Which came first USA or ABC Family

[oldvnewschool]

Just a simple question.

Both USA (Then known as MSG Network) and ABC Family (Then known as CBN Cable)

debuted in 1977. But which one came first ?

I think it's USA from what I've studied on.

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

I think USA was first up on a satellite.

But MSG Network (which was what was originally put up on a satellite and eventually morphed into USA) was available in parts of metro New York as a terrestrial (microwave?) feed as early as the Fall of 1969.

 

[RALfan]

I think both launched literally at the same time - April 1977.

 

[KMRichards]

> I think both launched literally at the same time - April
> 1977.

IIRC, both were beaten to the satellite by WTCG/17, Atlanta ... better known today as SuperStation TBS.<P ID="signature">______________


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[bpatrick]

> > I think both launched literally at the same time - April
> > 1977.
>
> IIRC, both were beaten to the satellite by WTCG/17, Atlanta
> ... better known today as SuperStation TBS.
>
WTCG started its national satellite feed December 20, 1976.

 

[classictvfan]

WTCG started its national satellite feed December 20, 1976.


Could you please give us the WTCG schedule for that day-12/20/76?

 

[oldvnewschool]

> WTCG started its national satellite feed December 20, 1976.
>
>
> Could you please give us the WTCG schedule for that
> day-12/20/76?
>
Interesting however on one post I found that

the USA (MSG at the time) made it's debut on Sept. 27th, 1977

Assuming that April 4th, 1980 is when MSG changed it's name

to USA

Was there an official date for when CBN Cable (Now Abc Family)

debuted ?

And how about when did WTBS started calling themselves superstation?

 

[bpatrick]

> > WTCG started its national satellite feed December 20,
> 1976.
> >
> >
> > Could you please give us the WTCG schedule for that
> > day-12/20/76?
> >
> Interesting however on one post I found that
>
> the USA (MSG at the time) made it's debut on Sept. 27th,
> 1977
>
> Assuming that April 4th, 1980 is when MSG changed it's name
>
> to USA
>
> Was there an official date for when CBN Cable (Now Abc
> Family)
>
> debuted ?
>
> And how about when did WTBS started calling themselves
> superstation?
>
When I get a chance I'll try to get WTCG's schedule for 12/20/76.
IIRC, it began calling itself "the superstation that serves the
nation" that same day.

I can't answer the questions about USA and the Family Channel.

 

[RALfan]

I just double checked my sources (The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 8th Edition) and I can safely say that ABC Family literally started first in April 1977 as CBN Cable; USA came next in September of that year, launching as MSG Network and going national in April 1980. BTW, the former became the CBN Family Channel in January 1989 (later dropping the CBN from the name) and was also known as Fox Family from August 1998-November 2001 before assuming its present moniker.

 

[KMRichards]

I should have thought to check the Brooks & Marsh book myself. I've been preoccupied with family matters and a mess on the Los Angeles radio board, though, so I won't kick myself too hard.

As someone who had CBN available on cable in the early 80s, I should point out that the original name was "CBN Satellite Network"; it changed to "CBN Cable Network" in 1983 or 1984, IIRC.

> I just double checked my sources (The Complete Directory to
> Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 8th Edition) and I
> can safely say that ABC Family literally started first in
> April 1977 as CBN Cable; USA came next in September of that
> year, launching as MSG Network and going national in April
> 1980. BTW, the former became the CBN Family Channel in
> January 1989 (later dropping the CBN from the name) and was
> also known as Fox Family from August 1998-November 2001
> before assuming its present moniker.
> <P ID="signature">______________


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