CNN/SI

CNN/Sports Illustrated (CNN/SI) was a 24-hour sports news network. It was created by Time Warner, bringing together its CNN and Sports Illustrated brands and related resources. It was launched on December 12, 1996.[1]

CNN/SI's first logo
CNN/SI
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaNationwide
SloganThe 24-hour Sports Information Channel.
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format480i (SDTV)
Ownership
OwnerTurner Broadcasting System
Sister channelsCNN
CNN Headline News
TNT
TBS Superstation
Turner South
Turner Classic Movies
Cartoon Network
Boomerang
CNNfn
History
LaunchedDecember 12, 1996 (December 12, 1996)
ClosedMay 15, 2002 (May 15, 2002)
Replaced byNBA TV (on many cable systems)
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV205
Dish Network148

Unlike ESPNews, which provided 30-minute blocks of news and highlights in a similar fashion to CNN Headline News at the time, CNN/SI was fully live daily from 7am to 2am.[2] Their aim was to provide the most comprehensive sports news service on television, bringing in-depth sports news from around the world, and integrating the Internet and television.[3]

Closure

CNN/SI's closure has been attributed to competition with other all-sports news networks which started around the same time, such as ESPNews and Fox Sports Net's National Sports Report. Though CNN/SI aired exclusive content, such as the tape of Indiana University player Neil Reed appearing to be choked by former coach Bob Knight, the channel reached about only 20 million homes, not enough to receive a rating by Nielsen Media Research, which resulted in reduced sponsorship. ESPNews benefited from the leverage ESPN (86.5 million homes) has with cable operators. In contrast, news channel parent CNN didn't have the same clout with cable operators for its all-sports news channel. CNN's cancellation of their flagship sports program, Sports Tonight (which had already been retooled to compete with SportsCenter) in the wake of the September 11 attacks was likely the proximate cause for the closure of CNN/SI, which lost all connections to their mother network.[4]

In its final days, Sports Tonight was exclusive to CNN/SI. CNN/SI added NASCAR qualifying,[5] Wimbledon matches,[6] National Lacrosse League matches,[7] and televised the now-defunct Women's United Soccer Association[8]

CNN/SI closed its doors on May 15, 2002.[9][10] On many cable systems, CNN/SI was replaced by NBA TV. NBA TV, which launched in 1999, eventually evolved into a joint venture between Time Warner and the NBA that officially launched on October 28, 2008.

While the network closed, its international sports program World Sport continues airing and since 2002 has been produced by CNN International.[11]

Website
CNN Sports Illustrated site logo (2002)

The CNN/SI name was maintained for Sports Illustrated's online presence, which was located at cnnsi.com. It has since moved to just si.com. In January 2013, CNN acquired Bleacher Report and after Time Warner's spin-off of their publishing assets into Time Inc. (and subsequently sale to Meredith Corporation), ceased all partnerships with Sports Illustrated.[12]

Programming

References
  1. Kent, Milton (December 12, 1996). "CNN/SI pairing channels energy into sports information battle". The Baltimore Sun. MediaWatch. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  2. "New York Magazine". New York Media, LLC. 23 December 1996. CNN/SI will not rely on a "wheel" of repeating news segments and highlights. Rather, it promises a nineteen-hour "stream" of news reported fresh throughout the day, starting from 7 AM.
  3. "CNN 20: CNN/SI Debuts, December 12, 1996". CNN.com. December 12, 2000. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  4. Diamond Joe (January 24, 2013). "Rachel Nichols' New Quarters Are At CNN, Turner Sports". SportsRants.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  5. Glick, Shav (August 10, 2001). "Long Is Closing In on His F-1 Dream". Los Angeles Times.
  6. "Nick Charles to Host CNN/Sports Illustrated's Exclusive Prime Time Wimbledon Coverage". BW SportsWire. Business Wire. June 21, 2000. Retrieved June 6, 2016 – via TheFreeLibrary.com.
  7. "National Lacrosse League Tabs CNN/Sports Illustrated As National Broadcast Partner" (Press release). National Lacrosse League. August 20, 2001. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  8. "WUSA: TNT and CNNSI to show 22 games". Soccer America. February 20, 2001. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  9. Kaplan, Paul (April 6, 2002). "CNN/Sports Illustrated Channel to Go Off Air in May". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Highbeam Research. Archived from the original on September 21, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  10. Wilkerson, David B. (April 6, 2002). "AOL: CNN/SI to shut down May 15". MarketWatch. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  11. Welsh, James (May 9, 2002). "CNNI sports unaffected by CNN/SI shutdown". Digital Spy. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  12. Thielman, Sam (January 30, 2013). "CNN's Bleacher Report Programming Launches Saturday". Adweek. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  13. "The Channel". CNNSI.com. November 9, 2001. Archived from the original on November 10, 2001. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  14. "THE SPORTING LIFE WITH JIM HUBER". CNNSI.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
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