Sports Tonight (CNN)
Encyclopedia
Sports Tonight was a show that aired on CNN
from 1980
to 2001
, and on CNNSI from December 12, 1996
to the station's demise on May 15, 2002
. It normally aired at 11 p.m. ET.
and North American Soccer League highlights were shown. Later, a nightly show called Sports Tonight went on the air in late night. During this time, Nick Charles
and Fred Hickman
became established as the show's co-hosts. In addition, CNN aired a weekend show called Sports Saturday and Sports Sunday.
One of the show's most popular features was called "Play of the Day" (later known as the "Replay of the Day"), which showed a highlight (i.e., a spectacular play) from that day's action. This remains a feature of Headline News' sportscasts.
was doing (and still does now) with SportsCenter
.
The show was renamed Sports Tonight shortly afterwards, and when CNN pre-empted the show in late 2000 due to the coverage of the disputed 2000 presidential election
, producers decided to differentiate the format from SportsCenters highlights. Sports Tonight was relaunched in 2001 with a sports talk format, where viewers interacted with the hosts via the Internet
and toll-free phone lines about their favorite teams and players. By then, Charles and Hickman were no longer the show's hosts.
Sports Tonight continued on both CNN and CNNSI until September 2001. When the terrorist attacks
occurred on September 11, 2001, CNN went to all-news programming. Three days later, CNN announced that the show would no longer air on CNN, but remain on CNNSI. In May 2002, CNNSI shut down operations, and Sports Tonight ended after a 21-year run.
, Lou Dobbs Tonight
and (currently) Anderson Cooper 360.
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
from 1980
1980 in television
The year 1980 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1980.For the American TV schedule, see: 1980-81 American network television schedule.-Events:...
to 2001
2001 in television
The year 2001 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2001.-Events:-Debuts:-1940s:*Meet the Press .*Candid Camera .*CBS Evening News ....
, and on CNNSI from December 12, 1996
1996 in television
The year 1996 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1996.For the American TV schedule, see: 1996-97 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
to the station's demise on May 15, 2002
2002 in television
The year 2002 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2002.For the American TV schedule, see: 2002–03 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1940s:...
. It normally aired at 11 p.m. ET.
The early years
When CNN went on the air on June 1, 1980 one of the first newscasts was a sports bulletin where baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and North American Soccer League highlights were shown. Later, a nightly show called Sports Tonight went on the air in late night. During this time, Nick Charles
Nick Charles
Nicholas Charles Nickeas , better known as Nick Charles, was an American sportscaster and journalist. He was one of CNN's first on-air personalities and won three CableACE Awards for best sports program during his 17-year tenure as co-host of the network's Sports Tonight...
and Fred Hickman
Fred Hickman
Fred Hickman is an American sports broadcaster who has had stints with CNN, TBS, YES Network, and ESPN. Born and raised in Springfield, Illinois, he graduated Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1978, joining as an original co-host of the CNN show Sports Tonight in 1980...
became established as the show's co-hosts. In addition, CNN aired a weekend show called Sports Saturday and Sports Sunday.
One of the show's most popular features was called "Play of the Day" (later known as the "Replay of the Day"), which showed a highlight (i.e., a spectacular play) from that day's action. This remains a feature of Headline News' sportscasts.
The 1990s and the end
In 1996, CNN launched a new station called CNNSI. Sports Tonight was renamed CNN/Sports Illustrated, and was replayed many times throughout the night on CNNSI, like ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
was doing (and still does now) with SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
.
The show was renamed Sports Tonight shortly afterwards, and when CNN pre-empted the show in late 2000 due to the coverage of the disputed 2000 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
, producers decided to differentiate the format from SportsCenters highlights. Sports Tonight was relaunched in 2001 with a sports talk format, where viewers interacted with the hosts via the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
and toll-free phone lines about their favorite teams and players. By then, Charles and Hickman were no longer the show's hosts.
Sports Tonight continued on both CNN and CNNSI until September 2001. When the terrorist attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
occurred on September 11, 2001, CNN went to all-news programming. Three days later, CNN announced that the show would no longer air on CNN, but remain on CNNSI. In May 2002, CNNSI shut down operations, and Sports Tonight ended after a 21-year run.
Aftermath
Since the cancellation of Sports Tonight, CNN has aired various programming at 11 p.m. ET, including Connie Chung TonightConnie Chung Tonight
Connie Chung Tonight is an American television newsmagazine hosted by Connie Chung. The hour-long series premiered on CNN/U.S. on June 24, 2002...
, Lou Dobbs Tonight
Lou Dobbs Tonight
Lou Dobbs Tonight is an American editorial commentary and discussion program hosted by Lou Dobbs, previously broadcast on CNN and currently on Fox Business Network. The hour-long show aired live on evenings every weekday, and was replayed in the overnight/early morning hours. It covered the major...
and (currently) Anderson Cooper 360.
List of Sports Tonight hosts
- Vince CelliniVince CelliniVincent Robert Cellini is a long-time sports broadcaster for radio and television. Most recently, he was an anchor and program host for The Golf Channel. It was reported that his contract was not renewed for 2010.-Early life and career:...
- Nick CharlesNick CharlesNicholas Charles Nickeas , better known as Nick Charles, was an American sportscaster and journalist. He was one of CNN's first on-air personalities and won three CableACE Awards for best sports program during his 17-year tenure as co-host of the network's Sports Tonight...
- John FrickeJohn FrickeJohn Fricke is a historian/author on The Wizard of Oz and Judy Garland. He has been a major figure in the Oz community for many years. He recently served as consultant for every aspect of the new 2005 deluxe DVD set of M-G-M's The Wizard of Oz, released by Warner Home Video. This includes his...
- Inga Hammond
- Fred HickmanFred HickmanFred Hickman is an American sports broadcaster who has had stints with CNN, TBS, YES Network, and ESPN. Born and raised in Springfield, Illinois, he graduated Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1978, joining as an original co-host of the CNN show Sports Tonight in 1980...
- Dan HicksDan Hicks (sportscaster)John Daniel "Dan" Hicks is an American sportscaster for NBC. His primary duties for the network include play-by-play commentary for golf, but he also does occasional play-by-play commentary for The AFL on NBC and Notre Dame football...
- Jim Huber
- Tom Kirkland
- Bob LorenzBob Lorenz-YES Network:He hosts the New York Yankees Pre-Game Show and the New York Yankees Post-Game Show for New York Yankees telecasts, as well as the pregame and postgame shows for New Jersey Nets cablecasts. Lorenz also hosts other shows on YES, including Yankees Hot Stove, a show that tracks the...
- Gary MillerGary Miller (sportscaster)Gary Miller is an American sportscaster and radio host.-Education:Miller graduated in the same high school class, in Naperville, Illinois, as former CNN news anchor Paula Zahn....
- Nancy NewmanNancy NewmanNancy Newman is an anchor and reporter on the YES Network. Having joined the network in 2005, she is a host/anchor for the New York Yankees Pre-Game Show and the New York Yankees Post-Game Show for New York Yankees telecasts, as well as the pregame and postgame shows for New Jersey Nets...
- Keith OlbermannKeith OlbermannKeith Theodore Olbermann is an American political commentator and writer. He has been the chief news officer of the Current TV network and the host of Current TV's weeknight political commentary program, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, since June 20, 2011...
- Dan PatrickDan PatrickDaniel Patrick Pugh , professionally known as Dan Patrick, is an American sportscaster, radio personality, and actor from Mason, Ohio...
- Craig SagerCraig SagerCraig Sager , is currently a sportscaster for TNT and TBS. Sager is a graduate of Northwestern University. He has previously covered sports for CBS and CNN. His nickname is "America's Sideline Reporter"....
- Hannah StormHannah StormHannah Storm is an American television sports journalist, serving as co-anchor of ESPN's SportsCenter Monday–Thursday mornings, and is also host of the NBA Countdown pregame show on ABC as part of the network's NBA Sunday game coverage.-Early life and career:Storm was born in Oak Park, Illinois,...
- Van Earl WrightVan Earl WrightVan Earl Wright is an American sportscaster with over 20 years of national and local experience.A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Wright is known for a homespun delivery which reflects his Southern roots. His signature greeting is "Hel-looooo, everybody."Until the summer of 2007, he...