About Rainbow: Milestones

1989:

NBC becomes a partner in Rainbow’s sports, news, and entertainment programming ventures.

Rainbow’s regional sports presence continues to grow with the launch of SportsChannel Ohio.

1987:

Rainbow launches SportsChannel Florida.

1986:

Rainbow creates the country’s first regional news network, News 12 Long Island.

1984:

Rainbow debuts American Movie Classics (AMC), the nation’s first 24-hour cable network dedicated to the world of classic American film, on October 1.

Rainbow takes its proven formula of sports success to the Midwest by assuming management of SportsVision, later to become SportsChannel Chicago.

Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, now the cable industry’s largest and most diverse advertising representation firm, is established.

Rainbow’s technical operation, formally known as Atlantic Transport Company (ATC)/Network Operations, changes its name to Rainbow Network Communications (RNC).

1981:

Rainbow launches SportsChannel New England in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. SportsChannel New York was the first of Rainbow’s regional sports services, launched by Cablevision in 1976.

1980:

Cablevision forms Rainbow to provide diversified niche programming for the burgeoning cable industry.

Bravo, the first network wholly dedicated to film and the performing arts debuts on 110 cable systems in 22 states.

Rainbow’s technical operation, today Rainbow Network Communications (RNC), was formed as support for the burgeoning services.