CBS Cable
| Company type | Division (of CBS, Inc.) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cable television network |
| Founded | October 12, 1981 |
| Founder | William S. Paley |
| Defunct | December 17, 1982 |
| Fate | Ceased operations |
Area served | United States |
| Owner | CBS, Inc. |
CBS Cable was a pioneering but short-lived cable television network under the ownership of CBS, Inc., dedicated to showcasing the performing arts, including symphony orchestras, dance, theater, and opera. It commenced broadcasting on October 12, 1981, and discontinued operations on December 17, 1982.
This channel emerged from the vision of CBS founder William S. Paley, who sought to introduce cultural programming to the nascent cable industry. Although it received critical acclaim for its ambitious lineup, CBS Cable faced significant challenges due to its limited distribution across U.S. cable providers, which hindered its viewer base and advertising prospects. Much of its content overlapped with cultural and historical programs aired by PBS during prime time in many regions. Furthermore, the early 1980s cable infrastructure typically offered about thirty-five channels, limiting CBS Cable’s ability to compete with networks like MTV and ESPN, which targeted mass audiences and secured broader carriage agreements. While MTV and ESPN experienced rapid growth, CBS Cable ceased operations after just over fourteen months.
In 1997, CBS made another attempt at cable with CBS Eye On People, a channel featuring biographical shows, archival news footage, and reruns of 60 Minutes. This initiative also failed commercially; by 1998, CBS sold its interest to Discovery Communications, which rebranded it as Discovery People and reassigned its distribution capacity to other channels.
As a CBS division name
Following CBS’ 1996 acquisition of The Nashville Network (now Paramount Network) and Country Music Television from Gaylord Entertainment, the CBS Cable brand was used for three years as the company’s cable division. This included CBS’ ownership stakes in regional sports networks such as Midwest Sports Channel serving the Twin Cities/Milwaukee area (now divided into Bally Sports North for Minnesota and the Dakotas, and Bally Sports Wisconsin for Wisconsin—acquired in 1992 via Midwest Television, owners of WCCO-TV and Green Bay’s WFRV-TV) and Home Team Sports covering Baltimore/Washington (currently Monumental Sports Network). After Viacom’s 1999 merger, TNN and CMT were absorbed into MTV Networks, while the sports channels were sold shortly thereafter.
Host
- Patrick Watson (also recognized for his work on PBS' Live at Lincoln Center)
Programs
- Artists and Mothers showcased Oren Rudavsky’s autobiographical film A Film About My Home, alongside pieces by Joseph Cornell, Martin Scorsese, Jonas Mekas, and Mark Rance.
- Confessions of a Cornermaker, an original dance work choreographed by Twyla Tharp.
- Count Basie Live at Carnegie Hall, capturing one of Basie’s final concerts featuring Tony Bennett, George Benson, Joe Williams, and Sarah Vaughan.
- Gertrude Stein Gertrude Stein Gertrude Stein, a video adaptation starring Pat Carroll in her solo off-Broadway play.
- Brent Walker’s Gilbert & Sullivan productions (H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, Iolanthe, The Mikado, and The Gondoliers) broadcast during the network’s concluding week.
- Kennedy's Children (1982), a theatrical production by Robert Patrick directed by Marshall W. Mason with performances by Shirley Knight, Jane Alexander, Lindsay Crouse, Brad Dourif, and members of Caffe Cino.
- Mornings at Seven
- Music Music Music (1981), a brief 90-second musical history scored by Mel Tormé; directed by John Canemaker.
- Nichols and Dimes, a documentary exploring business investments through Mike Nichols’ successful Arabian horse breeding operation; this was the network’s inaugural broadcast.
- The Quiz Kids, a revival of the 1950s quiz show hosted by Norman Lear.
- The Ring of the Fettuccines, a satirical opera co-written by Marie Allyn King.
- Signature, an interview series presenting uninterrupted focus on the subject.
- Singin'', three specials produced by Nancy Dussault featuring Karen Morrow performing well-known classics.
- The Song Writers, a tribute series celebrating composers from The Great American Songbook.
- Tintypes, a musical revue highlighting American songs from 1895 to 1912.
- Mixed Bag, a compilation of notable moments from the channel’s history aired as its final program.
References
- 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".