| Type | Broadcasttelevision network Cable and internet broadcast |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Headquarters | Tampa, Florida |
Broadcast area | World Wide |
| Parent | Mizlou Communications |
| Established | 1968; 58 years ago (1968) |
| Dissolved | 1991; 35 years ago (1991) |
Former names | Unisphere Broadcasting System (1965–1968) |
Mizlou Television Network was a sportsbroadcasttelevision network active from 1968–1991. In 1968, its predecessor, the Unisphere Broadcasting System (UBS) was re-established as Mizlou Television Network, which is now based in Tampa, Florida. Mizlou later branched out into cable sports channels.[1]
The network was not a full-time network, but produced sports and entertainmenttelevision shows offered to a set of affiliates set up event by event. It was seen onaffiliates ofNBC,ABC, andCBS, and onindependent television stations and cable channels.[2]
Mizlou utilized the AT&T system to distribute signals to television stations nationwide via land lines andmicrowave facilities.
In mid-1965, radio businessmanVincent C. Piano proposed UBS. The service would have operated 2.5 hours each night. However, Piano had difficulty signing affiliates; a year later, no launch date had been set, and the network still lacked a "respectable number of affiliates in major markets."[3]
By 1968, the business changed to Mizlou Television Network. After the name change, Mizlou began syndicating college football bowls in 1968.[1]
Maryland sold Mizlou rights to two of itsAtlantic Coast Conference men's basketball games along with the women's basketball Maryland versusImmaculata game on January 26, 1975. This was the first national broadcast of a women’s college basketball game with 100+ stations signing on to the telecast.[4]
Mizlou broadcast the first threeFiesta Bowl starting in 1971 and lost money on the first broadcast.[5] In 1979, the Network broadcast theMiss Black Universe USA and International beauty pageants.[6] The network carried the 1975Blue-Gray Football Classic, angering the all-star game's committee by convincing thegame clock operator to cut three minutes off the clock in the first quarter.[7]
Mizlou was hired by U.S. Tobacco to broadcast the College National Final Rodeo in 1981.[8] In 1985, Mizlou decided not to renew theHoliday Bowl broadcast contract.[9] In 1986, the network signed a three-year deal with theFreedom Bowl adding them to their bowl line up ofBluebonnet,Cherry,Independence andHall of Fame Bowls for that year.[2]
In August 1989, Mizlou's parent company, Mizlou Communications, announced the November launch ofSports News Network, a 24-hour sports news and interview basic channel.[1] Mizlou in February 1990 made a private placement of securities to keep SNN going. Mizlou made another attempt before July 1990 and attempted a third placement of $15–$20 million in July 1990 for the network.[10] SNN went dark on December 17, 1990 as Mizlou Communications filed for bankruptcy. Mizlou was in talks withLandmark Communications andTelecable Corporation as a potential buyer of the channel and other assets.[11][12] In January 1991, Landmark dropped plans for a sport news channel and its discussions with Mizlou for the purchases of Sports News Network[13] due toTele-Communications Inc.'s planned launch ofPrime Sports News, an all-sports news cable channel.[14]