Spike TV

Spike TV is a cable network that began as The Nashville Network (TNN), founded by Gaylord Entertainment Company and Group W Satellite Communications in March 1983. TNN was renamed Spike in 2003 after a brief lawsuit by filmmaker Spike Lee.

The Nashville Network (1983-2000)

The Nashville Network was based at the Opryland USA theme park in Nashville. During its first TNN era, the network focused on country music-related programming and reruns of country-themed network shows. TNN's flagship shows included Nashville Now and Grand Ole Opry Live, both of which were broadcast live from Opryland USA.

Related Topics:
Opryland USA - Nashville - Country music - Grand Ole Opry

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Much of TNN's programming during the Gaylord era was originally produced by Opryland Productions, also owned by Gaylord Entertainment. Shows included variety shows, talk shows, game shows, outdoors shows, and lifestyle shows. Some of TNN's popular on-air talent included local Nashville media personalties Ralph Emery, Charlie Chase, and Lorianne Crook, as well as established stars such as country music singer Bill Anderson and actresses Florence Henderson and Dinah Shore. TNN even created stars, such as wily fisherman Bill Dance.

Related Topics:
Talk shows - Game shows - Bill Anderson - Florence Henderson - Dinah Shore

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TNN had two self-operating and self-promoting sub-divisions, TNN Outdoors and TNN Motor Sports. TNN Outdoors was responsible for the programming of hunting and fishing shows. TNN Motor Sports was responsible for production of all the network's racing coverage, including NASCAR Winston Cup and smaller outfits such as USAC, NHRA, and ARCA. Motorcycle and speedboat racing was also broadcast. TNN Outdoors and TNN Motor Sports also marketed themselves, selling a variety of merchandise and branding themselves onto video games.

Related Topics:
NASCAR - Winston Cup - USAC - NHRA - Video games

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Westinghouse (owner of the CBS networks) purchased TNN and its sister network CMT in 1995 to form CBS Cable (along with a short-lived startup network entitled "Eye On People"). Most of the original entertainment-oriented programming ceased production, and the network began to rely more on TNN Outdoors and TNN Motor Sports for programming. The network's ties to CBS allowed it to pick up country-themed CBS dramas from the 1980s such as The Dukes of Hazzard and Dallas, neither of which had been seen on television since their original runs ended. During this time, Ralph Emery retired from Nashville Now. Upon Emery's exit, the show was overhauled and renamed Music City Tonight (hosted by Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase). After a very short run, Crook and Chase left the show to launch a syndicated daytime show, Crook & Chase, which eventually came to TNN after failing in the syndication market. Music City Tonight was overhauled again to resemble its original Nashville Now format, but was again rebranded as Prime Time Country. This version was originally hosted by actor Tom Wopat. He was later replaced with singer/songwriter Gary Chapman, who enjoyed relative success with the show until its cancellation in 1999.

Related Topics:
Westinghouse - CBS - CMT - 1995 - 1980s - The Dukes of Hazzard - Dallas - Crook & Chase - Tom Wopat - Gary Chapman - 1999

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During this time, the network's new logo had to be changed after officials from Turner Broadcasting pointed out the fusion of the T and the first N was strikingly similar to their TNT logo (used until 2001). TNN relented after the threat of a lawsuit and altered the logo, separating the T and the N.

Related Topics:
Turner Broadcasting - TNT - 2001

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Ownership shifted to Viacom in the late 1990s after its acquisition of Westinghouse's media efforts. TNN and CMT were subsequently folded into Viacom's MTV Networks division.

Related Topics:
Viacom - 1990s - MTV Networks

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