CBS Cable

Former United States cable television network active between 1981-1982

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|

Television channel

CBS Cable

Country| United States
Programming
Picture format| NTSC
Ownership
Owner| CBS
History
Launched| October 12, 1981 (1981-10-12)[1]
Closed| December 17, 1982 (1982-12-17)
(1 year, 66 days)

CBS Cable was an early but short-lived cable television network operated by CBS, Inc., dedicated to the lively arts (i.e. symphony, dance, theatre, opera, etc.). It debuted on October 12, 1981[2] and ceased operations on December 17, 1982.[3]

CBS Cable was a personal project of CBS founder William Paley, who hoped it would blaze a trail for cultural programming in the then-emerging cable television medium. Its program offerings were ambitious and often critically praised. Nevertheless, the network struggled, and ultimately failed, largely because of the reluctance of many cable systems across the United States to give it carriage, limiting severely its ability to attract both viewers and advertisers for its costly lineup of programming. Its program offerings, while critically hailed in their own right, frequently overlapped cultural, literary and historical programs broadcast over the air in prime time by PBS in nearly every television market. Further, cable systems in the early 1980s had far more limited channel capacity than they do today (usually the standard thirty-five channels in most cities). CBS Cable was competing for channel space by appealing to a select and relatively small upscale audience, while other networks coming on line at the same time such as MTV and ESPN promised larger and more broad-based viewership and therefore got cable operators to carry them far more easily. MTV and ESPN thrived and gave rise to additional companion channels within a short time, while the CBS Cable channel folded after just over 14 months in operation.

CBS made another effort to launch a cable network using the CBS name, CBS Eye On People, which launched in 1997, featuring mostly biography programming and programs from the CBS News archives, along with old episodes of 60 Minutes and other CBS newsmagazines. However the effort proved to be unsuccessful, and in 1998 CBS sold its stake in the network to Discovery Communications, which rebranded it as Discovery People before utilizing the channel slots acquired in the deal for their other networks.

## As a CBS division name

[edit]

The CBS Cable name was used for three years as the name of the network's cable division, after the 1996 purchase of The Nashville Network (now the general-interest Paramount Network) and Country Music Television from Gaylord Entertainment, along with CBS' existing stakes in the regional sports networks Midwest Sports Channel in the Twin Cities/Milwaukee (now split into Bally Sports North, serving Minnesota and the Dakotas, and Bally Sports Wisconsin for Wisconsin, purchased in 1992 by CBS as part of their acquisition of Midwest Television, the owners of WCCO-TV and Green Bay's WFRV-TV) and the Home Team Sports network in the Baltimore/Washington market (now Monumental Sports Network). TNN and CMT were folded into MTV Networks after the 1999 merger with Viacom, with the sports networks sold to other parties shortly after the merger.

## Host

[edit]

* Patrick Watson (also known for PBS' Live at Lincoln Center)

## Programs

[edit]

* Artists and Mothers included the film A Film About My Home, an autobiographical piece by Oren Rudavsky, as well as pieces by Joseph Cornell, Martin Scorsese, Jonas Mekas and Mark Rance.
* Confessions of a Cornermaker, an original dance piece by Twyla Tharp.
* Count Basie Live at Carnegie Hall, one of Basie's final performances, featuring guests Tony Bennett, George Benson, Joe Williams and Sarah Vaughan.
* Gertrude Stein Gertrude Stein Gertrude Stein, starring Pat Carroll, a video recreation of her one-woman off-Broadway play of the same name from 1977.
* Gilbert & Sullivan productions by Brent Walker (H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, Iolanthe, The Mikado, and The Gondoliers) aired in its last week of broadcast.
* Kennedy's Children (1982), play by Robert Patrick, directed by Marshall W. Mason, produced by Glenn Dubose, Feb. 11 & 12, 1982, starring Shirley Knight, Jane Alexander, Lindsay Crouse, Brad Dourif, and personnel from the Caffe Cino.
* Mornings at Seven
* Music Music Music (1981), the history of music in 90 seconds, with a score arranged by Mel Tormé; designed and directed by John Canemaker.
* Nichols and Dimes: A documentary film about business investment, with Mike Nichols' very successful Arabian horse business portrayed as an example. This was the first show broadcast on the network.
* The Quiz Kids, a revival of the 1950s game show, hosted by Norman Lear.
* The Ring of the Fettuccines, parody opera co-authored by Marie Allyn King
* Signature, an interview series in which the camera never cut away from the interviewee.
* Singin'!, three specials produced by and featuring Nancy Dussault with Karen Morrow singing popular classics.
* The Song Writers, a series saluting composers of The Great American Songbook
* Tintypes, a revue of American music from 1895 to 1912.
* Mixed Bag, a selection of highlights from the channel's short history, shown as the network's final program.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Schwartz, Tony (October 12, 1981). "CBS Cable Starts Cultural Service Tonight". New York Times. p. C17.
2. ^ Clarke, Gerald (October 26, 1981). "Cable's Cultural Crapshoot". Time. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007.
3. ^ O'Connor, John J. (December 12, 1982). "TV VIEW; WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR CULTURAL PROGRAMMING". New York Times.

* Beck, Kirsten. Cultivating the Wasteland: Can Cable Put the Vision Back in TV? New York: American Council for the Arts (Edwards Brothers Printing), 1983. Chapter: "The CBS Cable Story".

* 1980s portal

* v
* t
* e

Paramount Global

Corporate directors|

* Shari Redstone (Non-Executive Chair)

CBS
Entertainment
Group|

| Flagship assets|

* CBS
* CBS Sports
* CBS Sports HQ
* CBS Sports Network
* The CW (12.5%)

|

BET Media Group|

* BET
* BET Her
* BET Jams
* BET Soul
* BET+

CBS News
and Stations|

* CBS News
* CBS News Radio
* CBS O&O
* KCBS-TV
* KCNC-TV
* KDKA-TV
* KOVR
* KPIX-TV
* KTVT
* KYW-TV
* WBBM-TV
* WBZ-TV
* WCBS-TV
* WCCO-TV/KCCW-TV
* WFOR-TV
* WJZ-TV
* WWJ-TV
* Ind.
* KCAL-TV
* KMAX-TV
* KPYX
* KSTW
* KTXA
* WBFS-TV
* WKBD-TV
* WLNY-TV
* WPKD-TV
* WPSG
* WSBK-TV
* WTOG
* WUPA
* Start TV
* WBXI-CD
* Network
* Fave TV

Production &
distribution|

* CBS Studios
* Big Ticket Entertainment
* CBS Eye Animation Productions
* Late Night Cartoons, Inc.
* CBS Media Ventures
* Dabl

Digital media|

* CBS MoneyWatch
* CBS Sports Digital
* CBSSports.com
* 247Sports
* MaxPreps
* CBS Watch
* Last.fm

Streaming|

* Paramount+
* original programming
* original films
* Showtime
* Pluto TV
* CBS News 24/7
* CBS Sports HQ

U.S. media
networks|

| MTV Entertainment Group|

* Comedy Central
* CMT
* CMT Music
* Logo TV
* MTV
* MTV2
* MTVU
* MTV Classic
* MTV Live
* Tr3s
* MTV Entertainment Studios
* MTV Animation
* Paramount Network
* Pop TV
* Smithsonian Channel
* Showtime Networks
* Showtime
* The Movie Channel
* Flix
* TV Land
* VH1

|

Nickelodeon Group|

* Nickelodeon
* Nick at Nite
* Nick Jr. (block)
* Nick Jr. Channel
* NickMusic
* Nicktoons
* TeenNick
* Production
* Awesomeness
* Nickelodeon Animation Studio
* Nick Digital
* Avatar Studios
* Paws, Inc.

Paramount
Pictures|

* Paramount Animation
* Paramount Players
* Paramount Home Entertainment
* Paramount Music
* United International Pictures (50%)
* Miramax (49%)
* Nickelodeon Movies
* Republic Pictures

International
networks|

* v
* t
* e

Paramount Networks Americas

Pan-American|

* Comedy Central
* MTV
* Club MTV
* MTV 00s
* MTV 80s
* MTV Hits Europe
* MTV Live
* Nickelodeon
* Nick Jr.
* NickMusic
* TeenNick
* Paramount Network
* Telefe Internacional

Brazil|

* Comedy Central
* MTV
* MTV 00s
* MTV Live
* Nickelodeon
* Nick Jr.
* NickMusic
* Paramount Network
* Telefe Internacional

Argentina|

* Telefe
* Córdoba
* Rosario
* Santa Fe

Chile|

* Chilevisión

Canada|

* CMT
* Nickelodeon
* Smithsonian Channel

Production arms|

* Porta dos Fundos (51% JV)
* TIS Productions (majority stake)

Defunct|

* MTV Brasil
* MTV Canada
* MTV2 Canada
* MTV Hits Brazil
* MTV Hits Latin America
* MTV Jams
* MTV Puerto Rico (licensed)
* Nick 2
* Nicktoons
* Smithsonian Channel
* VH1 Brazil
* VH1 Classic Europe
* VH1 Classic United States
* VH1 Europe
* VH1 HD
* VH1 Latin America
* VH1 MegaHits
* VH1 Soul

See also|

* Paramount Global
* Paramount Media Networks
* Paramount International Networks

* v
* t
* e

Paramount Networks EMEAA

MTV|

* MTV Africa
* MTV Base
* France and Francophone
* MTV Hits
* Germany
* Global
* Club MTV
* MTV 00s
* MTV 80s
* MTV 90s
* MTV Hits
* MTV Live
* India
* Ireland
* Israel
* Italy
* MTV Music
* Japan
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Spain
* Taiwan
* UK
* MTV 80s
* MTV 90s
* MTV Hits
* MTV Music

Nickelodeon|

* Arab world
* Africa
* Asia
* Malaysia
* Philippines
* Central/Eastern Europe
* Ukraine
* Croatia
* Serbian
* Slovenia
* Denmark
* Europe
* Flanders
* France and French-speaking Switzerland
* Germany
* Austria
* German-speaking Switzerland
* Greece
* Nickelodeon Plus
* Iberia
* Israel
* Italy
* Netherlands
* NickMusic
* Poland
* Scandinavia
* Sweden
* Turkey
* Wallonia
* Pakistan
* TeenNick

| Nick Jr.|

* Arab world
* Africa
* CIS, Ukraine and Georgia (previously Russia and Belarus)
* France
* Germany, Austria and Switzerland
* Greece
* Israel
* Italy
* Netherlands
* Portugal
* Scandinavia
* Southeast Asia
* Turkey
* Wallonia

|

Nicktoons|

* Arab world
* Africa
* Europe
* France
* Germany
* Netherlands
* Scandinavia

Comedy Central|

* CIS and Georgia
* Flanders
* France
* Germany
* Austrian subfeed
* Swiss subfeed
* Hungary
* Hot Comedy Central (Israel)
* Italy
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Polsat Comedy Central Extra
* Romania
* Spain

Paramount Network|

* Czech Republic
* France
* Netherlands
* Spain

BET|

* France
* Africa

Other|

* Ego
* Game One
* J-One
* JVs with AMC Networks International
* Film Cafe
* CBS Reality
* Super!

Defunct|

* 5Spike
* CBS Action Poland
* Comedy Central
* Extra
* Family Netherlands
* Sweden
* Kindernet
* MTV
* Adria
* Africa
* Australia and New Zealand
* Austria
* Belgium
* Czech Republic and Slovakia
* China
* Denmark
* Eesti
* Finland
* Greece
* Hungary
* Indonesia
* Lithuania and Latvia
* Middle East
* New Zealand
* Nordic
* Norway
* Pakistan
* Philippines
* Original
* MTV Pinoy
* MTVph
* Romania
* Russia, CIS and Georgia
* Southeast Asia
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Thailand
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* MTV Base
* MTV Brand New
* Italy
* Netherlands
* MTV Classic
* Australia and New Zealand
* Italy
* Poland
* Club MTV
* Australia
* MTV Hits
* Australia and New Zealand
* Italy
* MTV Idol
* MTV Music
* Greece
* Poland
* MTV Music 24
* MTV Plus
* MTV Pulse
* France
* Italy
* MTV Rocks
* MTV2 Pop
* Nickelodeon Russia
* QOOB
* The Box
* The Music Factory
* Flanders
* Nederland
* TMF Dance
* TMF NL
* TMF Pure
* VH1
* Denmark
* Europe
* Germany
* Poland
* Italy
* VH1 Classic
* VIVA
* Austria
* Germany
* Hungary

See also|

* Paramount Global
* Paramount Media Networks
* Paramount International Networks
* Paramount Networks UK & Australia
* Rainbow S.p.A. (30%)
* List of Paramount channels

* v
* t
* e

Paramount Networks UK & Australia

United Kingdom
& Ireland|

* Comedy Central1
* Comedy Central Extra
* Legend2
* Legend Xtra
* MTV
* Club MTV
* MTV 80s
* MTV 90s
* MTV Music
* Nickelodeon
* Nicktoons
* Nick Jr.
* Nick Jr. Too
* True Crime2
* True Crime Xtra

| UK-only|

* 5
* 5Action
* 5Select
* 5Star
* 5USA
* Milkshake!
* streaming service
* MTV Live

|

Australia &
New Zealand|

| Network 10|

* Sydney
* Melbourne
* Brisbane
* Adelaide
* Perth
* Northern NSW & Gold Coast
* Southern NSW & ACT
* Regional Victoria
* Regional Queensland

|

Multichannels|

* 10 HD
* 10 Drama
* 10 Comedy
* Nickelodeon
* you.tv
* gecko

Online|

* 10

Other|

* Comedy Central
* MTV
* Classic
* Club
* Hits
* Nickelodeon (Australia and New Zealand)
* Nick Jr.
* NickMusic
* OzTAM3

Related|

* Canwest
* Network 10 programs

Defunct|

* 5Spike
* 10 daily
* BET International
* CBS Justice1
* CMT
* MTV
* Base
* Classic
* Extra
* Flux
* Hits
* Music
* OMG
* Rocks
* Shows
* Nicktoonsters
* Smithsonian Channel
* Spike
* Spree TV
* Ten Guide
* TMF
* VH1
* Classic
* VH2
* Viva

* 175% with Sky Group
* 2with AMC Networks International UK
* 333% with Seven Network & Nine Network

Miscellaneous
holdings|

* CBS Broadcast Center
* Ed Sullivan Theater
* Paramount Consumer Products
* Paramount Global Content Distribution
* Philo (unknown stake)
* Porta dos Fundos (51%)
* WhoSay

Defunct/former
holdings|

* AXS TV
* Bellator MMA
* Blockbuster
* BNET
* CBS Cable
* CBS Eye on People
* CBS Films
* CBS Home Entertainment
* CBS Innertube
* CBS Productions
* CBS Radio
* CBS Records
* CBS Telenoticias
* CNET
* Chowhound
* CNET Video
* Download.com
* UrbanBaby
* ZDNET
* SmartPlanet
* TechRepublic
* Comedy Central Films
* ComicBook.com
* DreamWorks
* Epix
* Famous Music
* FindArticles
* Free FM
* GameSpot
* GameFAQs
* GameRankings
* Giant Bomb
* GameTrailers
* Harmonix
* HDNet Movies
* IFilm
* Infinity Broadcasting
* Insurge Pictures
* King World Productions
* Metacritic
* MetroLyrics
* MovieTickets.com
* Neopets
* Nickelodeon on Sunset
* Nick Records
* Noggin
* onGamers
* Paramount Digital Entertainment
* Paramount Famous Productions
* Paramount Parks
* Paramount Records
* Paramount Stations Group
* Paramount Television Studios
* Paramount Vantage
* Rainbow S.p.A. (30%)
* Bardel Entertainment
* Colorado Film
* Republic Pictures
* Scout.com
* Simon & Schuster
* Shockwave
* Spelling Television
* TV Guide
* TV.com
* Clicker.com
* United Paramount Theatres
* UPN
* USA Network
* VersionTracker
* VH1 Uno
* Viacom18 (13%)
* Viacom Entertainment Store
* VidCon
* Westinghouse Broadcasting
* Westinghouse Licensing
* Worldvision Enterprises
* CIC Video

See also|

* CBS Corporation
* Gulf and Western Industries
* National Amusements
* Viacom (1952–2005)
* Viacom (2005–2019)
* Westinghouse Electric Corporation
* History of CBS
* CBS, Inc. v. FCC
* Split of CBS Corporation and Viacom
* 2019 merger of CBS and Viacom
* Merger of Skydance Media and Paramount Global
* Criticism
* News
* Television programs
* Buildings and facilities
* CBS Building
* One Astor Plaza
* Radford Studio Center
* United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc. (1948)

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

## External links

[edit]

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