COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 513210

Pay Television Networks

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

38companies1905–2001founding years32still active6no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedLandmark Communications, Inc.
1905
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
FoundedUniversal Studios, Inc.
1912
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedPower Corporation of Canada
1925
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedQuebecor Inc.
1965
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedAdelphia Communications Corporation
1972
FoundedCanWest Global Communications Corporation
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedESPN, Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedThe Weather Channel Companies
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedUSA Interactive, Inc.
1982
FoundedLodgeNet Entertainment Corporation
1983
FoundedA & E Television NetworksFoundedGlobal Outdoors, Inc.FoundedLifetime Entertainment Services
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedCrown Media Holdings, Inc.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedHollywood Media Corporation
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedUnited Pan-Europe Communications NV
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedProSiebenSat.1 Media AG
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
FoundedAOL Time Warner Inc.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Landmark Communications, Inc. →
Active · founded 1905
1900s-20s:Samuel Slover becomes publisher and half-owner of the Newport News Times-Herald; Slover takes over a string…
Landmark Communications, Inc. →
Active · founded 1905
1900s-20s:Samuel Slover becomes publisher and half-owner of the Newport News Times-Herald; Slover takes over a string…
Universal Studios, Inc. →
Active · founded 1912
Universal Studios, Inc.
Universal Studios, Inc. →
Active · founded 1912
Universal Studios, Inc.
Power Corporation of Canada →
Active · founded 1925 · Canada
Early 1950s:Company begins to diversify its interests away from the utility industry.
Power Corporation of Canada →
Active · founded 1925 · Canada
Early 1950s:Company begins to diversify its interests away from the utility industry.
Quebecor Inc. →
Active · founded 1965 · Canada
Quebecor Inc.
Quebecor Inc. →
Active · founded 1965 · Canada
Quebecor Inc.
Adelphia Communications Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1972
With more than 5.8 million subscribers in 37 U.S.
Adelphia Communications Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1972
With more than 5.8 million subscribers in 37 U.S.
CanWest Global Communications Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1973 · Canada
CanWest Global Communications Corporation is Canada's largest private sector television broadcaster.
CanWest Global Communications Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1973 · Canada
CanWest Global Communications Corporation is Canada's largest private sector television broadcaster.
ESPN, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
ESPN, Inc.
ESPN, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
ESPN, Inc.
The Weather Channel Companies →
Active · founded 1981
Through cable TV, radio, and Internet operations, The Weather Channel Companies provide around-the-clock weather…
The Weather Channel Companies →
Active · founded 1981
Through cable TV, radio, and Internet operations, The Weather Channel Companies provide around-the-clock weather…
USA Interactive, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
The history of USA Interactive, Inc., formerly USA Networks, Inc., involves some of the media's biggest names,…
USA Interactive, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
The history of USA Interactive, Inc., formerly USA Networks, Inc., involves some of the media's biggest names,…
LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation is a leading entertainment company providing network-based video games,…
LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation is a leading entertainment company providing network-based video games,…
A & E Television Networks →
Active · founded 1984
A & E Television Networks began modestly in 1984 with one cable channel, The Arts & Entertainment Network, which…
A & E Television Networks →
Active · founded 1984
A & E Television Networks began modestly in 1984 with one cable channel, The Arts & Entertainment Network, which…
Global Outdoors, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Global Outdoors, Inc.--known as Global Resources, Inc.
Global Outdoors, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Global Outdoors, Inc.--known as Global Resources, Inc.
Lifetime Entertainment Services →
Active · founded 1984
Lifetime Entertainment Services is a joint venture owned by The Walt Disney Company and The Hearst Corporation.
Lifetime Entertainment Services →
Active · founded 1984
Lifetime Entertainment Services is a joint venture owned by The Walt Disney Company and The Hearst Corporation.
Crown Media Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Crown Media Holdings, Inc.
Crown Media Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Crown Media Holdings, Inc.
Hollywood Media Corporation →
Active · founded 1993
Hollywood Media Corporation is a diversified company offering news, information, and ticketing services related to the…
Hollywood Media Corporation →
Active · founded 1993
Hollywood Media Corporation is a diversified company offering news, information, and ticketing services related to the…
United Pan-Europe Communications NV →
Active · founded 1995 · The Netherlands
Not content with becoming one of Europe's largest cable television companies, with more than seven million subscribers,…
United Pan-Europe Communications NV →
Active · founded 1995 · The Netherlands
Not content with becoming one of Europe's largest cable television companies, with more than seven million subscribers,…
ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG →
Active · founded 2000 · Germany
ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG is the largest television company in Germany.
ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG →
Active · founded 2000 · Germany
ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG is the largest television company in Germany.
AOL Time Warner Inc. →
Defunct · founded 2001
Global media powerhouse AOL Time Warner Inc.
AOL Time Warner Inc. →
Defunct · founded 2001
Global media powerhouse AOL Time Warner Inc.
Liberty Media Corporation →
Active · founded 2001
Liberty Media Corporation is a holding company with a variety of subsidiaries and investments operating in the media,…
Liberty Media Corporation →
Active · founded 2001
Liberty Media Corporation is a holding company with a variety of subsidiaries and investments operating in the media,…
Build It Today

Starting a pay television networks company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories for today's tools and capital.