Spike TV is a cable television network that began as The Nashville Network (TNN), founded by Gaylord Entertainment Company and Group W Satellite Communications in March 1983. This network focused on country music-related programming and reruns of country-themed network shows such as The Dukes of Hazzard(now carried on Spike TV sibling network Country Music Television) and Dallas (now carried on Disney-owned cable SoapNet). Westinghouse purchased TNN in 1995 to form CBS Cable (with CMT). In late 2000, TNN scaled back its country-western trappings and changed its name to The National Network, also referred to as The New TNN, after CBS's acquisiton by Viacom. The programming changed significantly in an attempt to appeal to a broader audience. By 2002, virtually all country-western programming had been purged from TNN. Some of programing formally airing on "The Nashville Network" was picked up by CMT (Country Music TV).
In early 2003, another name change was announced. The new brand, Spike TV, was marketed as the first television network for men, although this is not necessarily true, as networks such as Men TV already existed before Spike TV was announced. The name change was supposed to coincide with a change in programming, including original shows like the adult-oriented animated comedy Stripperella and the Ren & Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon, as well as imports such as MXC (a.k.a. Most Extreme Elimination Challenge); however, on June 19, 2003, film director Spike Lee won a New York State Supreme Court injunction preventing the name change, which Lee feared viewers would associate with him. Lee's injunction became the subject of ridicule in the media and TV talk shows.
On July 8, 2003, the suit was settled, and TNN was allowed to call itself Spike TV. The name change became official on August 11 of that same year.
Spike TV operates as part of MTV Networks, and is owned by Viacom. It has scored some major coups in terms of its programming, receiving exclusive syndication rights to several Star Trek series (which was produced by another Viacom branch, Paramount Pictures), as well as most of the James Bond film series.
In 2005, supporters of the cancelled Star Trek: Enterprise began looking at Spike as a potential new home for the low-rated series. A March 4, 2005 Boston Herald article quoted a Spike TV spokesperson as saying the network might consider picking up Enterprise for a fifth season.
Programming
Former Programming
Trivia
- Due to licensing restrictions, Canadian viewers of Spike TV see alternate programming whenever Spike airs a James Bond film. Most often, the subsituted show is the comedy adventure series, V.I.P. , much to the chagrin of Bond movie fans.
- Due to similar restrictions, WWE RAW is not seen in Canada on Spike TV.
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