brooks]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=NBC's O'Neil known for boldness, making changes|date=May 11, 1989|first=Rachel|last=Schuster|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Mirlis|first=Eric|author-link= |date= May 2018|title=I Was There!: Joe Buck, Bob Costas, Jim Nantz, and Others Relive the Most|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RTKCDwAAQBAJ&dq=herb+brooks+sportschannel+america&pg=PT257|location= |publisher= Simon and Schuster|page= |isbn=9781683582120}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-11-01-1991305047-story.html| title= He's baaack: Herb Brooks leaves sales for pro hockey| first=Don|last=Markus|work=[[Baltimore Sun]]| date= November 1, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> *[[Gerry Cheevers]] *[[Bill Clement]]<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1993-05-28-1993148025-story.html| title= ESPN gives hockey its moment on center ice|first=Ray|last=Frager|newspaper=[[Baltimore Sun]]| date= May 28, 1993| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> *[[John Davidson (ice hockey)|John Davidson]] *[[Don Edwards (ice hockey)|Don Edwards]] *[[John Garrett (ice hockey)|John Garrett]] *[[Dennis Hull]] *[[John Kelly (sportscaster)|John Kelly]] *[[Craig Laughlin]] *[[Dave Maloney]] *[[Peter McNab]] *[[Joe Micheletti]] *[[Jim Peplinski]] *[[Denis Potvin]] *[[Pete Stemkowski]] *[[Dale Tallon]] *[[Ed Westfall]] ====Studio/ice level personalities==== *[[Mike Breen]] *[[Herb Brooks]] *[[John Davidson (ice hockey)|John Davidson]] *[[Stan Fischler]] *Al Koken *[[Dave Maloney]] *[[Bob Papa]] *[[Denis Potvin]] *Leandra Reilly *Lee Zeidman ==Commentating crews== *[[Chicago Blackhawks]]: [[Pat Foley]] and [[Dale Tallon]] (in [[1991–92 Chicago Blackhawks season|1992]], SportsChannel America rode them all the way through the [[1992 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]]) **[[NBC Sports Chicago|SportsChannel Chicago]] *[[Hartford Whalers]]: [[Rick Peckham]] and [[Gerry Cheevers]] **[[NBC Sports Boston|SportsChannel New England]] *[[New York Islanders]]: [[Jiggs McDonald]] and [[Ed Westfall]] **[[MSG Sportsnet|SportsChannel New York]] *[[New Jersey Devils]]: [[Gary Thorne]] and [[Peter McNab]] **[[MSG Sportsnet|SportsChannel New York]] *[[Philadelphia Flyers]]: [[Mike Emrick]] and [[Bill Clement]] **[[SportsChannel Philadelphia]] *[[San Jose Sharks]]: [[Joe Starkey]] or [[Randy Hahn]] and [[Dennis Hull]], [[Pete Stemkowski]] (most games), or [[Brian Hayward]] (when Hayward is injured) **[[NBC Sports California|SportsChannel Pacific]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== <div style="font-size: 85%"> * [http://drewlbucket.blogspot.com/2005/08/can-oln-help-rescue-nhl.html The DrewL Bucket: Can OLN Help Rescue NHL?] * [https://archive.today/20130126061302/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-11423010.html?refid=ip_hf NHL inks SCA deal for $5.5m. (cable television contract between National Hockey League and SportsChannel America) (Multichannel News)] * [http://www.andrewsstarspage.com/CBA/8-17cba.htm CBA: TV and the price of expansion] * [http://www.plaidworks.com/chuqui/blog/001885.html Is the NHL better off?] {{Wayback|url=http://www.plaidworks.com/chuqui/blog/001885.html |date=20061026174732 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026174732/http://www.plaidworks.com/chuqui/blog/001885.html |date=2006-10-26 }} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070707200404/http://inthecrease.blogs.com/in_the_crease/dallas_stars/index.html ESPN fails to match, Comcast gets NHL] * [http://ezra.cornell.edu/posting.php?timestamp=702619200 Dear Uncle Erza] * [http://www.dbsforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=69983 The NHL on SportsChannel America (1988-1992)] * [http://puckthemedia.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/great-moments-from-er-uh-nhl-on-sportschannelamerica/ Great Moments From, er, uh, NHL On SportsChannelAmerica?] * [https://archive.today/20130102062559/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1126563/index.htm The NHL's latest TV deal is a bad one for fans] </div> {{Navboxes|list1= {{S-start}} {{Succession box|before=[[ESPN National Hockey Night|ESPN]]| title=NHL pay television carrier in the United States| years=[[1988–89 NHL season|1988]]–[[1991–92 NHL season|1992]]| after=[[ESPN National Hockey Night|ESPN]]}} {{S-end}} {{National Hockey League on national television}} {{NHL on SportsChannel America}} {{Hockey Night in Canada}} {{SportsChannel America}} }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Nhl On Sportschannel America, The}} [[Category:1980s American sports television series]] [[Category:1990s American sports television series]] [[Category:1988 American television series debuts]] [[Category:1992 American television series endings]] [[Category:National Hockey League on television]] [[Category:SportsChannel]] [[Category:Simulcasts]] [[en:NHL on SportsChannel America]] rc8jmiqjku6pond7n1xfr74h0hiz0uo 0 30303 310288 2025-06-20T03:26:12Z 2001:4456:C2B:B300:F1BC:C2BF:26BA:8083 Bayung bulung: {{Short description|American short-lived television broadcasting joint venture}} {{for|the cable and satellite channel that launched in 2009|MLB Network}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox television | image = The Baseball Network logo.png | caption = The Baseball Network title card | alt_name = '''''Baseball Night in America''''' | genre = [[Baseball]] [[Sports broadcasting|telecasts]] | creator =... 310288 wikitext text/x-wiki {{Short description|American short-lived television broadcasting joint venture}} {{for|the cable and satellite channel that launched in 2009|MLB Network}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox television | image = The Baseball Network logo.png | caption = The Baseball Network title card | alt_name = '''''Baseball Night in America''''' | genre = [[Baseball]] [[Sports broadcasting|telecasts]] | creator = | director = | presenter = [[The Baseball Network announcers|Various]] | theme_music_composer = [[Scott Schreer]]<ref>{{YouTube|title=Baseball Network Theme 1994 1995 (Various Cuts)|id=XNwe5F-zsnY}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=1994 MLB All Star Game Three Rivers, PA|id=WABo44AEns8}}</ref> | open_theme = | end_theme = | composer = | country = United States | language = English | num_seasons = 2 | num_episodes = | list_episodes = | executive_producer = | producer = | editor = | location = | camera = [[Multi-camera setup|Multi-camera]] | runtime = 210 minutes or until end of game | company = [[Major League Baseball]]<br/>[[ESPN on ABC|ABC Sports]]<br/>[[NBC Sports]] | network = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]<br/>[[NBC]] | first_aired = {{Start date|1994|07|12}} | last_aired = {{End date|1995|10|28}} | related = ''[[Major League Baseball on ABC]]''<br/>''[[Major League Baseball on NBC]]'' <br/> ''[[MLB Network Showcase]]'' }} '''The Baseball Network''' was an American [[broadcasting|television broadcasting]] [[joint venture]] between [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[NBC]] and [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB).<ref>{{cite news|last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=April 12, 1994|title=APR '2 - Federal Communications Commission|url=https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1287270001.pdf|work=ecfsapi.fcc.gov|access-date=January 5, 2021|archive-date=August 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809125115/https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1287270001.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=May 20, 1993|title=The Media Business; Network Venture Poses Risks for Baseball|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/20/business/the-media-business-network-venture-poses-risks-for-baseball.html|work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Major League Baseball Strikes Unique Deal with NBC, ABC|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/289457/MAJOR-LEAGUE-BASEBALL-STRIKES-UNIQUE-DEAL-WITH-NBC-ABC.html?pg=all|author=John Nelson|newspaper=[[Deseret News]]|date=May 9, 1993|access-date=November 6, 2013|archive-date=January 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113231254/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/289457/MAJOR-LEAGUE-BASEBALL-STRIKES-UNIQUE-DEAL-WITH-NBC-ABC.html?pg=all|url-status=dead}}</ref> Under the arrangement, beginning in the [[1994 Major League Baseball season|1994 season]], MLB produced its own broadcasts in-house which were then [[Brokered programming|brokered]] to air on ABC and NBC.<ref>{{cite book |last=Shea|first=Stuart|date= May 7, 2015|title=Calling the Game: Baseball Broadcasting from 1920 to the Present|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p5QcCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA47|publisher=SABR, Inc.|page=360|isbn= 9781933599410}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sports Graphics Packages, Historically: MLB on ABC, 1994-1995|url=http://boards.sportslogos.net/topic/93118-sports-graphics-packages-historically/page-4|website=SportsLogos.net|date=November 10, 2013}}</ref> The Baseball Network was the first television network in the United States to be owned by a professional sports league.<ref>{{cite book|title=Total Sportscasting: Performance, Production, and Career Development|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3qTcAwAAQBAJ&q=The+Baseball+Network&pg=PT54|author=Marc Zumoff|author2=Max Negin|date = June 20, 2014|isbn= 9781317906766}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afootinthebox.com/peter/the-baseball-network-1994-1995|title=The Baseball Network (1994-1995) — A Foot In The Box|last=Elliott|first=Peter|date=September 24, 2017|website=A Foot In The Box}}</ref> The package included coverage of games in [[prime time]] on selected nights throughout the regular season (under the branding '''''Baseball Night in America'''''),<ref>{{cite book|title=Center Field Shot: A History of Baseball on Television|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6kPQhpS-X8YC&q=The+Baseball+Network|author=James Robert Walker|author2=Robert Bellamy, Jr.|date = June 2008|page=155|isbn = 978-0803248250}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Martzke|first=Rudy|date=July 17, 1995|title=THE GOOD AND BAD OF BASEBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA|url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/1995/07/17/Sports-Media/THE-GOOD-AND-BAD-OF-BASEBALL-NIGHT-IN-AMERICA.aspx?hl=ABC&sc=0|newspaper=Sports Business Daily}}</ref><ref name="Silverman">{{cite news |last=Silverman |first=Robert |date=February 15, 1994 |title=Primetime baseball hits NBC, ABC weak nights |url=https://variety.com/1994/tv/news/primetime-baseball-hits-nbc-abc-weak-nights-118371/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Braves-Padres game to highlight TBN's 'Baseball Night in America' tonight |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AT&p_theme=at&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADA1E01CB3738B&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |newspaper=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=July 15, 1995 |access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> along with coverage of the [[Major League Baseball postseason|postseason]] and the [[World Series]].<ref name="Silverman" /> Unlike previous broadcasting arrangements with the league, there was no national "[[Major League Baseball Game of the Week|game of the week]]" during the regular season;<ref>{{cite news|last=Kent|first=Milton|date=July 17, 1995|title=Void grows on Saturday afternoon|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/07/17/void-grows-on-saturday-afternoon/|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=March 23, 2015|archive-date=January 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129153712/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1995-07-17/sports/1995198007_1_baseball-network-afternoon-baseball-grand-old-game|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=No More Baseball on Afternoon TV -- 'Baseball Night' Will Start in July|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19940403/1903562/no-more-baseball-on-afternoon-tv|author=Michael Martinez|newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]]|date=April 3, 1994}}</ref> these would be replaced by multiple weekly regional telecasts on certain nights of the week.<ref>{{cite news|title='Baseball Night in America' will focus on regionalized fan appeal |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19940717&id=coJKAAAAIBAJ&pg=1345,3484132|author=John Nelson|newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Nashua)|The Telegraph]]|date=July 17, 1994}}</ref> Additionally, The Baseball Network had exclusive coverage windows; no other broadcaster could televise MLB games during the same night that The Baseball Network was televising games. The arrangement did not last long; due to the effects of a [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|players' strike]] on the remainder of the 1994 season,<ref name=":0">{{cite news |author=Sandomir |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Sandomir |date=September 2, 1994 |title=TV SPORTS; Account Running Dry For Baseball Network |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/02/sports/tv-sports-account-running-dry-for-baseball-network.html |access-date=2025-01-21 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |page=B-9}}</ref> and poor reception from fans and critics over how the coverage was implemented,<ref>{{cite news|title=The Baseball Network Adds Up To Bad Reception|url=https://www.courant.com/1995/10/26/the-baseball-network-adds-up-to-bad-reception/|author=Jerry Trecker|newspaper=Hartford Courant|date=October 26, 1995|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Baseball Network: R.I.P. (And Don't Come Back!)|url=http://roadsidephotos.sabr.org/baseball/95-3TV.htm|author=Doug Pappas|website=roadsidephotos.sabr.org}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=John |date=October 10, 1995 |title=Baseball, networks should be ashamed |url=http://journaltimes.com/news/national/baseball-networks-should-be-ashamed/article_4858ba87-37fb-5938-8af1-b945a1da3220.html |access-date=2025-01-21 |newspaper=The Journal Times |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The Baseball Network was disbanded after the 1995 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisgreatgame.com/1995-baseball-history.html|title=1995 Thanks to Cal, Hideo—& Sonia, Too|website=This Great Game}}</ref> While NBC would maintain rights to certain games, the growing [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] network (having established its own [[Fox Sports (United States)|sports division]] two years earlier in 1994) became the league's [[Major League Baseball on Fox|new national broadcast partner]] beginning in 1996.<ref>{{cite news|title=Baseball on TV -- FOX Bid Helps Put Baseball Back on Track |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19960327/2321309/baseball-on-tv|author=Bob Sherwin|newspaper=The Seattle Times|date=March 27, 1996}}</ref> ==Background== {{see also|Major_League_Baseball_on_CBS#The_end_of_Major_League_Baseball_on_CBS}} After the fallout from [[Major League Baseball on CBS|CBS]]'s financial problems<ref name=":3">{{cite news |author=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=August 26, 1994 |title=TV SPORTS; The Baseball Network Says the Players' Analyst Struck Out |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/26/sports/tv-sports-the-baseball-network-says-the-players-analyst-struck-out.html |access-date=July 2, 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Stewart|first=Larry|date=September 15, 1994|title=BASEBALL '94: GOING, GOING . . . GONE : TV : Season's End Has Little Impact on Networks|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-09-15-sp-38865-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> from their exclusive, four-year-long (lasting from 1990 to 1993), US$1.8 billion<ref>{{cite news |last=Trecker|first=Jerry|date=March 30, 1996|title=NEW HOPE RISES FROM THE ASHES OF TBN|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1996-03-30-9603300137-story.html|work=The Hartford Courant}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Pergament|first=Alan|date=May 15, 1993|title=NETWORKS WIN WITH NEW BASEBALL CONTRACT; FANS LOSE|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/networks-win-with-new-baseball-contract-fans-lose/article_44f476cb-bd0d-5781-a484-22a22cf1e067.html|work=The Buffalo News}}</ref> television contract with Major League Baseball (a contract that ultimately cost CBS approximately $500 million),<ref>{{cite news|title=Baseball Network Plans to Bring on the Night New TV Deal Makes Saturday Afternoon Games a Thing of the Past|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SJ&s_site=mercurynews&p_multi=SJ&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB71CC84CEA49AA&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=April 3, 1994|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> Major League Baseball<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=May 10, 1993|title=TV SPORTS; For Baseball, It Looks Like a Whole New Ball Game, on TV, That Is|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/10/sports/tv-sports-for-baseball-it-looks-like-a-whole-new-ball-game-on-tv-that-is.html|work=The New York Times}}</ref> decided to go into the business of producing the telecasts themselves<ref>{{cite book |last1= Walker|last2=Bellamy|first2=James R.|first1= Robert V.|date= June 2008|title=Center Field Shot: A History of Baseball on Television|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6kPQhpS-X8YC&q=The+Baseball+Network|publisher= U of Nebraska Press|page=156|isbn= 978-0803248250}}</ref> and market these to advertisers on its own. In reaction to the failed trial with CBS,<ref>{{cite news|last=Shea|first=Jim|date=October 6, 1995|title=Baseball Network A Turnoff, But Ch. 30 Did A Good Job|url=https://www.courant.com/1995/10/06/baseball-network-a-turnoff-but-ch-30-did-a-good-job/|work=Hartford Courant|access-date=May 14, 2018|archive-date=July 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702151939/http://articles.courant.com/1995-10-06/sports/9510060419_1_baseball-network-abc-and-nbc-cable-or-network-television|url-status=live}}</ref> Major League Baseball was desperately grasping for every available dollar. To put things into proper perspective, in [[1991 Major League Baseball season|1991]], the second year of Major League Baseball's contract with CBS, CBS reported a loss of around $169 million in the third quarter of the year. A decline in advertiser interest caused revenue from the sale of commercials during CBS's baseball telecasts to plummet. All the while, CBS was still contractually obligated to pay Major League Baseball around $260 million a year through [[1993 Major League Baseball season|1993]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Stee-Rike Four!: What's Wrong With the Business of Baseball?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R4fBTgkTMKYC&q=The+Baseball+Network|page=57|isbn=9780275957063|year= 1997|last1 = Marburger|first1 = Daniel R.}}</ref> Before Major League Baseball decided to seek the services of other networks, CBS<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith|first=Claire|date=May 14, 1993|title=BASEBALL; CBS Throws a Curveball to Baseball's Owners|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/14/sports/baseball-cbs-throws-a-curveball-to-baseball-s-owners.html|work=The New York Times}}</ref> offered US$120 million in annual rights fees over a two-year period,<ref>{{cite news|title=McCarver prefers all 4 games|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/72750573.html?dids=72750573:72750573&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+06%2C+1995&author=Rudy+Martzke&pub=USA+TODAY+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=McCarver+prefers+all+4+games&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104172901/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/72750573.html?dids=72750573:72750573&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+06,+1995&author=Rudy+Martzke&pub=USA+TODAY+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=McCarver+prefers+all+4+games&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 4, 2012|author=Rudy Martzke|newspaper=USA Today|date=October 6, 1995}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Stewart|first=Larry|date=May 14, 1993|title=CBS Makes a Late Pitch to Keep Baseball in Its Picture|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-05-14-sp-35233-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McClellan|first=Steve|date=May 17, 1993|title=Two ways to go on baseball – CBS vs. ABC-NBC. (Major League Baseball joint venture preempted by CBS revenue-sharing deal)|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-13768400.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329183825/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-13768400.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015|newspaper=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=May 14, 1993|title=CBS' Unexpected Pitch Could Affect Carpenter|url=https://tulsaworld.com/archive/cbs-unexpected-pitch-could-affect-carpenter/article_1196c280-f190-52cf-9f01-5fd21ebaa896.html|work=Tulsa World}}</ref> as well as advertising revenues in excess of $150 million<ref>{{cite news |last=Miller|first=Stuart|date=May 17, 1993|title=Baseball might hit a foul|url=https://variety.com/1993/tv/news/baseball-might-hit-a-foul-106893/|work=Variety}}</ref> a season. As part of MLB's attempt to produce and market the games in-house, it hoped to provide games of regional interests to appropriate markets. Major League Baseball in the process, hoped to offer important games for divisional races to the overall market. Owners also hoped that this particular technique, combined with the additional division races created through league expansion (the [[Colorado Rockies]] and [[Miami Marlins|Florida Marlins]] had begun play the year prior) and the quest for wild card spots for the playoffs ([[1994 Major League Baseball season|1994]] was the first year of three divisions for each league and would have been the first year for the wild card) would increase<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wise|last2= Meyer|first1=Aaron N. |first2= Bruce S.|date= May 23, 1997|title=International Sports Law and Business, Volume 3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oSix-O4CmvMC&q=the+baseball+network+cbs+major+league+baseball+1994&pg=PA1701|page=1701|isbn= 9789041106025}}</ref> the national broadcast revenue for Major League Baseball in the foreseeable future. On May 28, 1993, Major League Baseball's owners overwhelmingly approved<ref name="Smith">{{cite news |last=Smith|first=Claire|date=May 29, 1993|title=BASEBALL; Baseball Flips Channel On TV Future|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/29/sports/baseball-baseball-flips-channel-on-tv-future.html|work=The New York Times}}</ref> a new network television deal without CBS involved. After a four-year hiatus, [[Major League Baseball on ABC|ABC]] and [[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC]]<ref name=":4">{{cite news |author=Nidetz |first=Steve |date=July 11, 1994 |title=With Baseball Back, NBC Pulls Out Its Own All-star Lineup |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/07/11/with-baseball-back-nbc-pulls-out-its-own-all-star-lineup/ |access-date=February 10, 2015 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> (who [[1989 Major League Baseball season|last]] aired ''[[Thursday Night Baseball]]'' games and the Saturday afternoon ''[[Major League Baseball Game of the Week|Game of the Week]]''<ref>{{cite news|title=Mulholland Ought to Grow Up, Graf Pay Up|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SA&p_theme=sa&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAFECD95B5E280D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|author=Rick Rupprecht|newspaper=[[Press Democrat]]|date=August 5, 1995|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> respectively) returned to Major League Baseball under the umbrella of a [[revenue sharing]] venture called '''The Baseball Network'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcsports.com/our-history#decade_7|title=NBC enters joint venture with ABC and MLB to form The Baseball Network|website=NBC Sports History Page|access-date=August 6, 2017|archive-date=August 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806140431/http://www.nbcsports.com/our-history#decade_7|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Name chosen for baseball's joint TV venture|url=https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1993_1149392/name-chosen-for-baseball-s-joint-tv-venture.html|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=August 25, 1993|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=For Sale: The National Pastime|url=http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Baseball+worked+out+a+risky+new+TV+deal+with+ABC+and+NBC+-+05.17.93+-+SI+Vault&expire=&urlID=432445957&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1138205%2Findex.htm&partnerID=289881|author=William Oscar Johnson|journal=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=May 17, 1993}}</ref> Under a six-year plan (with an option for two additional years<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wise|last2=Meyer|first1=Aaron N.|first2= Bruce S.|title=International Sports Law and Business, Volume 3|date=May 23, 1997|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oSix-O4CmvMC&q=the+baseball+network+1994+nbc&pg=PA1702|publisher= Kluwer Law International|page=1701|isbn=9789041106025}}</ref>), Major League Baseball was intended to receive 85[[Percentage|%]] of the first US$140 million<ref> {{cite web |url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/mlbs-winning-and-losing-efforts-to-conquer-tv-part-i-the-strike/|title=MLB's Winning and Losing Efforts to Conquer TV, Part I: The Strike|last=Edwards|first=Craig|date=February 26, 2020|website=Fan Graphs}}</ref> in advertising<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zipay |first=Steve |date=1994-06-17 |title=NHL Steals the Show And the Ratings, Too |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-nhl-steals-the-show-and-the-rati/163554832/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=[[Newsday]] |page=A94 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> revenue (or 87.5%<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bartkowiak|last2= Kiuchi|first2=Mathew J.|first1= Yuya|title=Packaging Baseball: How Marketing Embellishes the Cultural Experience|date=January 10, 2014|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IwbFSRZVMf4C&pg=PA82|page=82|isbn=9780786492510}}</ref> of advertising revenues<ref>{{cite news|title=Baseball tries for comeback, but it swings and misses.|url=http://business.highbeam.com/137540/article-1G1-17493415/baseball-tries-comeback-but-swings-and-misses|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204144018/http://business.highbeam.com/137540/article-1G1-17493415/baseball-tries-comeback-but-swings-and-misses|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 4, 2014|author=Chad Rubel|newspaper=Marketing News|date=September 11, 1995|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> and corporate sponsorship<ref>{{cite news|title=Firms May Take a Walk on Baseball Promotions|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/1995/0307/07082.html|author=Shelley Donald Coolidge|newspaper=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|date=March 7, 1995}}</ref> from the games until sales topped a specified level), 50% of the next $30 million, and 80% of any additional money. Prior to this, Major League Baseball was projected to take a projected 55% cut in rights fees and receive a typical rights fee from the networks. When compared to the previous television deal with CBS, The Baseball Network was supposed to bring in 50% less of the broadcasting revenue. The advertisers<ref>{{cite news|title=Baseball Network Fails to Wow Advertisers|url=http://adage.com/article/news/baseball-network-fails-wow-advertisers/88293/|author=Joe Mandese|newspaper=[[Advertising Age]]|date=February 28, 1994|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Verducci|first=Tom|date=April 4, 1994|title=KIDS' STUFF: A PROLIFERATION OF EXCITING YOUNG STARS HAS PUT A FRESH FACE ON THE GAME |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1994/04/04/kids-stuff-a-proliferation-of-exciting-young-stars-has-put-a-fresh-face-on-the-game|work=Sports Illustrated|location= |access-date=}}</ref> were reportedly excited about the arrangement with The Baseball Network because the new package included several changes intended to boost [[Nielsen ratings|ratings]], especially among younger viewers. Arranging broadcasts through The Baseball Network seemed, on the surface, to benefit NBC and ABC (who each contributed $10 million in start-up funds<ref>{{cite news |last=Shaprio|first=Leonard|date=September 18, 1993|title=Untangling Baseball Network's Intricacies|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19930918&id=lgocAAAAIBAJ&pg=6968,2958950&hl=en|newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune}}</ref>) since it gave them a [[monopoly]] on broadcasting Major League Baseball games. The deal was similar to a [[Brokered programming|time-buy]], instead of a traditional rights fee<ref>{{cite news |last=Kinsely|first=Michael|date=May 22, 1993|title=OLYMPIC NOTES : USA Hockey Team Not Looking Strong|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-05-22-sp-38288-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=John |date=April 20, 1995 |title=Baseball's Back on TV, But Will Fans Tune In or Turn Off? |url=https://apnews.com/43e1ee849169871f2e40b6a953f921f6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806145747/https://apnews.com/43e1ee849169871f2e40b6a953f921f6 |archive-date=2018-08-06 |work=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> situation. It also stood to benefit the networks because they reduced the risk associated with purchasing the broadcast rights outright (in stark contrast to CBS's disastrous contract with Major League Baseball from the 1990–1993 seasons). NBC and ABC were to create a loss-free environment for each other and keep an emerging [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]], which had recently made an aggressive and ultimately successful $1.58 billion bid for the [[NFL on television|television rights]] for [[National Football Conference]] games (thus, becoming a major player in the sports broadcasting game in the process), at bay. As a result of Fox's NFL gain, CBS was weakened further by [[1994 United States broadcast TV realignment|affiliate changes]], as a number of stations jumped to Fox from CBS (for example, in [[Detroit]], [[WWJ-TV]] replaced longtime CBS affiliate [[WJBK]] when Fox moved there from [[WKBD]]). Key figures involved in the creation and production for The Baseball Network: * David Alworth<ref>{{cite news|title=The Baseball Network's firing of executive adds to confusion|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1995_1284608/the-baseball-network-s-firing-of-executive-adds-to.html|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=July 7, 2012|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Pergament|first=Alan|date=May 22, 1993|title=CHANNEL 4'S BASEBALL BLACKOUT IS STRICTLY BUSH LEAGUE|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/channel-4s-baseball-blackout-is-strictly-bush-league/article_1445bd9b-84d8-5a17-b31b-4ed45a2d5bd5.html|work=The Buffalo News}}</ref> (vice president of broadcasting and production management) * [[Dick Ebersol]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Stewart|first=Larry|date=June 30, 1995|title=Ebersol in the Middle of Baseball Turmoil|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-06-30-sp-18793-story.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Levin|first=Gary|date=November 5, 1995|title=NBC likely to take ball from CBS|url=https://variety.com/1995/tv/features/nbc-likely-to-take-ball-from-cbs-99129221/|work=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Walker|last2= Bellamy|first2=James R.|first1= Robert V.|title=Center Field Shot: A History of Baseball on Television|date=June 2008|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6kPQhpS-X8YC&q=the+baseball+network+dick+ebersol+nbc&pg=PA160|publisher= U of Nebraska Press|page=160|isbn=978-0803248250}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Benson|first=Jim|date=May 18, 1993|title=Ebersol enthused over baseball deal|url=https://variety.com/1993/tv/news/ebersol-enthused-over-baseball-deal-106930/|work=Variety}}</ref> (president of NBC Sports) * [[Eddie Einhorn]]<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6">{{cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=June 20, 1995 |title=TV SPORTS; Baseball Network Faces a Full Count |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/20/sports/tv-sports-baseball-network-faces-a-full-count.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=The New York Times |page=B-14}}</ref> (vice chairman of the [[Chicago White Sox]], television producer and a member of Major League Baseball's television committee) * [[John J. Filippelli]]<ref>{{cite news|title=The Baseball Network Gears Up For First Year|url=http://articles.philly.com/1994-04-04/sports/25865072_1_abc-and-nbc-younger-viewers-bob-costas/2|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131111447/http://articles.philly.com/1994-04-04/sports/25865072_1_abc-and-nbc-younger-viewers-bob-costas/2|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|author=Bill Fleischman|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|date=April 4, 1994|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> (coordinating producer) * Barry Frank<ref name=":7">{{cite news |last=Stewart |first=Larry |date=October 5, 1995 |title=BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : A Network That Doesn't Work at All |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-10-05-sp-53407-story.html |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> (chief television negotiator) * John Gonzalez (coordinating producer of baseball for NBC Sports)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kent |first1=Milton |title=NBC's Coyle knew all the angles, and baseball is forever in his debt |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1996-02-21-1996052135-story.html |work=[[Baltimore Sun]]|access-date=January 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Nidetz|first=Steve|date=October 3, 1994|title=NBC ROLLS INTO TOWN WITH A-TEAM FOR BEARS TELECAST|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-10-03-9410030191-story.htmls|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|location= |access-date=February 9, 2016}}</ref> * [[Bill Giles (baseball)|Bill Giles]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=May 16, 1993|title=ON TELEVISION; 3 Men and a TV Contract: Viewer Discretion Advised|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/16/sports/on-television-3-men-and-a-tv-contract-viewer-discretion-advised.html|work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=May 28, 1993|title=TV SPORTS; The Sad Realization Of Regionalization|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/30/sports/tv-sports-the-sad-realization-of-regionalization.html|work=The New York Times}}</ref> ([[Philadelphia Phillies]] president and chairman of Major League Baseball's television committee) * Richard Levin<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.deseret.com/1995/6/23/19178591/baseball-brief/|title=BASEBALL BRIEF|date=June 23, 1995|website=Deseret News}}</ref> (baseball spokesman) * [[Ross Levinsohn]] * Jon Litner<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcuniversal.com/content/jon-litner|title=Jon Litner|last1=Simpson|first1=Gabrielle|date=December 3, 2014|website=NBC Universal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402131759/http://www.nbcuniversal.com/content/jon-litner|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> (vice president of business affairs) * Jack O'Hara<ref>{{cite news |date=July 16, 1994|title='Baseball Night in America' hopes to be a hit on Mondays|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19940716&id=1c0zAAAAIBAJ&pg=4746,4461857&hl=en|newspaper=Gainesville Sun}}</ref> (executive producer of ABC Sports) * Andy Rosenberg<ref name=":4" /> (director of 1995 World Series, NBC Sports) * Ken Schanzer<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=May 10, 1993|title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Television Chief For Baseball|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/09/business/the-media-business-television-chief-for-baseball.html|work=The New York Times}}</ref> (president<ref>{{cite news|title=Madden slips across border|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/19374114.html?dids=19374114:19374114&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+11%2C+1995&author=Rudy+Martzke&pub=USA+TODAY+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Madden+slips+across+border&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106223255/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/19374114.html?dids=19374114:19374114&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+11,+1995&author=Rudy+Martzke&pub=USA+TODAY+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Madden+slips+across+border&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 6, 2012|author=Rudy Martzke|newspaper=USA Today|date=August 11, 1995|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> and chief operating officer<ref>{{cite news|title=Untangling Baseball Network's Intricacies|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-965330.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329154922/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-965330.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015|author=Leonard Shaprio|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=September 17, 1993|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref>) * [[Bud Selig]]<ref name="Smith"/> (owner of the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] and acting [[Commissioner of Baseball (MLB)|commissioner of Major League Baseball]]) * Ray Stallone (director of marketing communications<ref name=":8">{{cite news|title=TV Exex Say Baseball Scabs Don't Rate|url=https://variety.com/1995/tv/features/tv-exex-say-baseball-scabs-don-t-rate-99124807/|newspaper=Variety|date=February 12, 1995|access-date=December 11, 2014}}</ref>) * Bill Webb<ref>{{cite news |last=Barnes|first=Mike|date=March 8, 2017|title=Bill Webb, Top-Notch Baseball Director for Fox Sports, Dies at 70|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bill-webb-dead-fox-sports-baseball-director-was-70-942582|work=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Fang|first=Ken|date=March 8, 2017|title=Famed Fox/SNY baseball director Bill Webb passes away at the age of 70|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/famed-foxsny-baseball-director-bill-webb-passes-away-at-the-age-of-70.html|work=Awful Announcing}}</ref> (director of 1995 World Series, ABC Sports) * [[Tom Werner]]<ref>{{cite news |date=May 10, 1993|title=ABC, NBC mull MLB pact|url=https://variety.com/1993/tv/news/abc-nbc-mull-mlb-pact-106687/|work=Variety}}</ref> (owner of the [[San Diego Padres]] and a member of Major League Baseball's television committee) This wasn't the first time that Major League Baseball considered creating its very own television network. Back in 1988, then [[Commissioner of Baseball|commissioner]] [[Peter Ueberroth]] contemplated creating an all-baseball [[Cable television in the United States#Basic cable|basic cable]] channel<ref>{{cite news |date=October 31, 1988|title=NATIONAL BASEBALL COMPANY?|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1988/10/31/national-baseball-company-nbcs-world-series-telecasts-showed-its-still-the-best-at-covering-the-national-pastime|work=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> that would show as many as four games each night. Ueberroth wanted to set up a national cable package for one or two nights a week without undercutting the value of some teams' local television deals. This of course, would soon happen when Major League Baseball signed a deal to broadcast games on [[ESPN Major League Baseball|ESPN]], but prior to this, Ueberroth envisioned the owners pooling games already being shown on [[Major League Baseball on regional sports networks|regional pay-television services]]. Viewers would see (and pay for) the telecast of the team in their market if a game was scheduled; otherwise, they would be sent games of regional or divisional interest. Eventually, baseball could have also shared the channel with the [[National Hockey League|NHL]] or [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] in the off-season. It wasn't until January 1, 2009 (nearly 14 years since the cancellation of the Baseball Network) that an all-baseball cable channel, [[MLB Network]] (created and backed by MLB)<ref name="sportsbusiness">{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/58507|first1=Eric|last1=Fisher|first2=John|last2=Ourand|date=March 31, 2008|title=Fitting the pieces of the MLB Network|publisher=Sports Business Journal|access-date=April 15, 2008|archive-date=April 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407033601/http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/58507|url-status=dead}}</ref> would finally come to fruition and would prove to be much more successful than the ill-fated Baseball Network. ==Coverage== The Baseball Network kicked off its coverage on July 12, 1994, on [[NBC]] with the [[1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]]<ref name=":9">{{cite news |last=Frager |first=Ray |date=July 8, 1994 |title=Costas hoping Baseball Night keeps grip |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/07/08/costas-hoping-baseball-night-keeps-grip/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Dearth|first=Sonny|date=July 15, 1994|title=1ST GAME GOOD START FOR BASEBALL NETWORK|url=https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-19940715-1994-07-15-9407150020-story.html|work=Daily Press|location= |access-date=}}</ref> from [[Three Rivers Stadium]] in [[Pittsburgh]].<ref>{{cite news|title=ABCs (and NBCs) of TBN's MLB plan|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED3D4C4865105C1&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|author=Barry Horn|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|date=July 6, 1994|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> This was NBC's first telecast of a Major League Baseball game since Game 5 of the [[1989 National League Championship Series]] between the [[1989 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]] and [[1989 Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs]] on October 9 of [[1989 Major League Baseball season|that year]]. The NBC broadcast team consisted of [[Bob Costas]]<ref name=":10">{{YouTube|title=1994 All-Star Game Open|id=2v3pmoh8fLY}}</ref> on play-by-play, with [[Joe Morgan]] and [[Bob Uecker]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=October 15, 1995|title=SIGNOFF;World Series, as Told by Bob Uecker|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/15/tv/signoff-world-series-as-told-by-bob-uecker.html|work=The New York Times}}</ref> as analysts.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 16, 1994|title=Uecker, Morgan named baseball analysts for NBC|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/02/16/Uecker-Morgan-named-baseball-analysts-for-NBC/8267761374800/?spt=su|work=UPI }}</ref> Costas,<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=October 8, 1995|title=TELEVISION;Bob Costas Calls It as He Regretfully Sees It|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/08/arts/television-bob-costas-calls-it-as-he-regretfully-sees-it.html|work=The New York Times}}</ref> a veteran presence at NBC, had been NBC's secondary baseball play-by-play announcer behind [[Vin Scully]] during the 1980s. Morgan, who was also working for [[ESPN]] at the time, had spent two years at NBC in the mid-1980s and two years at ABC from 1988 to 1989. Uecker, the longtime voice of the [[Milwaukee Brewers]], returned to national television for the first time since he worked for ABC in the 1970s and early 1980s. [[Greg Gumbel]] hosted the pre game show;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/greg-gumbel-10-09-1999/|title=Greg Gumbel|date=September 10, 1999|publisher=CBS News}}</ref> this was one of his first assignments for NBC after having left [[CBS Sports]] following that network's coverage of the [[1994 College World Series]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Greg Gumbel Finds Saying Farewell Can Be Painful|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-06-10-9406100238-story.html|author=Steve Nidetz|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=June 10, 1994}}</ref> Gumbel had also previously served as the secondary play-by-play announcer (behind [[Sean McDonough]]) for CBS's baseball coverage, calling the [[1993 American League Championship Series]] along the way with [[Jim Kaat]]. Helping with interviews were [[Hannah Storm]] (reporting from the [[American League]] dugout) and [[Johnny Bench]] (reporting from the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] dugout). The 1994 All-Star Game reportedly sold out all its advertising slots. This was considered an impressive financial accomplishment, given that one 30-second spot cost US$300,000.<ref>{{cite news|title=Opening Day a New Wrinkle TV Coverage|url=http://alb.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=5715674|author=John Nelson|newspaper=[[Florida Times-Union]]|date=April 3, 1994|access-date=July 2, 2012|archive-date=February 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203054008/http://alb.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=5715674|url-status=dead}}</ref> NBC station [[WEEK-TV]] in [[Peoria, Illinois]] suffered significant transmitter difficulties throughout most of the 1994 All-Star Game telecast, knocking its signal off the air until one hour after the game's conclusion. The station would later air an abbreviated version of the game the following weekend due to its transmitter problems during the live NBC broadcast. ABC, meanwhile, was able to have its primary broadcast team from 1989 return intact. [[Al Michaels]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=July 7, 1995|title=TV SPORTS; Demise of a Network Opens Baseball Format|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/07/sports/tv-sports-demise-of-a-network-opens-baseball-format.html|work=The New York Times}}</ref> served as the play-by-play announcer once again. [[Tim McCarver]], who had just spent four years at CBS, returned as an analyst along with [[Jim Palmer]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Tyson Fight Takes a Big Wad to See|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=FW&s_site=fortwayne&p_multi=FW&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB6CD0EEE9C8FAF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|newspaper=[[Fort Wayne News-Sentinel]]|date=August 18, 1995|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> On the subject of Michaels returning to baseball for the first time since the [[1989 Loma Prieta earthquake|Loma Prieta earthquake]] interrupted the [[1989 World Series]], Jim Palmer said, "Here Al is, having done five games since [[1989 Major League Baseball season|1989]], and steps right in. It's hard to comprehend how one guy could so amaze." ===''Baseball Night in America''=== {{for|[[prime time]] regular season games airing on the [[Major League Baseball on Fox|Fox]] network since [[2012 Major League Baseball season|2012]]|Baseball Night in America}} [[File:ABCNBCBaseballNightinAmerica.jpg|thumb|right|The list of dates for ''Baseball Night in America'' on [[Major League Baseball on ABC|ABC]] and [[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC]] respectively for the [[1994 Major League Baseball season|1994]]<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Chad|first=Norman |date=July 19, 1994|title=FOUR MORE YEARS, THANK GOODNESS|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/07/19/four-more-years-thank-goodness/93ee0d5e-c3b7-4b8c-a250-d21ca76ce590/?noredirect=on|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=April 4, 1994 |title=BASEBALL: TV SPORTS; Network Baseball's Unopening Day |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/04/sports/baseball-tv-sports-network-baseball-s-unopening-day.html |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Nidetz|first=Steve|date=July 25, 1994|title=BASEBALL NETWORK EVOLVING SLOWLY|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-07-25-9407250184-story.html|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{cite news |last=Koehler |first=Robert |date=July 10, 1994 |title=Networking the Ballparks : ABC and NBC Take Separate Turns at Bat to Drive Home Regular and Post-Season Play |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-10-tv-13796-story.html |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref name="Silverman"/> and [[1995 Major League Baseball season|1995]]<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.collectors.com/entertainment-item/1995-abc-baseball-night-in-america-11x14-framed-original-vi/6796193841165331363|title=1995 ABC Baseball Night in America 11x14 Framed ORIGINAL Vintage Advertisement|website=Collectors.com}}</ref> seasons.]] After the All-Star Game was complete,<ref>{{cite news |date=March 31, 1994|title=Two stations forming new baseball network|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2026&dat=19940331&id=3bwjAAAAIBAJ&pg=4448,3528089&hl=en|newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News}}</ref> ABC took over coverage with what was to be their weekly slate of games.<ref>{{cite news|title=Michaels will carry on till baseball's last inning|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/20525750.html?dids=20525750:20525750&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+16%2C+1995&author=Jim+Baker&pub=Boston+Herald&desc=Michaels+will+carry+on+till+baseball%27s+last+inning&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131212041/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/20525750.html?dids=20525750:20525750&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+16,+1995&author=Jim+Baker&pub=Boston+Herald&desc=Michaels+will+carry+on+till+baseball's+last+inning&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|author=Jim Baker|newspaper=[[Boston Herald]]|date=July 16, 1995|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> ABC was scheduled to televise six<ref>{{cite news |last=Fang|first=Ken|date=October 25, 2016|title=Does the MLB on TBS package really benefit fans and viewers?|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/2016/does-the-mlb-on-tbs-package-really-benefit-fans-and-viewers.html|work=Awful Announcing}}</ref> regular season games on Saturdays<ref>{{cite news |date=19 July 1995 |title=ABC 'Baseball Night' takes ratings beating |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=news/0EB77275D5E56093&f=basic |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250320225639/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=news/0EB77275D5E56093&f=basic |archive-date=2025-03-20 |access-date=2025-03-20 |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |page=2C |via=NewsBank}}</ref> or Mondays<ref>{{cite news |last=Larry|first=Stewart|date=July 21, 1995|title=ABC Getting a Major Chance With British Open Coverage|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-07-21-sp-26481-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> in [[prime time]]. NBC<ref>{{cite news|date=September 8, 1995|title=Abc No. 1|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-09-08/lifestyle/9509070266_1_average-rating-abc-latest-weekly-ratings|newspaper=Sun Sentinel|access-date=March 23, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402130948/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-09-08/lifestyle/9509070266_1_average-rating-abc-latest-weekly-ratings|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=September 19, 1995|title=List of Week's TV Ratings|url=https://apnews.com/dcbad0a4575473bbb942b436f8cfd464|work=Associated Press News}}</ref> would then pick up where ABC left off by televising six more regular season Friday night<ref name="Shapario">{{cite news |last=Shapario|first=Leonard|date=October 18, 1995|title=CBS DENIES REPORT OF BROADCAST DEAL|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/10/18/cbs-denies-report-of-broadcast-deal/4260adc6-8b3e-482a-a0ce-3394cba0a1c5/|newspaper=The Washington Post|location= |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title='Blockbuster' Deal Ensures ACC TV Coverage in Every Sport|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CS&s_site=thestate&p_multi=CS&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB584AF371E1A1C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|newspaper=[[The State (newspaper)|The State]]|date=August 26, 1995|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Former Raiders Great Says Team Belongs in Oakland|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RO&p_theme=ro&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAEA43082287179&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|newspaper=The Roanoke Times|date=July 15, 1995|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> games. Every ''Baseball Night in America'' game was scheduled to begin at 8&nbsp;p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Time]] (or 8&nbsp;p.m. [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific Time]] if the game occurred on the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]]<ref>{{cite news|title='Baseball Night in America' Means No Day Games Today|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SJ&s_site=mercurynews&p_multi=SJ&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB71D5737FC17D6&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|newspaper=[[San Jose Mercury News]]|date=July 16, 1994|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref>). A single starting time gave the networks the opportunity to broadcast one game and then, simultaneously, cut to another game when there was a break in action. The networks had exclusive rights for the twelve regular season dates, in that no regional or national cable service (such as [[ESPN Major League Baseball|ESPN]] or [[Major League Baseball on superstations|superstations]] like [[Chicago]]'s [[WGN-TV]]<ref name=":1" /> or [[Atlanta]]'s [[Braves TBS Baseball|WTBS]]) or over-the-air<ref>{{Cite news |last=Craig |first=Jack |date=1995-08-11 |title=Sox get new player tomorrow - Ch. 68 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-sox-get-new-player-tomo/163554557/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=The Boston Globe |page=83 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> broadcaster was allowed<ref>{{cite news|title=Baseball Network package tunes out Braves-Cubs today|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AT&p_theme=at&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADA1F34D943A91&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|author=Prentis Rogers|newspaper=[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|date=August 25, 1995|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> to telecast a Major League Baseball game on those dates. ''Baseball Night in America''<ref name=":12" /> (which premiered<ref>{{YouTube|title=KAPP 35 ABC Commercials July 13, 1994|id=hLedPa6SkpM}}</ref> on July 16, 1994) usually aired up to fourteen games<ref>{{cite news|title=The Baseball Network May Strike Out on 1st Pitch|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RO&p_theme=ro&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAEA3A978338713&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|newspaper=[[The Roanoke Times]]|date=June 11, 1994|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> based on the viewers' region (affiliates chose games of local interest to carry) as opposed to a traditional coast-to-coast format.<ref>{{cite news|title=Baseball on Tv Won't Be The Baseball That You're Used to the Picture Tube Will Still Be The Same Shape (probably). Very Little Else Will Be Familiar, However.|url=http://articles.philly.com/1994-04-02/sports/25864705_1_baseball-network-tv-simple-formula|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129094159/http://articles.philly.com/1994-04-02/sports/25864705_1_baseball-network-tv-simple-formula|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 29, 2015|author=Jayson Stark|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=April 2, 1994|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> Normally, announcers who represented each of the teams playing in the respective games were paired with each other. More specifically, on regional Saturday night broadcasts and all non-"national" broadcasts, TBN let the two lead announcers from the opposing teams call the games involving their teams together. Games involving either of the two Canadian-based MLB teams at the time, the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] and [[Montreal Expos]], were not always included in the ''Baseball Night in America'' package. Canadian rightsholders were allowed to broadcast the games. When [[Major League Baseball on TSN|TSN]] (which owned the cable rights to the Blue Jays and Expos) covered the games in Canada, they re-broadcast the ''BNIA'' feed across their network. Typically, if the Blue Jays were idle for the day, the Expos would be featured on TSN. Also, [[CBET-DT|CBET]] (the [[CBC Television|CBC]] affiliate in [[Windsor, Ontario]]) would air Blue Jays games if the [[Detroit Tigers]] were not playing at home that night or if the Blue Jays were scheduled to play in Detroit. Whether or not the game would air in the opposing team's market would depend on which time zone they were from, or if they shared a market with another team. All of the 1994 games aired on ABC; due to the strike<ref>{{cite news |author=Armour |first=Terry |date=July 15, 1994 |title=Abc Hopes There's No Baseball Strike, But Just in Case . . . |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/07/15/abc-hopes-theres-no-baseball-strike-but-just-in-case/ |access-date=July 2, 2012 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=July 30, 1994|title=Networks bracing for baseball strike|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19940730&id=4c0zAAAAIBAJ&pg=5474,8535691&hl=en|newspaper=Gainesville Sun}}</ref> NBC was unable<ref>{{cite news |last=Lammer|first=Patrick|date=December 31, 1994|title=Simpson saga 1994 Lammys story of the year|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19941231&id=dMwwAAAAIBAJ&pg=6604,4376687&hl=en|newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner}}</ref> to air its slate of games, which were supposed to begin on August 26.<ref>{{cite news|title=Baseball gets a late start on network television|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19940709&id=zs0zAAAAIBAJ&pg=3829,2471957|author=Larry Stewart|newspaper=[[Gainesville Sun]]|date=July 9, 1994|access-date=December 12, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Felts|first=Jerry|date=July 9, 1994|title=Network good news for fans|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19940609&id=aoQ0AAAAIBAJ&pg=2330,1335653&hl=en|newspaper=Times Daily}}</ref> {{blockquote|Hi everyone, and welcome to ''Baseball Night in America'', I'm [[Al Michaels]]. And those of us at [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] are delighted to be back in the business of broadcasting [[Major League Baseball|baseball]] for the first time since the [[1989 World Series]]. And it's a brand new concept, we'll have six<ref>{{cite news |last=Mifflin|first=Lawrie|date=June 20, 1995|title=SAFE AT HOME|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-06-20-9506200008-story.html|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|location=[[Chicago]]|access-date=February 9, 2016}}</ref> [[1994 Major League Baseball season|regular season]] games on ABC, including tonight and again on [[Monday Night Baseball|Monday night]]. Then, we'll bring you the [[Division Series|Division playoffs]] in October, part of baseball's new expanded playoff format, and the [[1994 World Series|World Series]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Bode|first=Gus|date=July 25, 1995|title=More tales of The Baseball Network. ABC lost the 1994 World Series; this was supposed to be NBC's year. Instead, they split the spoils. Who got the better of the deal? Let's see. The networks each get 6 percent of the advertising revenues; baseball gets 88 percent. Call it a draw.|url=https://dailyegyptian.com/51805/archives/more-tales-of-the-baseball-network-abc-lost-the-1994-world-series-this-was-supposed-to-be-nbcs-year-instead-they-split-the-spoils-who-got-the-better-of-the-deal-lets-see-the-networks-each-get/|work=The Daily Egyptian}}</ref> in late October. ''Baseball Night in America'', a regionalized<ref>{{cite news |last=Frager|first=Ray|date=December 17, 1993|title=Enterprising Costas stays at NBC for next generation of baseball|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/bs-xpm-1993-12-17-1993351049-story.html|work=The Baltimore Sun}}</ref> concept, you'll see a game in your region that's important to those of you in those particular areas. It also gives us the capability of updating games as never before. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the premiere of ''Baseball Night in America'' as we take you out to the [[List of Major League Baseball stadiums|ballgames]].|[[Major League Baseball on ABC|ABC]]'s Al Michaels on site at [[1994 Seattle Mariners season|Seattle]]'s [[Kingdome]] on the premiere broadcast of ''Baseball Night in America'' on July 16, 1994.}} ===Postseason coverage=== {{see also|1995 American League Championship Series|1995 National League Championship Series}} In even-numbered years, NBC would have the rights to the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] and both [[League Championship Series]] while ABC would have the [[World Series]]<ref name="TBNTales">{{cite news|title=More tales of The Baseball Network|url=http://archives.dailyegyptian.com/imported-20111018201841/1995/7/26/more-tales-of-the-baseball-network-abc-lost-the-1994-world-s.html|newspaper=SIU Daily Egyptian|date=July 26, 1995|access-date=February 12, 2015|quote=ABC lost the 1994 World Series; this was supposed to be NBC's year. Instead, they split the spoils. Who got the better of the deal? Let's see. The networks each get 6 percent of the advertising revenues; baseball gets 88 percent. Call it a draw.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205073735/http://archives.dailyegyptian.com/imported-20111018201841/1995/7/26/more-tales-of-the-baseball-network-abc-lost-the-1994-world-s.html|archive-date=December 5, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> and newly created [[Division Series]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Quindt |first=Fritz |date=1994-07-15 |title=Once a week, The Baseball Network will wield control over all but the inevitable |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/ccaxyyymekjahivndzztmipilvhmbaix_ip-10-166-46-147_1737423755593 |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |page=25 |via=[[GenealogyBank.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=August 24, 1993|title=Baseball players unlikely to endorse new playoffs|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1926&dat=19930824&id=x2ArAAAAIBAJ&pg=3629,6403902&hl=en|newspaper=The Daily Reporter}}</ref> In odd-numbered years, the postseason and All-Star Game<ref>{{cite web |url=https://marlinmaniac.com/2014/03/16/greatest-moments-marlins-history-15-jeff-conine-mvp/|title=Greatest Moments in Marlins History: #15 Jeff Conine MVP|last=Salgado|first=Andy|date=April 8, 2013|website=Marlin Maniac}}</ref> television rights were supposed to alternate. When ABC and NBC last covered baseball together from 1976 to 1989, ABC had the rights to the World Series in odd-numbered years while NBC would cover the All-Star Game and both League Championship Series in said years. Likewise, this process would alternate in even numbered years, with ABC getting the All-Star Game<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=all&p=6&item=T:39709|title=Sixty-Sixth Annual All-Star Game {The 66th Annual All-Star Game} 1995 (TV)|last= |first= |date= |website=The Paley Center for Media|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=all&p=4&item=T:39708|title=All-Star Selection Special {Baseball}, the 1995 (TV)|last= |first= |date= |website=The Paley Center for Media|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> and both League Championship Series in years that NBC had the World Series.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kent|first=Milton|date=October 23, 1995|title=At least NBC getting a chance to spread its baseball feathers|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-10-23-1995296008-story.html|work=The Baltimore Sun}}</ref> The networks also promised not to begin any World Series weekend broadcasts after 7:20&nbsp;p.m. Eastern Time.<ref>{{cite news|title=It's A Whole, New Ballgame |url=http://articles.philly.com/1993-10-29/sports/25934892_1_abc-and-nbc-ken-schanzer-league-championship-series|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129093745/http://articles.philly.com/1993-10-29/sports/25934892_1_abc-and-nbc-ken-schanzer-league-championship-series|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 29, 2015|author=Bill Fleischman|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=October 29, 1993|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> When CBS held the television rights, postseason games routinely aired on the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] at 8:30&nbsp;p.m. at the earliest. This meant that [[Joe Carter]]'s dramatic [[1993 World Series|World Series]] clinching home run in 1993 occurred after midnight in the East. As CBS' baseball coverage progressed, CBS dropped the 8 p.m. pregame coverage (in favor of airing [[sitcom]]s such as ''[[Evening Shade]]'') before finally starting its coverage at 8:30&nbsp;p.m. Eastern Time. The first pitch would generally arrive at approximately 8:45&nbsp;p.m. ABC won the rights to the first dibs at the World Series in August 1993 after [[ESPN on ABC|ABC Sports]] president Dennis Swanson won a coin toss<ref>{{Cite news |date=1995-09-13 |title=ABC Wins Coin Toss for Game 7 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-abc-wins-coin-toss/163555129/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |page=D-3 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=ABC flips for Game 7 of Series|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/09/13/abc-flips-for-game-7-of-series/|author=Milton Kent|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|date=September 15, 1995|access-date=July 2, 2012|archive-date=January 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129093800/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1995-09-13/sports/1995256119_1_baseball-network-telecast-game-7|url-status=live}}</ref> by calling "heads." Ken Schanzer,<ref>{{cite news|title=A ride into the unknown|author=Peter Pascarelli|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n6_v217/ai_14995121/|newspaper=[[Sporting News]]|date=February 7, 1994|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> who was the [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] of The Baseball Network, handled the coin toss. Schanzer agreed to the coin toss by ABC and NBC at the outset as the means of determining the order in which they would divide up the playoffs. What separated The Baseball Network from previous television deals with Major League Baseball, and was by far the most controversial part of the deal, was that not all postseason games (aside from the World Series) were guaranteed to be shown nationally.<ref>{{cite news|title=Television / Analysis -- Who's on TV? Playoff Format One Big Mess - - Baseball Network Won't Show All Games|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19951002/2144715/television--analysis|author=Mike Burton|newspaper=The Seattle Times|date=October 2, 1995|access-date=July 11, 2014|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714193056/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19951002&slug=2144715|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Viewers Get Playoff Coverage Bonanza|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1995/10/03/viewers-get-playoff-coverage-bonanza/|author=Steve Nidetz|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=October 3, 1995|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Baseball Should Listen to Berman|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/428247/BASEBALL-SHOULD-LISTEN-TO-BERMAN.html?pg=all|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219065031/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/428247/BASEBALL-SHOULD-LISTEN-TO-BERMAN.html?pg=all|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 19, 2014|author=Bruce Jenkins|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=July 16, 1995}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{cite news |last=Bruton |first=Mike |date=October 5, 1995 |title=Tbn TV's Baseball Nonsense |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/oct/05/tbn-tvs-baseball-nonsense/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref> To increase viewership by preventing games from being played in the afternoon (the league was the only professional sports league in the country to play postseason games on weekday afternoons), the National League and American League's division and championship series games were instead played simultaneously<ref name=":14">{{cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=October 15, 1993 |title=WORLD SERIES: TV SPORTS; CBS Is Getting Out Just as It Gets It Right |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/15/sports/world-series-tv-sports-cbs-is-getting-out-just-as-it-gets-it-right.html |access-date=2025-01-21 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> in primetime, and affiliates could only air one game each night, which were again determined regionally.<ref name="whosonroutine">{{cite news|title=TV's Coverage of Playoffs a 'Who's On?' Routine|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PG&p_theme=pg&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADF8364A4D1DFC&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=October 1, 1995|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hooper |first=Ernest |date=1995-09-29 |title=Baseball strikes out - again |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-baseball-strikes-out-a/163550395/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |page=2C |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> If one playoff series had already concluded, the remaining games would be aired nationally.<ref>{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Chuck|date=October 3, 1995|title=During Baseball Playoffs, No National TV Coverage|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19951003/2144801/during-baseball-playoffs-no-national-tv-coverage|newspaper=The Seattle Times|access-date=May 24, 2015|archive-date=May 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524115805/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19951003&slug=2144801|url-status=live}}</ref> Ken Schanzer, The Baseball Network's president<ref>{{cite news |date=June 20, 1998|title=For '48 Indians, Remembering Good Ol' Days is Series Business|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1998/06/20/for-48-indians-remembering-good-ol-days-is-series-business/216ccaf6-f089-42c4-ba0b-b86729fc5652/|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> said "We've been given a responsibility to broadcast the games regionally<ref name=":15">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=March 31, 1994 |title=Baseball; Anheuser-Busch Backs Network |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/31/sports/baseball-anheuser-busch-backs-network.html |access-date=February 9, 2016 |work=[[The New York Times]] |location= |page=B17}}</ref> and, within that context, we tried to come up with a plan that makes it as exciting as possible". On that end, The Baseball Network implemented a strategy that included cutting in to one game with highlights from other games—sometimes between batters, and more often, between pitches. Therefore, viewers watching one divisional series or League Championship Series game would often see action continuing on one reduced screen while a clip from another game is shown on another screen and vice versa. The theory was that by inserting highlights, even live action from other games, into the natural lulls, The Baseball Network could produce an exciting, technology-enhanced experience. Despite the frustration of not being able to see both League Championship Series on a national level, the 1995 LCS averaged a 13.1 rating.<ref>{{cite web|title=Major League Baseball Playoff Ratings, 1976-2007|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/10/02/nielsen-major-league-baseball-playoffs-tv-ratings/1047/|author=Bill Gorman|website=[[TV by the Numbers]]|publisher=[[Zap2It]]|date=October 2, 2008|access-date=July 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219074409/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/10/02/nielsen-major-league-baseball-playoffs-tv-ratings/1047/|archive-date=December 19, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Besides the [[1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1994 All-Star Game]] and Game 6 of the [[1995 World Series]],<ref>{{YouTube|title=MLB World Series 28.10.1995 Cleveland Indians VS Atlanta Braves (Game 6)|id=yHkstoqKOxU}}</ref> arguably, the most famous Baseball Network broadcast was Game 5 of the [[1995 American League Division Series]] between the [[1995 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] and the [[1995 Seattle Mariners season|Seattle Mariners]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.seattlemet.com/articles/2015/9/23/crazy-freaking-castoffs-mariners-1995|title=Crazy Freaking Castoffs|last=Halverson|first=Matthew|date=September 23, 2015|website=Seattle Met}}</ref> broadcast on ABC.<ref>{{cite book|title=Baseball's Greatest Series: Yankees, Mariners, and the 1995 Matchup That ...|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SViiPVoClWAC&q=The+Baseball+Network+1995&pg=PA101|author=Chris Donnelly|date = January 15, 2010|page=101l|isbn = 9780813549132}}</ref> It ended with the Mariners winning in 11 innings (via [[Edgar Martínez]]'s game winning [[The Double (Seattle Mariners)|double]]), to clinch both their first postseason series win, and their first ever trip to the [[1995 American League Championship Series|American League Championship Series]]. However, because the public would only be permitted to see one postseason game per day, the Division Series between the Mariners and Yankees would only be seen in its entirety by 20[[Percentage|%]] of the country.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=https://www.baseballessential.com/news/2015/10/07/revisiting-the-1995-division-series/|title=Revisiting the 1995 Division Series|last=Rabinowitz|first=Gershon|date=October 7, 2015|website=Baseball Essential}}</ref> Meanwhile, 30% could see the [[1995 Atlanta Braves season|Braves]]-[[1995 Colorado Rockies season|Rockies]] series, 27% could see the [[1995 Cincinnati Reds season|Reds]]-[[1995 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Dodgers]] series, and 23% could see the [[1995 Boston Red Sox season|Red Sox]]-[[1995 Cleveland Indians season|Indians]] series.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=October 3, 1995|title=PLAYOFFS;This Season, TV Doesn't Have It Covered|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/03/sports/playoffs-this-season-tv-doesn-t-have-it-covered.html|work=The New York Times}}</ref> For example, in [[New York City]], [[WNBC|WNBC-TV]] broadcast the first two games of the Yankees-Mariners series, while [[WABC-TV]] aired the final three contests. In the neighboring [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]]–[[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]] television market in [[Connecticut]], NBC affiliate [[WVIT]] aired the first two games of the Boston–Cleveland series, but ABC station [[WTNH]] would alternate with the Yankees in Game 3, the Red Sox in Game 4, and the Yankees in Game 5. In [[Ohio]], NBC stations in [[WKYC|Cleveland]], [[WTOV-TV|Steubenville]], [[WCMH-TV|Columbus]], [[WNWO-TV|Toledo]], and [[WFMJ-TV|Youngstown]] would get to see the Red Sox–Indians series. Viewers of [[WLWT]] in [[Cincinnati]] and all other cities would receive the Reds–Dodgers series. The remaining telecasts, on [[WSYX]], the ABC affiliate in Columbus, would be of the Indians series. In [[South Dakota]], viewers would get the Braves-Rockies series, while [[North Dakota]]ns would have access to the Red Sox-Indians series. Only about 20%<ref>{{cite news |last=Verducci|first=Tom|date=September 29, 2020|title=Expanded Playoffs Helped MLB Heal in 1995. What About 2020?|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/09/29/baseball-playoffs-yankees-mariners-1995|work=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> of the country in itself, had access of the 15-inning long second game of the Mariners-Yankees series. ===Criticisms=== A major problem with ''Baseball Night in America''<ref>{{cite news |last=Andriesen|first=David|date=July 20, 1994|title=New TV deal a shame for baseball fans|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19940720&id=-TJPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6842,1957825&hl=en|newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record}}</ref> was the idea that viewers could not watch "important" games. Marty Noble put it in perspective by saying "With the ''Network'' determining when games will begin and which games are made available to which [[media market|television markets]], Major League Baseball can conduct parts of its pennant races in relative secrecy." What added to the troubles of The Baseball Network was the fact that ''Baseball Night in America'' held exclusivity<ref>{{cite news |last=Shea|first=Jim|date=June 16, 1994|title=TBN REDUCES PLAYING FIELD|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1994-07-16-9407160252-story.html|work=[[Hartford Courant]]}}</ref> over every market. This most severely impacted markets with two teams, specifically [[New York City]] ([[New York Mets|Mets]]<ref>{{cite web |date=August 7, 1995 |title=Swing and a Miss Baseball's Attempt To Juice Up The Game May Leave A Sour Taste Come Playoff Time |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1995/08/07/swing-and-a-miss-baseballs-attempt-to-juice-up-the-game-may-leave-a-sour-taste-come-playoff-time |website=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> and [[New York Yankees|Yankees]]), to the [[Greater Los Angeles Area]] ([[Los Angeles Dodgers|Dodgers]] and [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|Angels]]), [[Chicago]]<ref name=":1" /> ([[Chicago Cubs|Cubs]] and [[Chicago White Sox|White Sox]]), the [[San Francisco Bay Area]] ([[San Francisco Giants|Giants]] and [[Oakland Athletics|Athletics]]), and to a lesser extent, the state of [[Texas]] ([[Houston Astros]] and [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]). For example, if ''Baseball Night in America'' showed a Yankees game, this meant that nobody in New York could see that night's Mets game and vice versa. Furthermore, Chicago's NBC affiliate, [[WMAQ-TV]] was unable to televise any Friday night [[1995 Chicago Cubs season|Cubs]] game from [[Wrigley Field]].<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last=Nidetz|first=Steve|date=August 23, 1995|title=CUBS VIEWERS THROWN A CURVE BY TBN BLACKOUT|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-08-23-9508230300-story.html|work=Chicago Tribune|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Even though Wrigley Field had lights installed and was capable of holding night games since [[1988 Chicago Cubs season|1988]], a city ordinance at the time, prohibited regular season Friday and Saturday night games to be played there. The Baseball Network regardless, owned the broadcasting rights to those entire dates. Even in markets with only one team, the ABC or NBC affiliate could still not broadcast that team's game if the start time was not appropriate for the time zone. For example, if the [[Detroit Tigers]] (the only team in their market) played a road game in [[Kingdome|Seattle]], [[Overstock.com Coliseum|Oakland]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Craig |first=Jack |date=1995-08-22 |title=Cashing in, hand over fist |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-cashing-in-hand-over-f/163555508/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=The Boston Globe |page=55 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> or [[Angel Stadium of Anaheim|Anaheim]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kent |first=Milton |date=1995-08-25 |title=Baseball Network strikes out again for Oriole fans |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/08/25/baseball-network-strikes-out-again-for-oriole-fans/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}</ref> beginning at 8 p.m. Pacific Time (a late game), Detroit's Baseball Network affiliate (either [[WXYZ-TV]] or [[WDIV-TV|WDIV]], depending on the network which held the rights to the game) could not air the game because the start time was too late for the Detroit area (11 p.m. Eastern Time<ref>{{Cite news |last=Niedzielka |first=Amy |date=1995-07-15 |title=Tickets Available for Nomo's Start |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-tickets-available-for-n/168457467/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |work=The Miami Herald |page=6D |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>). Detroit viewers only had the option of viewing the early game of the night. Some local broadcasters also objected the policies of The Baseball Network. [[KSMO-TV]] in [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]], the primary over-the-air station for the [[Kansas City Royals]], went as far as to sue the Royals for breach of contract resulting from their broadcasts being "overexposed" and violating its territorial exclusivity. ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' columnist [[Tom Verducci]] for one, was very harsh on The Baseball Network, dubbing it both "America's regional pastime" and an "abomination." ABC Sports president Dennis Swanson,<ref>{{cite news |date=June 24, 1995|title=The Baseball Network says it'll abandon baseball|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19950624&id=EUhWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6847,5969439&hl=en|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard}}</ref> in announcing the dissolution of The Baseball Network, said: {{cquote|The fact of the matter is, Major League Baseball seems incapable at this point in time, of living with any long term relationships, whether it's with fans, with players, with the political community in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]], with the advertising community here in [[Manhattan]], or with its TV partners.}}<ref>{{cite journal|title=Swing and a Miss|url=http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Baseball%27s+attempt+to+juice+up+the+game+may+leave+a+sour+-+08.07.95+-+SI+Vault&expire=&urlID=432446172&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1006913%2Findex.htm&partnerID=289881|author=[[Tom Verducci]]|journal=Sports Illustrated|date=August 7, 1995|access-date=July 29, 2010|archive-date=July 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723080815/http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Baseball%27s+attempt+to+juice+up+the+game+may+leave+a+sour+-+08.07.95+-+SI+Vault&expire=&urlID=432446172&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1006913%2Findex.htm&partnerID=289881|url-status=dead}}</ref> While on assignment at the [[1993 World Series]], [[Major League Baseball on CBS|CBS Sports]] broadcaster [[Sean McDonough]] told the ''[[New York Times]]<ref name=":14" />'' that The Baseball Network's strategy of regionalizing the playoffs irked him because with both [[League Championship Series]] now being played simultaneously, no market would be able see both games; rather, the two playoff series would be regionalized into areas of natural interest. The only exception would be Games 6 and 7 of the two series, which would have staggered starting times. McDonough said that this would affect out-of-state viewers, for example if the [[Boston Red Sox|Red Sox]] were in the playoffs (which would incidentally, actually happen under the watch of The Baseball Network in [[1995 Boston Red Sox season|1995]]), then a Boston native located in Atlanta would have missed the games. He also believed that his call of [[Sid Bream]]'s slide to clinch the [[List of National League pennant winners|National League pennant]] for the [[1992 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] in Game 7 of the [[1992 National League Championship Series]] against the [[1992 Pittsburgh Pirates season|Pittsburgh Pirates]] would have had a lower impact if fans had missed the early part of the game. To put things into further perspective, McDonough believed that even with a staggered starting time from the [[1992 American League Championship Series|American League Championship Series]] game, many fans would not have seen parts of Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS had it been broadcast under The Baseball Network's regionalized plan. Shortly after the start of the strike, [[Stanford University]]'s Roger Noll<ref name=":3" /> argued that the Baseball Network deal (and the bargain-basement [[ESPN Major League Baseball|ESPN]] cable renewal, which went from $100 million to $42 million because of their losses) reflected "poor business judgment on the part of management about the long-run attractiveness of their product to national broadcasters." He added that the $140 million that owners expected to share for the 1994 season (before the strike) from TBN was underestimated by "one-third to one-half" and fell below the annual average of $165 million needed to renew the TBN deal after two years. Meanwhile, Andy Zimbalist, author of ''Baseball and Billions'', and a [[Major League Baseball Players Association|players' union]] consulting economist, insisted that baseball could have done better than the TBN deal with some combination of [[Major League Baseball on CBS|CBS]] (which offered $120 million last-ditch bid for renewal), [[Major League Baseball on Fox|Fox]] and [[Major League Baseball on TBS|TBS]]. Baseball shut out CBS and could have waited longer before closing them out." Five years after The Baseball Network dissolved, [[NBC Sports]] [[play-by-play]] announcer Bob Costas<ref>{{cite news |author=Raissman |first=Bob |date=June 25, 1995 |title=Later Costas' Not-so-sad Farewell To Baseball |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/1995/06/25/later-costas-not-so-sad-farewell-to-baseball/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref> wrote in his book ''Fair Ball: A Fan's Case for Baseball''<ref>{{cite book |last=Costas|first=Bob|date=2001|title=Fair Ball: A Fan's Case for Baseball|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vz09JodkPo8C&q=The+Baseball+Network|publisher=Crown/Archetype|page=28|isbn=9780767909549}}</ref> that The Baseball Network was "stupid and an abomination." Costas further wrote that the agreement involving the World Series being the only instance of The Baseball Network broadcasting a nationally televised game was an unprecedented surrender of prestige, as well as a slap to all serious fans. He also acknowledged that the most impassioned fans in baseball were now prevented<ref name=":13" /> from watching many of the playoff games that they wanted to see, as all playoff games had been broadcast nationally<ref>{{cite news |last=Nidetz|first=Steve|date=October 6, 1995|title=Baseball Network's Success in Dulling-down Playoffs Causes Its Demise|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1995/10/06/baseball-networks-success-in-dulling-down-playoffs-causes-its-demise/|newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> for decades. Costas added that both the divisional series and the League Championship Series now merited scarcely higher priority than regional coverage provided for a [[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]] [[college football|football]] game between [[University of Wisconsin–Madison|Wisconsin]] and [[University of Michigan|Michigan]]. When Costas was preparing call the 1995 American League Division Series between Boston-Cleveland for NBC, he told the ''[[New York Times]]'' that "It's baseball's objective to market itself nationally, but TBN makes it a local sport." Costas added "Baseball says the wild card is supposed to save baseball, but TBN shows you as little as possible." According to [[Curt Smith (author)|Curt Smith]]'s book, ''The Voice – Mel Allen's Untold Story'', the longtime [[New York Yankees]] broadcaster and ''[[This Week in Baseball]]'' [[Mel Allen|host]] was quoted as saying "You wonder how anything would be worse [than CBS]. What kind of show cancels a twenty-six-week-season's first fourteen weeks?"<ref>{{cite book |last=Smith|first=Curt|date=2007|title=The Voice: Mel Allen's Untold Story|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WA_YHYMbpxMC&q=CBS|publisher=Globe Pequot|page=234|isbn=9781599210940}}</ref> (in response to TBN's tagline, "Welcome to the Show"<ref>{{cite news|title=Baseball Reminds Fans of 'The Show' in New Ad Campaign|url=https://apnews.com/f9666253ffa055a7a45b0b0650f94f6c|author=Skip Wollenberg|work=Associated Press News|date=April 20, 1995|access-date=February 12, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.sportslogos.net/2012/10/27/the-25th-year-of-world-series-patches/|title=The 25th Year of World Series Patches|last=Bierman|first=Brad|date=October 27, 2012|website=SportsLogos.net}}</ref>). During the 1995 Division Series, the fan frustration with The Baseball Network was so bad that the mere mention of it during the [[1995 Seattle Mariners season|Mariners]]–[[1995 New York Yankees season|Yankees]] [[1995 American League Division Series|ALDS]] from public address announcer [[Tom Hutyler]] at [[Seattle]]'s [[Kingdome]] brought boos<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsbroadcastjournal.com/historian-curt-smith-examines-why-the-world-series-tv-ratings-have-dropped-since-1988/|title=Historian Curt Smith examines why the World Series TV ratings have dropped badly since 1988|last=Smith|first=Curt|date=October 29, 1988|website=Sports Broadcast Journal}}</ref> from most of the crowd. To further put things into perspective, 55%<ref name=":2" /> of the country was able to get the American League Championship Series ([[1995 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland]]-Seattle) while 45% got the National League Championship Series ([[1995 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta]]-[[1995 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati]]) for at least the first two games on ABC. ===Production overview=== While ABC and NBC would provide some production personnel and their own announcers<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Stewart|first=Larry|date=August 26, 1994|title=NBC and Costas Will Make Their Return to Baseball . . . Later|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-08-26-sp-31540-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|location=[[Los Angeles]]|access-date=February 9, 2016}}</ref> for the games,<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Horn|first=Barry|date=July 7, 1994|title=What happened to national telecasts?|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-07-07-1994188170-story.html|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|location= |access-date=}}</ref> all of would be coordinated from the office of Ken Schanzer,<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":12" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Shapiro|first=Leonard|date=September 17, 1993|title=UNTANGLING BASEBALL NETWORK'S INTRICACIES|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1993/09/17/untangling-baseball-networks-intricacies/c670ef9a-eaf7-4a12-8a20-9bb363764e63/+&cd=12&hl|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|location=[[Washington D.C.]]|access-date=February 9, 2016}}</ref> the chief executive officer of The Baseball Network and former executive vice president for [[NBC Sports]]. The graphics, camera placements, and audio quality were intended on looking and sounding about the same on both networks. When critiquing The Baseball Network's coverage of the 1995 postseason, Jerry Trecker of the ''[[Hartford Courant]]'' wrote<ref>{{cite news |last=Trecker|first=Jerry|date=October 26, 1995|title=THE BASEBALL NETWORK ADDS UP TO BAD RECEPTION|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/hc-xpm-1995-10-26-9510260433-story.html|work=The Hartford Courant|location= |access-date=}}</ref> that the broadcasts suffered from having too many men in the booth, sloppy camera work, and a lack of consistency in graphics. Trecker also felt that the ABC and NBC crews during the World Series, spent too much time in story-telling and not enough in nuts-and-bolts game setup. Instead, the coverage according to Trecker, proceeded as if fans have followed the game with the same attention as in the past. As for the graphics, Trecker argued that not only were the [[Score bug|game graphics]] provided by The Baseball Network not there all the time as was the case with [[ESPN Major League Baseball|ESPN's]], but it was too big. Trecker would however, praise ABC's production of the [[1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1995 All-Star Game]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Kent |first=Milton |date=July 11, 1995 |title=Gowdy Jr., behind scenes, provides All-Star touch |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-07-11-1995192008-story.htmls |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118003101/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-07-11-1995192008-story.htmls |archive-date=January 18, 2023 |access-date=February 9, 2016 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> in [[Globe Life Park in Arlington|Arlington]]. He said that the broadcast crew of [[Al Michaels]], [[Jim Palmer]], and [[Tim McCarver]] paced their broadcast as if they had never been away, and the different looks, especially ground level cameras, had always been a trademark of effective work by ABC. ABC also according to him, made effective use of graphics to recap season leaders. [[ESPN on ABC|ABC Sports']] technical coverage as a whole, included<ref>{{cite news|last=Nelson|first=John|date=July 9, 1995|title=ABC's All-Star Telecast Is Beginning Of End For Tbn -- But Baseball Wants New Pact By November 1|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/%3Fdate%3D19950709%26slug%3D2130531+&cd=7&hl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410145543/https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19950709&slug=2130531+&cd=7&hl|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 10, 2023|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|location=[[Seattle, Washington]]|access-date=February 9, 2016}}</ref> 21 cameras from all [[Camera angle|vantage points]], including one in the [[Goodyear Blimp]], and an unmanned camera directly above home plate. Coaches would wear [[wireless microphone]]s. Trecker did however, point out that times, the broadcasters seemed to be ahead of the production people, especially when they wanted to talk about [[Raul Mondesi]]'s speed getting to a drive into the right field corner. They never showed it. Trecker also believed that ABC's usage of dugout reporters (in this case, [[Lesley Visser]], [[John Saunders (journalist)|John Saunders]], and [[Rick Dempsey]]), even in showcase games like the All-Star Game, was overkill. Visser in particular, was singled out for asked such lengthy questions of [[1995 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] pitcher [[Hideo Nomo]] that it was almost farcical when his answers came back in translation. For the 1995 World Series,<ref>{{cite news |last=Kent |first=Milton |date=October 20, 1995 |title=NBC and ABC split Series, throwing fans a changeup |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/10/20/nbc-and-abc-split-series-throwing-fans-a-changeup-2/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250320233025/https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/10/20/nbc-and-abc-split-series-throwing-fans-a-changeup-2/ |archive-date=2025-03-20 |access-date=2025-03-20 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> ABC and NBC shared 17 cameras and 13 tape machines, two of the [[Slow motion|"Super Slo-Mo"]] variety. ===Sponsorships=== Among the key sponsors for The Baseball Network were [[Anheuser-Busch]],<ref name=":15" /> [[MCI Inc.]],<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=September 16, 1994|title=Advertisers refigure their pitch after baseball's fiasco|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/09/16/advertisers-refigure-their-pitch-after-baseball-s-fiasco/|work=Tampy Bay Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> [[Sherwin-Williams]],<ref>{{cite book |last= |first= |author-link= |date=December 31, 1994|title=SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO - 10-K Annual Report|url=http://getfilings.com/o0000950152-95-000337.html|location= |publisher= |page= |isbn=}}</ref> [[Texaco]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Mandese|first=Joe|date=February 28, 1994|title=BASEBALL NETWORK FAILS TO WOW ADVERTISERS|url=https://adage.com/article/news/baseball-network-fails-wow-advertisers/88293|work=AdAge|location= |access-date=}}</ref> and [[Russell Athletic (brand)|Russell Athletic]]. The sponsorship with Anheuser-Busch in particular, was worth over $20 million for two years with an option of a third. [[Budweiser]] was announced as the presenter during the [[Starting lineup|starting line-up]] were announcements during The Baseball Network's telecasts. According to Busch Media president Tony Ponturo, Anheuser-Busch liked The Baseball Network's idea of broadcasting games, including the Division Series and League Championship Series regionally instead of to the entire nation all at once. Other sponsors for The Baseball Network included [[Gillette]],<ref name="Keisser">{{cite news |last=Keisser|first=Bob|date=August 12, 1994|title=JORDAN, HITLER PINCH-HIT FOR WEEKEND BASEBALL|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/jordan-hitler-pinch-hit-for-weekend-baseball/article_197670c4-376b-5d0c-8500-48c1d63d4413.html|work=The Buffalo News|location= |access-date=}}</ref> [[Avis Car Rental|Avis]] (who paid The Baseball Network approximately $6.5 million<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=April 14, 1994|title=Avis Signs On With Baseball TV|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/14/sports/avis-signs-on-with-baseball-tv.html|work=The New York Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref>), [[Chevrolet]], [[Fruit of the Loom]], [[Gatorade]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Bogaczyk|first=Jack|date=June 11, 1994|title=THE BASEBALL NETWORK MAY STRIKE OUT ON 1ST PITCH|url=https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1994/rt9406/940611/06140009.htm|work=The Roanoke Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> [[General Motors]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Gilda|first=William|date=October 8, 1994|title=OUTSIDE THE STADIUMS, SHUTDOWNS HIT HARD|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1994/10/08/outside-the-stadiums-shutdowns-hit-hard/6b952dd1-1c25-49d6-98bb-7ee7abcc9eea/|newspaper=The Washington Post|location= |access-date=}}</ref> (who was expected to pay The Baseball Network at least $40 million), [[Upper Deck Company|Upper Deck]], and [[Toyota]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Shapiro|first=Leonard|date=August 5, 1994|title=IF STRIKE IS LONG, ADVERTISERS MAY WALK|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/08/05/if-strike-is-long-advertisers-may-walk/1f849a17-d371-4a62-84c3-64ef10cf12d4/|newspaper=The Washington Post|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Chevrolet in particular, sponsored the [[Most valuable player|"player of the game"]] award that would be announced towards the end of the telecasts. All in all, The Baseball Network was said<ref>{{cite news |last=Elliott|first=Stuart|date=August 11, 1994|title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; Marketers Finding Other Games to Play|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/11/business/the-media-business-advertising-marketers-finding-other-games-to-play.html|work=The New York Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> to have more than 20 corporate sponsors and advertisers. In the event of a strike, these sponsors either had the option of taking back the money that they otherwise, would've used to support The Baseball Network and be able to spend it elsewhere or, they would've been able to delay any spending on baseball telecasts until the strike was resolved. At the time of the actual [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|strike]]'s start on August 12, 1994, The Baseball Network was reportedly able to sell approximately $130 million in advertisement time. Unfortunately, about $100 million of that was expected to run through the entire postseason, including the [[1994 World Series|World Series]], which would ultimately be canceled on September 14, 1994. ==Downfall and demise== The long-term plans for The Baseball Network began to crumble after players and owners [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|went on strike]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Quirk|last2= Fort|first2=James|first1= Rodney D.|date= January 10, 2010|title=Hard Ball: The Abuse of Power in Pro Team Sports|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bOo9DwAAQBAJ&q=1995+world+series+nbc&pg=PA43|page=43|isbn=9780691146577}}</ref> on August 12, 1994.<ref>{{cite news|title=McNamara Vaults into Festival Coverage|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4223624B807AD&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|author=Tracey Labovitz|newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=July 16, 1995|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Jones|first=Tom|date=August 10, 1994|title=For television, a baseball strike would be no big deal|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=368&dat=19940810&id=LrY0AAAAIBAJ&pg=3735,2291829&hl=en|newspaper=Walker County Messenger}}</ref> In addition to the cancellation of [[1994 World Series|that year's World Series]],<ref name=":16">{{cite news |last=Halberstam |first=David J. |date=October 21, 2019 |title=The cancelled '94 World Series: Network voices remember a baseball low point 25 years ago |url=https://www.sportsbroadcastjournal.com/the-cancelled-94-world-series-network-voices-remember-a-baseball-low-point-25-years-ago/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=Sports Broadcast Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=There's Always Next Year-Maybe Baseball Advertisers Take a Hike for '94|url=http://adage.com/article/news/year-baseball-advertisers-a-hike-94/90015/|author=Jeff Jensen|newspaper=Advertising Age|date=September 19, 1994}}</ref> ABC was denied its remaining ''Baseball Night in America'' telecasts and NBC was shut out of its game broadcast slate (which in 1994, was scheduled to begin on August 26<ref>{{YouTube|title=KRON/NBC commercials, 6/22/1994 part 19|id=HqdZ_hLEzuU}}</ref>) altogether. It is known that ABC's lead broadcast team of Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, and Tim McCarver were scheduled to broadcast a game between the [[1994 Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs]] and [[1994 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]]<ref name="Keisser"/> the week that the strike began. Both networks elected to dissolve the partnership with Major League Baseball on June 22, 1995.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Craig |first=Jack |date=1995-08-20 |title=Fans not wild about baseball |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-fans-not-wild-about-bas/163549765/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=The Boston Globe |page=66 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Abc And Nbc Quit Baseball Network|url=http://articles.philly.com/1995-06-23/sports/25692151_1_abc-and-nbc-baseball-network-george-vukasin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218223331/http://articles.philly.com/1995-06-23/sports/25692151_1_abc-and-nbc-baseball-network-george-vukasin|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 18, 2014|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=June 23, 1995|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Scorecard|url=http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Scorecard+-+07.03.95+-+SI+Vault&expire=&urlID=432446527&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1006778%2Findex.htm&partnerID=289881|author=Jack McCallum|author2=Christian Stone|journal=Sports Illustrated|date=July 3, 1995|access-date=July 29, 2010|archive-date=July 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722213718/http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Scorecard+-+07.03.95+-+SI+Vault&expire=&urlID=432446527&fb=Y&url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1006778/index.htm&partnerID=289881|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=TV SPORTS; All Are to Blame for Baseball Network's Demise|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/27/sports/tv-sports-all-are-to-blame-for-baseball-network-s-demise.html|author=Richard Sandomir|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 27, 1995}}</ref> Both networks figured that as the delayed 1995 baseball season opened without a labor agreement,<ref>{{cite news |date=January 11, 1995|title=Costas dreading baseball season|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19950111&id=LElWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6639,2262529&hl=en|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard}}</ref> there was no guarantee against another strike. Under the terms of the agreement, it could be voided by any party if the venture did not produce a minimum of $330 million in revenue over the first two years.<ref>{{cite book |last=Staudohar|first=Paul D.|title=Playing for Dollars: Labor Relations and the Sports Business|year=1996|publisher=Cornell University Press|url=https://archive.org/details/playingfordollar00stau|url-access=registration|quote=the baseball network abc nbc 1994.|page=[https://archive.org/details/playingfordollar00stau/page/21 21]|isbn=9780801483424 }}</ref> ABC Sports president Dennis Swanson, in announcing the dissolution of The Baseball Network, said:<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=June 24, 1995|title=Broken Promises Cited In Breakup Decision By Abc And Nbc Dissolves The Baseball Network|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/jun/24/broken-promises-cited-in-breakup-decision-by-abc/|work=The Spokesman-Review|location= |access-date=}}</ref> {{cquote|The fact of the matter is, Major League Baseball seems incapable at this point in time, of living with any longterm relationships, whether it's with fans, with players, with the political community in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]], with the advertising community here in [[Manhattan]], or with its TV partners. }} Others would argue that a primary reason for its failure was its abandoning of localized markets in favor of more lucrative and stable advertising contracts afforded by turning to a national model of broadcasting, similar to the [[NFL on television|National Football League's television package]], which focuses on localized games, with one or two "national" games. The Baseball Network's contract stipulated that negotiations could only take place with NBC and ABC<ref>{{cite news|title=ABC blocks baseball play for deal|url=https://variety.com/1995/tv/features/abc-blocks-baseball-play-for-deal-99129456/|author=Gary Levin|newspaper=Variety|date=July 24, 1995}}</ref> for 45 days, starting on August 15, 1995. But with NBC and ABC's refusal to continue after the 1995 season, baseball had to look at its future options.<ref>{{cite news|title=BASEBALL; Baseball Seeks a Loophole for TV Talks|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/28/sports/baseball-baseball-seeks-a-loophole-for-tv-talks.html|author=Richard Sandomir|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 28, 1995}}</ref> In October 1995, when it was a known fact that ABC and NBC were going to end their television deal/joint venture with Major League Baseball, preliminary talks rose about CBS returning.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1995-10-11 |title=Networks set to bid on baseball |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-networks-set-to-bid-on/163555717/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=The Toronto Star |page=D4 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Bruton|first=Mike|date=June 24, 1995|title=Baseball Up For Grabs As Abc, Nbc Dissolve Venture With Owners Cbs And Fox Are Likely Bidders. The Baseball Network Will Finish Out The 1995 Season.|url=http://articles.philly.com/1995-06-24/sports/25690741_1_ebersol-and-swanson-abc-and-nbc-major-league-owners|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910161235/http://articles.philly.com/1995-06-24/sports/25690741_1_ebersol-and-swanson-abc-and-nbc-major-league-owners|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 10, 2012|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref> It was rumored that CBS would show Thursday night games<ref>{{Cite news |last=Martzke |first=Ruby |date=1995-10-11 |title=Baseball, O.J. go head-to-head |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/usa-today-baseball-oj-go-head-to-head/163556010/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=USA Today |page=6 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> (more specifically, a package of [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] [[Interleague play|interleague games]] scheduled for the 11:30 Eastern/8:30 Pacific Time slot) while [[Major League Baseball on Fox|Fox]] would show Saturday afternoon games. CBS and Fox were also rumored to share rights to the postseason. In the end, however, CBS's involvement did not come to pass and NBC became Fox's over-the-air national television partner. Whereas each team earned about $14 million in 1990 under CBS, the later television agreement with NBC and Fox beginning in 1996 earned each team about $6.8 million.<ref>{{cite book |title=Sports: A Reference Guide and Critical Commentary, 1980–1999|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=192V884VTWIC&pg=PA33|author=Donald L. Deardorff|year = 2000|page=33|isbn = 9780313304453}}</ref> To salvage the remains of the partnership, ABC and NBC elected to share coverage<ref>{{YouTube|title=ESPN Sports Reporters with Dick Schaap - October 20, 1995 from Fulton County Stadium|id=AhhTi4yIoDA&t=665s}}</ref> of the 1995 postseason<ref>{{cite news|title=The World Series may come down to Kenny Lofton vs. Deion Sanders|url=https://apnews.com/dcf842fbd021dcbcd0aed088eac0e86a|author=Ben Walker|work=Associated Press News|date=July 21, 1995|access-date=February 12, 2015}}</ref> including the [[1995 World Series|World Series]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Abc, Nbc To Share World Series Coverage|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1995/07/21/abc-nbc-to-share-world-series-coverage/|author=Steve Nidetz|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=July 21, 1995|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> ABC<ref>{{cite news|title=Enjoy It While You Can; Free Boxing Won't Last|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AS&p_theme=as&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F78FB0E0DFB6A2F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|author=Beth Bragg|newspaper=[[Anchorage Daily News]]|date=September 15, 1995|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> wound up broadcasting Games 1, 4, and 5 of 1995 World Series<ref name="TBNTales"/> while NBC would broadcast Games 2,<ref>{{YouTube|title=1995 NBC Promo (Game 2 -- World Series).wmv|id=Uczr4D3Tlhg}}</ref> 3,<ref>{{YouTube|title=MLB World Series 24.10.1995 Cleveland Indians VS Atlanta Braves (Game 3)|id=cGosHR89i6w}}</ref> and 6<ref>{{YouTube|title=1995 WS Intro|id=Puyrx0wTz_o}}</ref> (which turned out to be the decisive game). Had the 1995 World Series gone to a seventh game,<ref name=":16" /> it would have then been broadcast by ABC. Game 5 of the 1995 World Series was the final Major League Baseball game to be broadcast on ABC until the [[2020 Major League Baseball season#Postseason|2020 postseason]]. {{blockquote|Okay [[Lesley Visser|Lesley]]! So the sixth game on [[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC]] on Saturday. We would have a seventh game here on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] if it goes to seven in [[Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium|Atlanta]]. To the [[Strain (music)|strains]] of "[[Glory Days (Bruce Springsteen song)|Glory Days]]"...[[Bruce Springsteen|Springsteen's]] "Glory Days", it's a glory night in [[Progressive Field|Cleveland]]. Their [[1995 Cleveland Indians season|Indians]] win it by a score of 5 to 4. [[1995 Atlanta Braves season|Braves]] lead the [[1995 World Series|series]] 3 games to 2. Tonight's game brought to you by [[Lexus|Lexus Luxury Automobiles]], the result of a relentless pursuit of perfection, [[Texaco|Texaco CleanSystem 3 Gasolines]], and [[Budweiser]], the [[List of Great American Beer Festival medalists|gold medal winning]] American premium [[lager]] of the 1995 [[Great American Beer Festival]], this Bud's for you. [[Al Michaels]], [[Jim Palmer]], [[Tim McCarver]], Lesley Visser, [[John Saunders (journalist)|John Saunders]]...saying goodnight...from Jacobs Field...in [[Cleveland]]!|Al Michaels at the end of [[Major League Baseball on ABC|ABC]]'s coverage of Game 5 of the 1995 World Series, the final Major League Baseball game that would be broadcast on ABC for 25 years.}} [[Al Michaels]] would later write in his [[2014 in literature|2014]] autobiography ''You Can't Make This Up: Miracles, Memories, and the Perfect Marriage of Sports and Television''<ref>{{cite book |last1=Michaels|last2= Wertheim |first2=Al|first1= L. Jon|date= November 18, 2014|title=You Can't Make This Up: Miracles, Memories, and the Perfect Marriage of|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UlaYAwAAQBAJ&q=You+Can%27t+Make+This+Up|publisher= Harper Collins|page=202|isbn= 9780062314987}}</ref> that the competition between the two networks could be so juvenile that neither ABC nor NBC wanted to promote each other's telecasts during the 1995 World Series.<ref>{{YouTube|title=1995 World Series Video Highlights|id=tAK9SgHZVxQ}}</ref> To give you a better idea, in the middle of Game 1, Michaels was handed a promo that read "Join us here on [[Major League Baseball on ABC|ABC]] for Game 4 in [[Progressive Field|Cleveland]] on Wednesday night and for Game 5 if necessary, Thursday." Michaels however, would soon follow this up by saying "By the way, if you're wondering about Games 2 and 3, I can't tell you exactly where you can see them, but here's a hint: Last night, [[Bob Costas]], [[Bob Uecker]], and [[Joe Morgan]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Pergament|first=Alan|date=October 27, 1995|title=NBC'S MORGAN EMERGES AS SERIES STAR IN BOOTH|url=https://buffalonews.com/1995/10/28/nbcs-morgan-emerges-as-series-star-in-booth/|work=The Buffalo News}}</ref> [NBC's broadcast crew] were spotted in [[Underground Atlanta]]." Naturally, Bob Costas soon made a similar reference to ABC's crew (Michaels, [[Jim Palmer]], and [[Tim McCarver]]) on [[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC]]. {{blockquote|A strange and in a sense, scarred [[1995 Major League Baseball season|baseball season]] ends in glory. There were great moments in the postseason. For these two guys, for the folks at ABC too, goodnight!|NBC's Bob Costas at the end of The Baseball Network's final telecast, Game 6 of the 1995 World Series.<ref>{{YouTube|title=1995 World Series: Game 6 Atlanta Braves vs Cleveland Indians.|id=JFNqCt35uJA}}</ref>}} ===Aftermath=== In the end, the venture lost US$95 million in advertising<ref name=":6" /> and nearly $500 million<ref>{{cite news |last=Bodner|first=Brett|date=August 11, 2016|title=A look at possible milestones the 1994 Major League Baseball strike killed and the negative impact it left on the following season |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/milestones-1994-major-league-baseball-strike-killed-article-1.2747085|work=Daily News|location=New York }}</ref> in national and local spending. The Baseball Network generated only about $5.5 million per team in revenue for each of the two years that it operated. To put things into proper perspective, in 1993 alone, CBS generated about $14.7 million per team. Much of this could possibly be traced back to the strike causing a huge drop in revenue, which in return caused baseball salaries to decrease by approximately $140,000 on average in 1995. Both ABC and NBC soon publicly vowed to cut all ties with Major League Baseball for the remainder of the 20th century,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shapiro |first=Leonardo |date=1995-06-24 |title=ABC, NBC PULL PLUG ON BASEBALL |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1995/06/24/abc-nbc-pull-plug-on-baseball/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Baseball Broadcasting Faces Uncertain Future|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/baseball-broadcasting-faces-uncertain-future/337690.html|newspaper=[[The Moscow Times]]|date=June 28, 1995}}</ref> and [[Major League Baseball on Fox|Fox]]<ref>{{cite news |last=McConville|first=Jim|date=October 23, 1995|title=Fox, CBS swinging for baseball|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1995/BC-1995-10-23.pdf|work=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=ABC, NBC Quit Baseball Network : Television: Rights probably will be offered to CBS or Fox after this season.|author=Steve Nidetz|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-06-23-sp-16313-story.html|agency=Associated Press|date=June 23, 1995|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> signed on to be the exclusive network carrier of Major League Baseball regular season games in 1996.<ref>{{cite news |author=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=July 13, 1995 |title=BASEBALL; ABC Issues Warning to Turner and Fox |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/13/sports/baseball-abc-issues-warning-to-turner-and-fox.html?pagewanted=print |access-date=February 9, 2016 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |page=B15}}</ref> However, NBC backtracked and kept a postseason-only schedule — with the exception of even-numbered years when NBC had the rights to the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] — signing a deal to carry three Division Series games, one of the [[League Championship Series]] (the [[American League Championship Series|ALCS]] in even numbered years and the [[National League Championship Series|NLCS]] in odd numbered years; Fox televised the other LCS in said years), and the [[1997 World Series|1997]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Gaffney|first=Jim|date=October 19, 1997|title=Bob Costas finally takes his World Series cuts|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1291&dat=19971019&id=9z9UAAAAIBAJ&pg=4148,1255583&hl=en|newspaper=Boca Raton News}}</ref> and [[1999 World Series]] respectively (Fox had exclusive rights to the [[1996 World Series|1996]], [[1998 World Series|1998]], and [[2000 World Series]]). Beginning in [[2001 World Series|2001]], Fox became the exclusive broadcast network for the World Series. Fox's end of the new contract<ref>{{cite news |last=Blum|first=Ronald|date=November 7, 1995|title=IT'S OFFICIAL, Baseball gets lucrative TV deal|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19951107&id=KKspAAAAIBAJ&pg=6779,4313383&hl=en|newspaper=The Deseret News}}</ref> (which Fox paid US$575 million for the initial five-year contract) restored the Saturday afternoon ''Game of the Week'' broadcasts<ref>{{cite news |date=October 18, 1995|title=Baseball may return to its TV roots|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19951018&id=y0lWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2697,4310832&hl=en|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard}}</ref> during the regular season (approximately 16 weekly telecasts annually that normally began on [[Memorial Day]] weekend), although it continued to offer a selection of games based on region, with usually three regionalized telecasts airing each week.<ref>{{cite news|title=MLB sews up deal with Fox, NBC. (Major League Baseball, National Broadcasting Co., Fox Broadcasting Co.)|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-17515226.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329181645/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-17515226.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015|author=Jim McConville|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|via=[[HighBeam Research]]|date=November 6, 1995|access-date=February 20, 2015}}</ref><ref name="BaseballContract">{{cite news|title=Baseball's new TV rights contract.(Major League Baseball contract)(Brief Article)|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-17609490.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329181638/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-17609490.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015|author=James McConville|work=Broadcasting & Cable|via=HighBeam Research|date=November 13, 1995|access-date=February 20, 2015}}</ref> With ABC<ref>{{cite news|title=BASEBALL;ABC Auditing Baseball Venture|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/22/sports/baseball-abc-auditing-baseball-venture.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 22, 1995|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> being sold to [[The Walt Disney Company]] in 1996, [[ESPN Major League Baseball|ESPN]] picked up daytime and late-evening Division Series games with a provision similar to [[ESPN Sunday Night Football|its National Football League games]], in which the games would only air on network affiliates in the [[Historical Major League Baseball over-the-air television broadcasters|local markets]] of the two participating teams. ESPN's Major League Baseball contract was not affected then, but would take a hit in [[1998 NFL season|1998]] with the new NFL contract. It was rumored that ABC would only offer Major League Baseball about $10 to $15 million less per year than what CBS<ref name="Shapario"/> was reportedly willing to offer for the [[1996 World Series|1996 season]]. At the time, it was reported that Major League Baseball was expecting a combined total of over $900 million in rights fees from two networks. In [[2012 Major League Baseball season|2012]], Fox would revive the ''[[Baseball Night in America]]'' title (previously used for The Baseball Network's games) for a series of Saturday night games.<ref>{{cite web|title=FOX Hearkens Back to The Baseball Network With 'Baseball Night in America'|url=http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2012/04/fox-hearkens-back-to-the-baseball-network-with-baseball-night-in-america/|work=Sports Media Watch|date=April 10, 2012|access-date=April 9, 2012}}</ref> Unlike The Baseball Network, Fox did not carry every game that was scheduled for a given Saturday, only choosing five to six games to distribute to its [[List of Fox television affiliates (table)|affiliates]]. As far as the primary announce teams for The Baseball Network were concerned, they mostly went their separate ways. Al Michaels remained at ABC until 2006 (his final assignment for ABC Sports was [[Super Bowl XL]]), when he moved to NBC to become the voice of their [[NBC Sunday Night Football|Sunday night NFL coverage]]. Tim McCarver joined Fox as its primary analyst alongside [[Joe Buck]] and stayed there until his retirement from national television broadcasts in [[2013 World Series|2013]] and then called local [[St. Louis Cardinals]] broadcasts until 2019. Jim Palmer, meanwhile, would rejoin the Orioles as [[List of Baltimore Orioles broadcasters|their television analyst]], where he still remains. NBC's primary crew remained in place for two more years. Bob Uecker would leave following the [[1997 World Series]], but Bob Costas and Joe Morgan would continue calling games until NBC's contract expired following the [[2000 Major League Baseball season|2000 season]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Chicago |date=1998-06-02 |title=UECKER QUITS; NBC WON'T REPLACE HIM |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/06/02/uecker-quits-nbc-wont-replace-him/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> NBC's final game at the time, was Game 6 of the [[2000 American League Championship Series]]. Major League Baseball coverage would ultimately return to NBC in [[2022 Major League Baseball season|2022]] via a [[MLB Sunday Leadoff|deal]] with the network's [[Streaming television|streaming service]], [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]]. The first game of the agreement, between the [[Chicago White Sox]] and the [[Boston Red Sox]] at [[Fenway Park]] was broadcast nationally on NBC — the first since 2000.<ref name=":22">{{cite news |last=Lucia |first=Joe |date=April 6, 2022 |title=Your 2022 MLB regular season broadcasting primer |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/schedules/your-2022-mlb-regular-season-broadcasting-primer.html |access-date= |work=Awful Announcing |location=}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=April 7, 2022 |title=MLB and NBC confirm 'US$30m a year' Peacock streaming deal |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/mlb-nbc-peacock-tv-rights-streaming-2022/ |access-date=April 14, 2022 |website=SportsPro |language=en-GB}}</ref> In-house production of MLB telecasts would return in 2009 with the launch of the league-run cable channel [[MLB Network]], which carries a package of regular season games known as the ''[[MLB Network Showcase]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Masilak |first1=Jim |date=September 18, 2008 |title=Baseball Says Civil Rights Game Will Move to Cincinnati For 2009 |url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/business/source-says-civil-rights-game-will-move-cincinnati |access-date=October 3, 2014 |work=[[The Commercial Appeal]] |publisher=[[The E.W. Scripps Company]]}}</ref><ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Sandomir |date=October 2, 2008 |title=A Network to Satisfy the Appetite of Baseball-Hungry Fans |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/03/sports/baseball/03sandomir.html |newspaper=The New York Times |page=D8}}</ref> Costas joined the new channel at launch as a contributor, and calls play-by-play on selected games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Michael |date=2009-02-04 |title=Bob Costas joining MLB Network |url=https://variety.com/2009/scene/markets-festivals/bob-costas-joining-mlb-network-1117999541/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> MLB Network would later produce the ''[[Friday Night Baseball]]'' package for [[Apple TV+]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Lucia |first=Joe |date=April 6, 2022 |title=Your 2022 MLB regular season broadcasting primer |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/schedules/your-2022-mlb-regular-season-broadcasting-primer.html |access-date= |work=Awful Announcing |location=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cross |first1=Jason |date=29 March 2022 |title=Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+ will be free for the first 12 weeks of the season |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/627353/friday-night-baseball-apple-tv-plus-12-weeks-schedule.html |access-date=5 April 2022 |work=[[Macworld]]}}</ref> On July 8, 2011, Michaels and Costas would call an ''MLB Network Showcase'' game between the [[2011 New York Mets season|New York Mets]] and [[2011 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]] together, alternating between play-by-play and color.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fangsbites.com/2011/06/al-michaels-bob-costas-to-call-game-for-mlb-network-in-july/ |title=Al Michaels & Bob Costas To Call Game For MLB Network in July |author=Fang, Ken |date=June 29, 2011 |work=Fangsbites.com |publisher=Wordpress |access-date=July 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704072147/http://fangsbites.com/2011/06/al-michaels-bob-costas-to-call-game-for-mlb-network-in-july/ |archive-date=July 4, 2011 }}</ref> It was Michaels' first appearance as a primary announcer on a baseball telecast since Game 5 of the [[1995 World Series]] on ABC (as previously mentioned, Michaels had called Games 1,<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=October 24, 1995|title=TV SPORTS;A Game of Finding Baseball on TV|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/24/sports/tv-sports-a-game-of-finding-baseball-on-tv.html?mcubz=1|work=The New York Times}}</ref> 4 and 5 of that series with [[Jim Palmer]] and [[Tim McCarver]], while Costas called Games 2, 3 and 6 with [[Joe Morgan]] and [[Bob Uecker]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=October 15, 1995|title=SIGNOFF;World Series, as Told by Bob Uecker|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/15/tv/signoff-world-series-as-told-by-bob-uecker.html?mcubz=1|work=The New York Times}}</ref> On September 28, 2020, it was announced that ABC would carry at least four [[Major League Baseball Wild Card Game#2020 Wild Card Series|Wild Card Series]] games for the expanded [[2020 Major League Baseball season|2020 Major League Baseball postseason]]. Produced by [[ESPN Major League Baseball|ESPN]], they marked ABC's first national MLB broadcasts since 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Maury|title=MLB Postseason Games Returning To ABC For First Time In 25 Years|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2020/09/28/mlb-postseason-games-returning-to-abc-for-first-time-in-25-years/|access-date=September 28, 2020|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> On July 7, 2021, ESPN announced that a ''[[Sunday Night Baseball]]'' game between the [[2021 Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs]] [[Cubs–White Sox rivalry|and]] [[2021 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]] on August 8 would air exclusively on ABC. This was the first regular season Major League Baseball game to be aired on ABC since August 19, 1995.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pederson |first=Erik |date=July 7, 2021 |title=ABC To Air ESPN's 'Sunday Night Baseball' For First Time |url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/abc-sunday-night-baseball-espn-chicago-cubs-chicago-white-sox-1234787885/ |access-date= |work=Deadline |location=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Quirk |first=Michael |date=July 9, 2021 |title=Sunday Night Baseball to Air on ABC for the First Time in its History |url=https://barrettsportsmedia.com/2021/07/09/sunday-night-baseball-abc/ |access-date= |work=Barrett Sports Media |location=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sabrmedia.org/databases/network-tv-broadcasts/searchable-network-tv-broadcasts/|title=Searchable Network TV Broadcasts|last=|first=|date=|website=SABR Baseball and the Media Research Committee|publisher=|access-date=|quote=|archive-date=July 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706134012/http://sabrmedia.org/databases/network-tv-broadcasts/searchable-network-tv-broadcasts/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Al Michaels made a guest appearance during the broadcast in a remote interview with commentators [[Matt Vasgersian]] and [[Alex Rodriguez]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rigdon |first=Jay |date=2021-08-09 |title=The best moments from Al Michaels' Sunday Night Baseball appearance on ABC |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/the-best-moments-from-al-michaels-sunday-night-baseball-appearance-on-abc.html |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref> ==Announcers== {{main|The Baseball Network announcers}} As previously mentioned announcers who represented each of the teams playing in the respective games were typically [[#1994 schedule|paired with each other during games]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zipay |first=Steve |date=1994-06-21 |title=MEDIA NBC: No Cutting Layoff |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-media-nbc-no/163555814/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=Newsday (Suffolk Edition) |page=50 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> on regular season ''Baseball Night in America'' telecasts. For example, if a game featuring the [[1994 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]] playing against the [[1994 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]] aired on ''Baseball Night in America'', then a local [[List of Texas Rangers (baseball) broadcasters|Rangers]] announcer like [[Steve Busby]]<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=July 24, 1995|title=FEMALE ANNOUNCER READY FOR HISTORIC ASSIGNMENT|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/07/24/female-announcer-ready-for-historic-assignment/e95a6160-9aa3-41e8-8866-5e095bfaf099/|newspaper=The Washington Post|location= |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Schmitt|first=Mary|date=July 24, 1995|title=Waldman Critical Of Historic Debut 1st Woman To Announce Game On National TV Has Regrets|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/jul/27/waldman-critical-of-historic-debut-1st-woman-to/|work=The Spokesman-Review |location= |access-date=}}</ref> would announce the broadcast with a local [[List of Chicago White Sox broadcasters|White Sox announcer]] like [[Ken Harrelson|Ken "Hawk" Harrelson]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Capone|first=Nicole|date=March 28, 2018|title=White Sox: Let's talk about legendary Ken 'Hawk' Harrelson|url=https://southsideshowdown.com/2018/03/28/white-sox-lets-talk-legendary-hawk-harrelson/|work=South Side Showdown|location= |access-date=}}</ref> In effect, ABC and NBC had to contract many non in-house announcers<ref name=":12" /> due to so many games being regionally televised.<ref>{{cite news |last=Frager|first=Ray|date=April 1, 1994|title=New season casts new TV angle on baseball's new divisional look|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-04-01-1994091009-story.html|work=The Baltimore Sun|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Also as previously mentioned, [[Major League Baseball on ABC|ABC]] used Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver, and ''Lesley Visser'' as the lead broadcast team ([[Brent Musburger]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/au/mlb/news/brent-musburger-baseball-announcer-retiring-video-mariners-yankees-1995-alds/14arlwzwhwtlg1mhrb8osn2bos|title=Remember when Brent Musburger called baseball games?|last=Foster|first=Jason|date=January 25, 2017|website=Sporting News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/brent-musburgers-greatest-baseball-call-was-one-for-the-ages-021440813.html|title=Brent Musburger's greatest baseball call was one for the ages|last=Townsend|first=Mark|date=January 25, 2017|website=Big League Stew}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=October 10, 1995|title=PLAYOFFS 95: TV SPORTS;The Wrong Man in the Baseball Booth|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/10/sports/playoffs-95-tv-sports-the-wrong-man-in-the-baseball-booth.html|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="auto"/> [[Major League Baseball on CBS|CBS]] alumnus [[Jim Kaat]], and ''[[Jack Arute]]'' became the secondary team for ABC). Meanwhile, [[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC]] used Bob Costas, [[Joe Morgan]], Bob Uecker, and ''[[Jim Gray (sportscaster)|Jim Gray]]'' as their lead broadcasting team. [[John Saunders (journalist)|John Saunders]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Baseball's Back on Network TV, But It's Too Late|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SJ&s_site=mercurynews&p_multi=SJ&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB71D4E416C7B51&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|newspaper=San Jose Mercury News|date=July 8, 1994|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nidetz |first=Steve |date=1994-05-16 |title=Bulls-Knicks TV Viewers Get Tasty Coverage Regardless of the Server |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-bulls-knicks-tv-viewers/163555871/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=Chicago Tribune |page=Section 3–9 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> was the studio host for ABC's ''Baseball Night in America'' coverage. [[Hannah Storm]]<ref>{{cite news |date=February 5, 2019|title=ESPN anchor Hannah Storm loves Baker Mayfield's swag, recalls run-in with Albert Belle|url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/lets-be-clear-an-open-conversation-with-espns-hannah-storm/95-2c39a569-3d52-446c-863c-d7d716839c48|work=WKYC Studios}}</ref> hosted NBC's studio show for the lone season in which the network was able to participate in The Baseball Network; [[Greg Gumbel]]<ref>{{cite news|title=TV SPORTS; New Age Begins: Baseball by the Shuttle System|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/15/sports/tv-sports-new-age-begins-baseball-by-the-shuttle-system.html|author=Richard Sandomir|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 15, 1994|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> was NBC's studio host for its coverage of the 1994 All-Star Game (as previously mentioned). In 1995, Gumbel became the secondary play-by-play announcer for NBC (working with Joe Morgan on the [[1995 National League Championship Series|National League Championship Series]]) behind Bob Costas. [[Dick Enberg]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson|first=John|date=March 26, 1994|title=Networks try to convince baseball fans that less is more|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19940326&id=yOYyAAAAIBAJ&pg=6976,4771671&hl=en|newspaper=The Free Lance-Star}}</ref> was supposed to be the secondary play-by-play announcer in 1994 for NBC, but by the following season, his other commitments for NBC such as [[Golf Channel on NBC|golf]] and [[NFL on NBC|football]] rendered him unavailable to broadcast baseball.<ref>{{cite news|title=ABC's All-Star Telecast Is Beginning of End For Tbn -- But Baseball Wants New Pact By 1 November|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19950709/2130531/abcs-all-star-telecast-is-beginning-of-end-for-tbn|author=John Nelson|newspaper=The Seattle Times|date=July 9, 1995|access-date=July 11, 2014|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714130331/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19950709&slug=2130531|url-status=live}}</ref> Likewise, the original plan would've called for Costas to work with Uecker and for Enberg to work with Morgan on ''Baseball Night in America'' telecasts during the regular season and early round postseason games. When the question aroused<ref name=":4" /> regarding why NBC didn't rehire Costas' old broadcast partner, [[Tony Kubek]] (for whom Costas worked with on the ''[[Major League Baseball Game of the Week|Game of the Week]]'' and NBC's bi-yearly coverage of the [[List of American League Championship Series broadcasters|ALCS]] from [[1983 American League Championship Series|1983]]–[[1989 American League Championship Series|1989]]), it was insinuated that Kubek was simply too independent-minded for NBC officials to tolerate. According to Costas, while he originally wanted to work with Kubek again, NBC simply wanted to go into a different direction after being away from baseball for nearly five years. Prior to Game 3 of the [[1995 World Series]], [[1995 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] slugger [[Albert Belle]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Hamilton|first=Tracee|date=October 27, 1995|title=BELLE FACES PUNISHMENT FOR TIRADE|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/10/27/belle-faces-punishment-for-tirade/c271f9c4-9515-47c6-837f-78110100e588/|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> unleashed a [[profanity]]-laced tirade at NBC reporter Hannah Storm as she was waiting in the Indians' dugout for a prearranged interview with Indians lead-off man, [[Kenny Lofton]]. On the same day, Belle snapped at a photographer near the first base line during batting practice. Belle was ultimately fined US$50,000 for his behavior towards Storm. This particular World Series was remembered for baseball television history being made twice by Storm. Prior to Game 2, she became the first female sportscaster to serve as solo host of a World Series game, and after Game 6, she would be the first female sportscaster to preside over the presentation of the Commissioner's Trophy to the World Series champions. {| class="wikitable" !Event !Network !Teams ![[Play-by-play]] ![[Color commentator]]s ![[Field reporter]]s !Pregame host |- |[[1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] |[[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC]]<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Abc 'Settles' For All-Stars|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/may/03/abc-settles-for-all-stars/|agency=Associated Press|date=May 3, 1995}}</ref> |[[1994 Pittsburgh Pirates season|Pittsburgh Pirates]] ([[Three Rivers Stadium|host]]) |[[Bob Costas]]<ref name=":4" /> |[[Joe Morgan]] and [[Bob Uecker]] |''[[Hannah Storm]]'' and ''[[Johnny Bench]]'' |[[Greg Gumbel]]<ref>{{cite news|title=ABC Makes a Deal with America Online|author=Tom Hopkins|newspaper=[[Dayton Daily News]]|page=9B|date=July 11, 1994}}</ref> |- |[[1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] |[[Major League Baseball on ABC|ABC]]<ref>{{YouTube|title=1995 ABC MLB All-Star Game commercial|id=lVrJcbDXklo}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kent |first=Milton|date=July 12, 1995|title=No improvement, thanks to ABC|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19950712&id=jWJWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6840,411821&hl=en|newspaper=The Spokesman-Review}}</ref> |[[1995 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]]<ref>{{cite web|title=1995 Texas Rangers All Star Game Press Pin Brooche The Baseball Network Hat|url=http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1995-texas-rangers-all-star-game-244247978|website=WorthPoint}}</ref> ([[Ameriquest Field in Arlington|host]]) |[[Al Michaels]]<ref>{{cite news|title=McEnroe sees a plus in all the fuss|author=Michael Hiestand|newspaper=USA Today|page=2C|date=July 7, 1995}}</ref> |[[Jim Palmer]] and [[Tim McCarver]] |''[[Lesley Visser]]'' and ''[[Rick Dempsey]]'' |[[John Saunders (journalist)|John Saunders]]<ref>{{cite news|title=ABC All-Stars shrug off uncertainty of future|author=Rudy Martzke|newspaper=USA Today|page=2C|date=July 11, 1995}}</ref> |- |rowspan="4"|[[1995 American League Division Series]] |NBC (in New York) |rowspan="2"|[[1995 Seattle Mariners season|Seattle Mariners]]/[[1995 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] |[[Gary Thorne]] |[[Tommy Hutton]] |- |ABC (in Seattle) |[[Brent Musburger]] |[[Jim Kaat]] |''[[Jack Arute]]'' (Game 5) |- |NBC (in Cleveland<ref name="ReferenceA">{{YouTube|title=1995 MLB on NBC Promo (Divisional Playoffs).wmv |id=qJA0wVUnUTw}}</ref>) |rowspan="2"|[[1995 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]]/[[1995 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] |[[Bob Costas]] |[[Bob Uecker]] |- |ABC (in Boston) |[[Steve Zabriskie]] |[[Tommy Hutton]] |- |rowspan="4"|[[1995 National League Division Series]] |NBC (in Colorado) |rowspan="2"|[[1995 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]]/[[1995 Colorado Rockies season|Colorado Rockies]] |rowspan="2"|[[Pete Van Wieren]] (Games 1–3)<br/>[[Al Michaels]] (Game 4) |rowspan="2"|[[Larry Dierker]] (Games 1–3)<br/>[[Jim Palmer]] and [[Tim McCarver]] (Game 4) |- |ABC (in Atlanta) |- |NBC (in Los Angeles<ref name="ReferenceA" />) |rowspan="2"|[[1995 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati Reds]]/[[1995 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] |[[Greg Gumbel]] |[[Joe Morgan]] |- |ABC (in Cincinnati) |[[Al Michaels]] |[[Jim Palmer]] and [[Tim McCarver]] |- |rowspan="2"|[[1995 American League Championship Series]] |ABC (Games 1–2<ref>{{cite news|author=Jim Shea|date=October 10, 1995|title=The Pick: Indians vs. Mariners|page=C5|newspaper=Hartford Courant}}</ref>) |rowspan="2"|[[1995 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]]/[[1995 Seattle Mariners season|Seattle Mariners]] |[[Brent Musburger]] |[[Jim Kaat]] |''[[Jack Arute]]'' |- |NBC (Games 3<ref>{{cite news|author=Jim Shea|date=October 13, 1995|title=So Far, Musberger is Off His Game|page=C4|newspaper=Hartford Courant}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SO FAR, MUSBURGER IS OFF HIS GAME |url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1995-10-13-9510130388-story.html |access-date=February 17, 2023 |website=Hartford Courant|date=October 13, 1995 }}</ref>–6<ref>{{YouTube|id=TJQ797wQUQM|title=1995プレーオフ　キングドーム}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|id=7p6b9N4cD_o|title=1995 NBC Sports Promo (1995 American League Championship Series Game 6)}}</ref>) |[[Bob Costas]] |[[Bob Uecker]] |''[[Jim Gray (sportscaster)|Jim Gray]]'' |- |rowspan="2"|[[1995 National League Championship Series]] |ABC (in Cincinnati<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{YouTube|title=1995 N.L. CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - ATLANTA BRAVES @ CINCINNATI REDS *GAMES 1-2 CLIPS*|id=AsB98PcI23A}}</ref>) | rowspan="2" |[[1995 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]]/[[1995 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati Reds]] |[[Al Michaels]] |[[Jim Palmer]] and [[Tim McCarver]] |''[[Lesley Visser]]'' |- |NBC (in Atlanta<ref>{{YouTube|id=B8Kqn3eFT6Q|title=1995 N.L.C.S. CINCINNATI REDS @ ATLANTA *GAMES 3-4 CLIPS / WAY TO GO DEVEREAUX*}}</ref>) |[[Greg Gumbel]] |[[Joe Morgan]] |- |rowspan="2"|[[1995 World Series]] |ABC (Games 1,<ref>{{YouTube|id=nEW4FnKBrKE|title=MLB World Series 21.10.1995 Cleveland Indians VS Atlanta Braves (Game 1)}}</ref> 4<ref>{{YouTube|id=1jLN1lMIIac|title=MLB World Series 21.10.1995 Cleveland Indians VS Atlanta Braves (Game 4)}}</ref>–5<ref>{{YouTube|id=rVlMs-xgItY|title=MLB World Series 21.10.1995 Cleveland Indians VS Atlanta Braves (Game 5)}}</ref>) |rowspan="2"|[[1995 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]]/[[1995 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] |[[Al Michaels]] |[[Jim Palmer]] and [[Tim McCarver]] |''[[Lesley Visser]]'' |[[John Saunders (journalist)|John Saunders]] |- |NBC (Games 2<ref>{{YouTube|id=1OUb5wCIrBY|title=1995 MLB on NBC Promo (World Series--Game 2).wmv}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|id=Ih-Ei8U7YgY|title=MLB World Series 21.10.1995 Cleveland Indians VS Atlanta Braves (Game 2)}}</ref>–3, 6<ref>{{cite web|title=1995 World Series – Game 6|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/baseballs_best/mlb_bb_gamepage.jsp?story_page=bb_95ws_gm6_cleatl|access-date=October 10, 2010|publisher=Major League Baseball}}</ref>) |[[Bob Costas]] |[[Joe Morgan]] and [[Bob Uecker]] |''[[Jim Gray (sportscaster)|Jim Gray]]'' |[[Hannah Storm]] |} ===Notable calls=== :[[1995 American League Division Series]]: {{blockquote|Oh man, oh man, [[Tony Peña]] on 3 and 0! Sends everybody home! Tony Peña spells good night! And this team that won 27 games in its final at-bat, that had 48 come-from-behind wins, that was 13–0 in extra inning games...did all those things...when Tony Peña connected.|[[Bob Costas]], calling the walk-off home run by Tony Peña in Game 1, [[1995 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland]] vs. [[1995 Boston Red Sox season|Boston]].}} {{blockquote|(before the pitch) The fans want a dinger out of him...This one by Mattingly, OH HANG ON TO THE ROOF...GOODBYE, HOME RUN! DON MATTINGLY!!!|[[Gary Thorne]] after [[Don Mattingly]]'s only playoff home run in his last game at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]].}} {{blockquote|Oh yeah, tie game, [[Paul O'Neill (baseball)|Paul O'Neill]], GOODBYE into the night of New York!!!!|[[Gary Thorne]] calling Paul O'Neill's game-tying home run off [[Norm Charlton]] in Game 2 vs. [[1995 Seattle Mariners season|Mariners]].}} {{blockquote|No balls and a strike to [[Edgar Martinez|Martinez]]. Line drive, we are tied! [[Ken Griffey Jr.|Griffey]] is coming around! In the corner is [[Bernie Williams|Bernie]]! He's going to try and score! Here's the division championship! Mariners win it, [[1995 Seattle Mariners season|Mariners]] win it!!!|[[Brent Musburger]] calling [[The Double (Seattle Mariners)|the series-winning double]] by Edgar Martínez.}} :[[1995 National League Division Series]]: {{blockquote|The [[1995 Atlanta Braves season|Braves]] a strike away from advancing..a half swing and they'll go to [[1995 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati]] for the [[1995 National League Championship Series|National League Championship Series]].|[[Al Michaels]], calling the final out, Atlanta vs. [[1995 Colorado Rockies season|Colorado]].}} :[[1995 American League Championship Series]]: {{blockquote|The [[1995 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]], after a [[1954 World Series|41-year wait]], are in the [[1995 World Series|World Series]].|Bob Costas}} :[[1995 National League Championship Series]]: {{blockquote|[[Mark Wohlers|Wohlers]] looks...and the strike two pitch to [[Reggie Sanders|Sanders]]...a swing and a miss! And the [[1995 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] have won the {{baseball year|1995}} National League pennant! And as you can imagine the celebration begins, down on the natural surface of this [[Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium|ballpark]]...|[[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC]]'s [[Greg Gumbel]].}} :[[1995 World Series]]: {{blockquote|Back to [[Atlanta, Georgia|Georgia]]!|Al Michaels calling the final out of Game 5 as the [[1995 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] won the game; Bob Costas also said this four years later when the [[1999 New York Mets season|New York Mets]] won Game 5 of the [[1999 National League Championship Series|1999 NLCS]].}} {{blockquote|[[David Justice|Dave Justice]], all is forgiven in Atlanta.|Bob Costas after Justice's Game 6 home run which would prove the deciding run.}} {{blockquote|Left-center field...[[Marquis Grissom|Grissom]], on the run...[[1995 Atlanta Braves season|the team of the '90s]] has its World Championship!<ref>{{cite news |last=Foster|first=Jason|date=October 27, 2015|title=Almost a dynasty: The Braves won a lot in the '90s, but they should've won more|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/list/braves-world-series-losses-postseason-collapses-failures-1996-yankees-twins-blue-jays-phillies-marlins-eric-gregg/6jfr6crlbyhv15jv5wfxv5qww#:~:text=As%20the%20Braves%20won%20the,a%20title%20up%20for%20debate.|work=Sporting News|location= |access-date=}}</ref>|Bob Costas calling the final out in Game 6.<ref>{{YouTube|title=Final out in 1995 World Series (Braves vs. Indians)|id=W0DvWtLVqos}}</ref>}} ==Ratings== Ratings for both seasons of the ''Baseball Night in America'' regular season coverage were substantially higher than [[Major League Baseball on CBS|CBS]]'s final season in 1993 (3.8) or any subsequent season on [[Major League Baseball on Fox|Fox]]. ''Baseball Night in America'' earned a 6.2 during the [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|strike-shortened]] [[1994 in baseball|1994 season]] and a 5.8 in 1995.<ref name=":5" /> ===All-Star Game=== {| class="wikitable" !Year !Rating !Share !Households |- |[[1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1994]] |15.7 |28 |14,790,000 |- |[[1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1995]] |13.9 |25 |13,260,000 |} ===1995 World Series=== {{further|World Series television ratings}} {| class="wikitable" !Rating !Share |- |19.5<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/wstv.shtml|title=World Series Television Ratings (1968-2017)|website=Baseball Almanac}}</ref> |33 |} ==See also== * [[1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] * [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike]] ** [[1994 World Series]] * [[1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nidetz |first=Steve |date=1995-07-10 |title=ABC pledges all-star effort despite TBN woes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-abc-pledges-all-star-eff/163555948/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=Chicago Tribune |page=25 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> * [[1995 American League Division Series]] ** [[The Double (Seattle Mariners)]] * [[1995 National League Division Series]] * [[1995 American League Championship Series]] * [[1995 National League Championship Series]] * [[1995 World Series]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{commons category}} *[http://stholeary.blogspot.com/2011/07/baseball-night-in-america-worst-idea.html Baseball Night In America: The Worst Idea Ever] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20180806115655/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/keyword/baseball-network Articles about Baseball Network – Baltimore Sun] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20190216094409/http://sabrmedia.org/databases/network-tv-broadcasts/searchable-network-tv-broadcasts/ Searchable Network TV Broadcasts] {{s-start}} {{succession box|before=[[Major League Baseball on CBS|CBS]]| title=Major League Baseball network broadcast partner| years=[[1994 Major League Baseball season|1994]] – [[1995 Major League Baseball season|1995]]| after=[[Major League Baseball on Fox|Fox]] & [[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC]]}} {{s-end}} {{Navboxes|list1= {{Sports television in the United States}} {{Major League Baseball on national television}} {{Major League Baseball on ABC}} {{Major League Baseball on NBC}} {{ESPN on ABC}} {{NBC Sports}} {{The Baseball Network}} }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Baseball Network, The}} [[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1994]] [[Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 1995]] [[Category:1994 Major League Baseball season]] [[Category:1995 Major League Baseball season]] [[Category:Major League Baseball on television]] [[Category:Defunct television networks in the United States]] [[Category:Former joint ventures]] [[Category:ABC Sports]] [[Category:Major League Baseball on NBC]] [[Category:Simulcasts]] [[Category:1994 establishments in the United States]] [[en:The Baseball Network]] foiqe0756teml7dzauhsc7u70e8by2f