The NHL on USA

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From 1980-1985, the USA Network televised New York Rangers home games, the Stanley Cup playoffs as well as the Stanley Cup Finals.

See also: History_of_the_New_York_Rangers#The_post-Original_Six_era

[edit] Origins of the deal

The genesis of the package took place when in April 1980, the Madison Square Garden Network changed its name to the USA Network. This occurred when the ownership structure was reorganized under a joint operating agreement by the UA-Columbia Cablevision cable system (now known as Cablevision Systems Corporation) and MCA (then the parent of Universal Studios, now owned by NBC Universal).

Things took a step further one year later when, Time Inc. (which eventually merged with Warner Communications to form Time Warner) and Paramount Pictures Corp. (then a division of Gulf+Western, now owned by Viacom) took minority ownership stakes in USA. G+W also owned the New York Rangers and the MSG regional sports television network (both now owned by Cablevision).

[edit] Announcers

Al Trautwig was the on-site studio host for The NHL on USA.

Other announcers included were:

See also: New_York_Rangers#Broadcasters, List of Stanley Cup Finals broadcasters, and List of NHL All-Star Game broadcasters
Preceded by
None
NHL pay television carrier in the United States
1980 - 1985
Succeeded by
ESPN