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Spotlight (cable TV)
Encyclopedia
Spotlight was an American
premium movie channel launched in 1978 by Times Mirror Cable Television, with the only non-movie programming being monthly previews of films airing on the channel.
broadcast 24 hours from its August 1980 sign-on, while Showtime and The Movie Channel
went to a 24-hour schedule earlier and HBO went to a 24-hour schedule in 1981, initially on weekends and then on weekdays as well). Tele-Communications, Inc., Cox Broadcasting and Storer Broadcasting
served as investors in the channel.
Spotlight featured Robert Goulet
as their initial spokesperson. He hosted the rollout of the channel. Spotlight initially featured a flip-flop movie schedule. The channel would broadcast a movie at 7 p.m. and another around 9 p.m. and then the next night, the channel would show the same two films in a "flip-flop" schedule, with the late movie from the other night shown first.
Spotlight also featured a big band type theme and when the credits would go into the "O" of Spotlight, it would feature a sort of whistling sound. Their tag line was "Spotlight, shining bright, day and night, we light up the stars for you!"
A few factors led to the channel's original demise in 1983. The channel aired many of the same films as Showtime (although Spotlight, Showtime and HBO shared the same films usually featuring the same duplication in the same month with each other) and it was assumed that Spotlight was a sister network to Showtime before The Movie Channel was sold with Showtime to Viacom
in 1985. Spotlight was owned by Times-Mirror's "Dimension Cable Television" unit and was available primarily on its own cable systems. When Spotlight went dark, Times Mirror replaced it on most systems with Showtime, which was mostly unavailable on their systems prior to Spotlight's demise, and its subscriber base was turned over to Showtime and The Movie Channel
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
premium movie channel launched in 1978 by Times Mirror Cable Television, with the only non-movie programming being monthly previews of films airing on the channel.
Background
In 1980, Spotlight expanded its programming to a 24 hour a day, seven day per week daily schedule. (CinemaxCinemax
Cinemax, sometimes abbreviated as simply "Max", is a collection of premium television networks that broadcasts primarily feature films, along with softcore erotica, original action series, documentaries and special behind-the-scenes features. Cinemax is operated by Home Box Office, Inc., a...
broadcast 24 hours from its August 1980 sign-on, while Showtime and The Movie Channel
The Movie Channel
The Movie Channel is an American premium channel owned by Showtime Networks, Inc., a subsidiary of CBS Corporation, which shows mostly movies, as well as special behind-the-scenes features, softcore adult erotica and movie trivia....
went to a 24-hour schedule earlier and HBO went to a 24-hour schedule in 1981, initially on weekends and then on weekdays as well). Tele-Communications, Inc., Cox Broadcasting and Storer Broadcasting
Storer Broadcasting
Storer Broadcasting, Inc. was an American company which owned several television and radio stations in the northeast United States. It was incorporated in Ohio in 1927, and sold its broadcasting properties in 1983.-1920s—1940s:...
served as investors in the channel.
Spotlight featured Robert Goulet
Robert Goulet
Robert Gerard Goulet was a Canadian American entertainer as a singer and actor. He played the role of Lancelot in the Broadway musical Camelot of 1960.-Early life:...
as their initial spokesperson. He hosted the rollout of the channel. Spotlight initially featured a flip-flop movie schedule. The channel would broadcast a movie at 7 p.m. and another around 9 p.m. and then the next night, the channel would show the same two films in a "flip-flop" schedule, with the late movie from the other night shown first.
Spotlight also featured a big band type theme and when the credits would go into the "O" of Spotlight, it would feature a sort of whistling sound. Their tag line was "Spotlight, shining bright, day and night, we light up the stars for you!"
A few factors led to the channel's original demise in 1983. The channel aired many of the same films as Showtime (although Spotlight, Showtime and HBO shared the same films usually featuring the same duplication in the same month with each other) and it was assumed that Spotlight was a sister network to Showtime before The Movie Channel was sold with Showtime to Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
in 1985. Spotlight was owned by Times-Mirror's "Dimension Cable Television" unit and was available primarily on its own cable systems. When Spotlight went dark, Times Mirror replaced it on most systems with Showtime, which was mostly unavailable on their systems prior to Spotlight's demise, and its subscriber base was turned over to Showtime and The Movie Channel
The Movie Channel
The Movie Channel is an American premium channel owned by Showtime Networks, Inc., a subsidiary of CBS Corporation, which shows mostly movies, as well as special behind-the-scenes features, softcore adult erotica and movie trivia....
.