Preview was an American subscription television service that launched in 1980.[1] Like its competitors, such as ONTV and SelecTV, Preview was a scrambled UHF subscription channel requiring a special set-top box to decode the signal.
Preview's broadcast day was mainly between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m., but varied depending on the market and during later periods of the channel's existence.[2] Owned by Warner Communications, the parent company of Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Music Group during the 1970s and 1980s, Preview was carried on several independent stations including KDNL-TV in St. Louis (which has since become an ABC affiliate), WCLQ-TV (now Univision owned-and-operated station WQHS-DT) in Cleveland, WSMW-TV (now Univision affiliate WUNI) in the Boston area, and KTWS-TV (now MyNetworkTV owned-and-operated station KDFI) in Dallas.
The service offered movies, sporting events, and specials. The service also broadcast programming from ONTV and SelecTV, in some cases, simulcasting in areas where any of these services and Preview were available. Preview lasted until 1986, when the last affiliate, WSMW, discontinued carrying the service.
References
- ↑ Preview program guide, November 1981
- ↑ Preview program guide (various months)
Premium television services in the United States |
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Additional resources on North American television |
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| North America |
- List of local television stations in North America
- DTV transition
- North American TV mini-template
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Playboy TV | |
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| The Erotic Network | |
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| Peephole.TV |
- Peephole.TV
- Peephole Color
- Peephole Gay World
- Peephole Big Ass & Tits
- Peephole Teen & Milf
- Peephole Gang Bang & Gonzo
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| Sports packages |
Pro sports | |
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Additional resources on North American television |
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| North America |
- List of local television stations in North America
- DTV transition
- North American TV mini-template
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| Canada | |
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| Mexico | |
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| United States | |
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Defunct premium television services in the United States |
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| Premium services | |
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| Adult premium |
- American Exxxtasy
- Escapade
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| Pay-per-view |
- Action Pay-Per-View
- Cable Video Store
- Drive-In Cinema
- Guest Cinema
- The HiLife Channel
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1 Indicates the channel is still in existence, but currently operates as a basic cable channel.2 Star Channel was part of Warner Communications' QUBE interactive cable service, and was the precursor to present-day The Movie Channel. |
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Additional resources on North American television |
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| North America |
- List of local television stations in North America
- DTV transition
- North American TV mini-template
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| Canada | |
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| Mexico | |
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| United States | |
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- See also
- U.S. movie channels
- Canadian movie channels
- Canadian premium channels
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Movie-oriented television services in the United States |
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| Over-the-air digital television | |
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| Cable television |
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| Defunct |
Cable, satellite and terrestrial TV | |
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| Subscription TV | |
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Additional resources on North American television |
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| North America |
- List of local television stations in North America
- DTV transition
- North American TV mini-template
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| Canada | |
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| Mexico | |
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| United States | |
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- See also
- U.S. premium channels
- Canadian movie channels
- Canadian premium channels
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