Spectrum Sports (abbreviated as SPECTSN), also known under the corporate names Spectrum Networks, or Charter Sports Regional Networks, is the collective name for a group of regional sports networks in the United States that are primarily owned and operated by Charter Communications through its acquisition of Time Warner Cable in May 2016. Charter also operates two other channels under the alternative name Spectrum SportsNet. The channels previously were branded as either Time Warner Cable Sports Channel or Time Warner Cable SportsNet.
Each of the networks carry regional broadcasts of sporting events from various professional, collegiate and high school sports teams (with broadcasts typically exclusive to each individual network, although some are shown on more than one Spectrum Sports network within a particular team's designated market area), along with regional and national sports discussion, documentary and analysis programs.
Depending on their individual team rights, some Spectrum Sports outlets maintain overflow feeds available via digital cable channels in their home markets, which may provide alternate programming when not used to carry game broadcasts that the main feed cannot carry due to scheduling conflicts. Spectrum Sports' business operations are based in New York City, New York and Los Angeles, California.
History Time Warner Cable (TWC) launched its first regional sports network in Kansas City in 1996. The network then known as Metro Sports featured mostly college and high school games. The second of these networks was formed in 1998 as Central Ohio Sport! Television. That network began as a partnership with Insight Communications which Time Warner would later acquire. Other networks would soon follow under various names. It wasn't until Fall 2013 that TWC decided to unify these channels under one brand, Time Warner Cable Sports Channel. All of these channels were rebranded as Spectrum Sports after TWC was acquired by Charter in 2016. At that time, Bright House Sports Network was also rebranded Spectrum Sports Florida as Charter had acquired Bright House Networks in the same deal as TWC. With the exception of the Kansas City network (which is also carried by Comcast), all of these networks have exclusive carriage on Charter Spectrum systems only.
Time Warner Cable has also partnered with major league sports teams to form regional sports networks. The first of these was SportsNet New York in 2006 of which the New York Mets are the majority owners. In 2012, Time Warner Cable SportsNet (currently Spectrum SportsNet) was formed in a partnership with the Los Angeles Lakers. This was followed by the less successful Time Warner SportsNet LA (currently Spectrum SportsNet LA) as joint-venture with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Since taking over, Charter has shut down most of these networks. In some cases they have been replaced by Spectrum News.
Networks
Owned and operated Channel Region served Team/conference broadcast rights Year launched Notes Spectrum Sports (Hawaii) Hawaii Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and Rainbow Wahine sportsHawaii High School Athletic Association sports 1976 Launched as Oceanic Sports Spectrum Sports (Kansas City) Kansas City metropolitan area,Lincoln, Nebraska Kansas Jayhawks sportsBig 12 Conference sportsMissouri Valley Conference sportsSummit League sports NAIA sports 1996 Launched as Metro Sports; rebranded as Time Warner Cable SportsChannel in 2013.
Partnerships Channel Owner Region served Team/conference broadcast rights Year launched Notes Spectrum SportsNet Los Angeles Lakers (50%)Charter (50%) Southern California,Central California,Las Vegas Valley,Hawaii Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA)Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)Los Angeles Chargers (NFL) 2012 Spectrum SportsNet LASpectrum Deportes LA Guggenheim Baseball Management (50%)Charter (50%) Greater Los Angeles Area,Palm Springs Area,San Joaquin ValleyLas Vegas Valley,Hawaii Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB) 2014 Only regional sports network with separate Spanish feed. Network is also available on AT&T TV, U-verse, and DirecTV but currently not available on DISH and other cable systems. SportsNet New York New York Mets (65%)Charter (27%)NBC Sports Group (8%) New York Metropolitan AreaUpstate New York New York Mets (MLB)New York Jets (NFL) (team related programming) 2006
Former networks Channel Region served Team/conference broadcast rights Year launched Year shutdown Notes Spectrum Sports (Carolinas) North Carolina,South Carolina 2014 2017 Subfeeds: Charlotte, Raleigh, Columbia. Spectrum Sports (Florida) Florida 2004 2017 Spectrum Sports (Ohio) Ohio,parts of northern Kentucky,western Pennsylvania Columbus Crew (MLS)Columbus Clippers (IL)Toledo Mud Hens (IL)Dayton Flyers basketballMiami RedHawks hockeyMid-American Conference college football and basketballOhio High School Athletic Association sports 1998 2019 Launched as Central Ohio Sport! Television. Rebranded as Time Warner Cable SportsChannel in 2012. Network maintains separate feeds for Cleveland, Akron-Canton and Youngstown, Columbus and Mid-Ohio, Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, and Dayton. Spectrum Sports (New York) Upstate New York Buffalo Bisons (IL)Rochester Knighthawks (NLL)Rochester Razorsharks (PBL)Rochester Red Wings (IL)Rochester Rhinos (USL)New York Mets (MLB) Syracuse Chiefs (IL)Syracuse Crunch (AHL)New York Knicks (NBA) Eastern College Athletic Conference hockeySyracuse Orange football, basketball and lacrosseBuffalo Bulls football (home games only)Canisius Golden Griffins hockey and basketballNiagara Purple Eagles hockey and basketballRIT Tigers ice hockeyColgate Raiders sports 2003 2017 Subfeeds: Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Spectrum Sports (Texas) Texas FC Dallas (MLS)Dallas Sidekicks (MASL)High School Football (UIL) 2010 2017 Subfeeds: Dallas / Waco, Austin / San Antonio. Spectrum Sports (Wisconsin) Wisconsin Milwaukee Panthers sports 2007 2018
See also NBC Sports Regional Networks Fox Sports Networks Spectrum News Spectrum (brand)
References
External links
Official Website