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In American television in 1998, notable events included television series debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel initiations, closures and rebrandings, as well as information about controversies and disputes.
Events
January
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 3 | Jim McKay announces that Wide World of Sports has been cancelled by ABC after 37 years. |
| 12 | CBS acquires the rights to the AFC of the NFL as part of a $4 billion, eight-year contract; Fox and ABC renew their agreements for the NFC and Monday Night Football, respectively (Super Bowl XXXII, broadcast on January 25, would be NBC's last NFL game until 2006). |
| 15 | Many of Sinclair's stations that were previously affiliated with UPN were converted to affiliates of The WB. |
| 30 | CBS affiliate in Orlando, WCPX-TV changes its name to WKMG-TV following its purchase by Post-Newsweek. |
February
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 9 | Prevue Channel (now Pop) revamps its programming to include short-form segments. The revamp lasts until January 31, 1999, when the channel is renamed TV Guide Channel. |
March
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2 | The "Powerhouse" era begins on Cartoon Network. The animated bumpers were all done by Primal Screen, an Atlanta-based studio. The era's colorful backgrounds typically represent the time periods: Yellow (mornings), Green (afternoons), Blue (evenings/weekends), Black/Dark Blue (midnights) and Purple (action shows). Red was originally the color for midnights but this was later removed due to older TVs were struggling to display it. The era was named after Raymond Scott's instrumental song from 1937. |
| 18 | A wanted child molester named Matthew Fenwick appears as a contestant on the game show Wheel of Fortune and wins $4,400. At the time of the episode's airing, Matthew was on the run after being accused of molesting two underage girls, ages 8 and 10, who discovered Matthew on the game show after a warrant was issued for him in November 1997 by the police. He was arrested two days after his appearance on the game show and subsequently pled guilty in July 1998 for two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. |
| 29 | World Wrestling Federation wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin defeats Shawn Michaels, winning his first WWF World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XIV. With this, it has been cited to be the full beginning of the "Attitude Era". |
April
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 4 | CatDog premieres on Nickelodeon following the 1998 Kids' Choice Awards. The show did not air every day until October. |
| 6 | Long-running British children's television series Teletubbies begins its U.S. television debut on PBS Kids. |
| 9 | The Price Is Right's 5,000th episode is broadcast on CBS. On the show, every pricing game is played for a car (something Price had only done once before. It has been repeated only once since then). At the beginning of the show, CBS announces it has renamed Studio 33 (the studio at CBS Television City where The Price Is Right has taped since its 1972 return) the Bob Barker Studios in honor of the show's then-host and executive producer. |
| 11 | The National Cable Television Association announces they will discontinue the CableACE awards, due to the Emmy Awards recognizing cable programming. |
| 24 | A second special episode of Dallas, Dallas: War of the Ewings, airs on CBS seven years after the original series finished. |
| 30 | Seven television stations broadcast the suicide of maintenance worker Daniel V. Jones on live television. The incident causes many to criticize Los Angeles television stations' practice of airing police pursuits live and calls for proposed changes in the way live coverage of events are handled in the future. |
May
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 7 | The infamous Seinfeld episode, "The Puerto Rican Day" is broadcast on NBC. In it, Cosmo Kramer accidentally burns and then stomps on the Puerto Rican flag. NBC was forced to apologize and had it banned from airing on the network again. Also, it was not initially part of the syndicated package. In the summer of 2002, the episode started to appear with the flag-burning sequence intact. |
| 14 | 76.3 million people tune in to The Finale of Seinfeld on NBC. |
| 28 | Former Saturday Night Live actor and comedian Phil Hartman, then featuring on the NBC sitcom NewsRadio, the Fox animated sitcom The Simpsons, and announcer of Cartoon Network is shot and killed by his wife (who then kills herself). |
June
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 11 | United Video Satellite Group, parent company of the Prevue Channel (now Pop), acquires TV Guide from News Corporation for $800 million and 60 million shares of stock worth an additional $1.2 billion. In recognition of this, Prevue Channel will rebrand to the TV Guide Channel on February 1, 1999.[1][2] |
| 14 | Game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz is broadcast on NBC. The game registered a 22.3 Nielsen rating and 38 share with average 35.9 million viewers. This made it the highest rated and most watched game in the history of the National Basketball Association. 72 million people in the US watched at least part of the game.[3] The previous record was a 21.2 rating and 37 share for Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons.[4] |
August
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 3 | The feud between UPN and Sinclair Broadcast Group has been ended, with many of the Milwaukee, Birmingham, Raleigh and Charleston stations that were temporary independent stations went back to being UPN affiliates. |
| 15 | A pre-season football game in Vancouver, British Columbia between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks is CBS's first NFL football broadcast since January 1994. |
| 16 | KATH-LP in Juneau, Alaska signs on the air, giving the Juneau market its first full-time NBC affiliate. The sign-on was delayed for a month due to delays in receiving the equipment required to place the station on the local GCI cable system (Sister station KSCT-LP in Sitka, the market's former Fox affiliate, had already switched to NBC).[5][6] |
September
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 6 | CBS resumes its regular season coverage of the National Football League for the first time since 1993. |
| 8 | In front of a nationwide audience watching on Fox, Mark McGwire hits his 62nd home run of the Major League Baseball season, breaking the 37 year old record held by Roger Maris. |
| 17 | Frasier appears for the first time on Thursday nights in the 9:00 slot, NBC had been discussing in May, displacing Seinfeld, although Just Shoot Me! has been moved to Tuesdays two days earlier. The show produced new episodes in its slot next week. |
October
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 4 | UPN adds two additional nights of programming to its schedule with primetime series added to Friday nights, including a movie block on Thursday nights. |
| 21 | Fox broadcasts the Game 4 of its second World Series. The New York Yankees defeat the San Diego Padres, winning their 24th championship and second since 1996. |
| 19 | Fox Family Channel debuts its new annual event 13 Nights of Halloween. |
November
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 8 | The Milwaukee, Raleigh, Birmingham and Charleston stations owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group aired many Star Trek: Voyager episodes viewers left out of the last season, with the permission of UPN and Paramount Television. |
| 17 | Barney & Friends aired its 100th episode on PBS Kids |
| 18 | The Powerpuff Girls premieres on Cartoon Network. |
| 20 | The Rugrats Movie, based on Nickelodeon's hit series Rugrats is released in theaters. The movie introduces the character of Dil Pickles, who became a main character in Rugrats the following January. The Rugrats Movie was a commercial success, making a grand total of $100,494,675 domestically and another $40,400,000 in international markets.[7] To promote the movie, Nickelodeon put all Rugrats episodes on hiatus for the week. It was the first time since 1994 that Rugrats was not part of Nick's daily schedule. |
December
| Date | Event |
|---|
Programs
Debuts
Ending this year
Entering syndication this year
| Show | Seasons | In production | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Hope | 4 | Yes | [8] |
| Dave's World | 4 | No | [9] |
| Doug | 6 | Yes | |
| Diagnosis: Murder | 5 | Yes | [9] |
| ER | 4 | Yes | [10] |
| Friends | 4 | Yes | [11] |
| The Nanny | 5 | Yes | [12] |
| New York Undercover | 4 | No | [13] |
| Newsradio | 4 | Yes | [14] |
| Sister, Sister | 5 | Yes | [15] |
| This Old House | 19 | Yes | [16] |
| Touched by an Angel | 4 | Yes | [9] |
Returning this year
| Show | Last aired | Previous network | New title | New network | Date of return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids Say the Darndest Things | 1995 | CBS | Same | Same | January 9 |
| The NFL Today | 1994 | CBS | September 6 | ||
| Disney's Brand Spanking New! Doug | 1997 | ABC | Disney's Doug | ABC/Syndication | September 12 |
| Hollywood Squares | 1989 | Syndication | Same | Same | September 14 |
| Love Connection | 1994 | September 21 | |||
| Match Game | 1991 | ABC | Syndication |
Changes of network affiliation
| Show | Moved from | Moved to |
|---|---|---|
| For Your Love | NBC | The WB |
| TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes | ABC | |
| Sliders | Fox | Sci-Fi Channel |
| Magic Adventures of Mumfie | Fox Kids | Fox Family Channel |
| Flipper | Syndication | PAX TV |
| All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series | Syndication | Fox Family Channel |
| All New Captain Kangaroo | ||
| Match Game | ABC | Syndication |
Made-for-TV movies
| Title | Network | Date of airing |
|---|---|---|
| Halloweentown | Disney Channel | October 17 |
Miniseries
| Title | Network | Date of airing |
|---|---|---|
| The Last Don II | CBS | May 3[17] |
| Peter Benchley's Creature | ABC | May 17 |
| Thanks of a Grateful Nation | Showtime | May 31 |
Networks and services
Network launches
| Network | Type | Launch date | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zee TV | Cable television | Unknown | ||
| Discovery en Espanol | Cable television | Unknown | ||
| ESPN Classic | Cable television | January 1 | ||
| Showtime Extreme | Cable and satellite | March 10 | Showtime Extreme, a multiplex channel from Showtime, airs action and adventure films, thrillers, gangster films and sporting events. The channel's launch coincided with Viacom's channels (excluding the Showtime networks) moving from USSB to DirecTV. | |
| BBC America | Cable and satellite | March 29 | BBC Worldwide and Discovery Communications launched BBC America as part of a $565 million alliance to develop new channels and co-productions. The channel carried British drama, comedy, and documentary programs and live news broadcasts from BBC World. | |
| Toon Disney | Cable and satellite | April 18 | Toon Disney, devoted to carrying animated series and movies 24 hours a day, was launched by The Walt Disney Company on Disney Channel's 15th anniversary. The first program to air was "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" segment from Fantasia. | |
| ZDTV | Cable and satellite | May 11 | A channel launched by Ziff Davis airing technology-based programs. | |
| CityVision | Cable television | June 8 | ||
| Lifetime Movie Network | Cable and satellite | June 29 | A offshoot of Lifetime carrying made-for-TV movies aimed at women. | |
| Discovery Health Channel | Cable and satellite | July 1 | Discovery Health Channel aired repeats of health-oriented programs from other Discovery networks, plus some original programming. | |
| Discovery Wings Channel | Cable and satellite | July 15 | Named after the Discovery Channel series Wings, Discovery Wings Channel aired programs related to aircraft and aerospace. Discovery Wings also showed top-of-the-hour interstitials featuring aviation forecast data provided by the National Weather Service. | |
| MTV S MTVX VH1 Country VH1 Smooth VH1 Soul |
Digital cable | August 1 | MTV Networks launches "The Suite from MTV and VH1", five music channels initially exclusive to digital cable. | |
| PAX | Over-the-air multicast | August 31 | Paxson Communications launches PAX TV (now named Ion Television), a family-oriented broadcast network. Paxson's stations previously carried a number of paid programming services (as well as the overnight Christian block The Worship Network), branded as the Infomall Television Network until at the time of PAX's launch.[9] | |
| The WB 100+ Station Group | Cable television | September 21 | The WB launches its programming service of cable-only networks, branded as the 100+ Station Group. It was originally known as The WeB, which was from its launch until March of next year. Several cable providers that carried The WB's programming on WGN Superstation feed (until it was dropped the following September) were replaced by its own service.[18] | |
| The Biography Channel | Cable and satellite | November 16 | First announced in June 1996, The Biography Channel aired episodes of A&E's profile series Biography and related series. | |
| History Channel International | Cable and satellite | November 16 | History Channel International broadcast programs focusing on world history, plus a selection of programs in foreign languages for the Cable in the Classroom initiative. |
Network conversions
| Old network name | New network name | Type | Conversion Date | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBS Eye on People | Eye on People | Cable television | Unknown | ||
| Nostalgia Good TV | Goodlife TV Network | Cable television | Unknown | ||
| The Family Channel | Fox Family Channel | Cable and satellite | August 15 | More than a year after its acquisition by News Corporation's Fox Kids Worldwide, Inc., The Family Channel is re-initiated as Fox Family Channel, with the network now targeting a younger family-oriented audience than that of its predecessor. | |
| HBO2 | HBO Plus | Cable and satellite | October 1 | ||
| HBO3 | HBO Signature | Cable and satellite | October 1 | ||
| Q2 | Style Network | Cable and satellite | October 1 | QVC shut down its Q2 network on October 1 and sold its satellite capacity to E!, who used the space to launch Style Network. |
Closures
| Network | Type | Closure date | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Sports Classics | Cable and satellite | Unknown | ||
| Sega Channel | Online service | July 31 |
Television stations
Station launches
Stations changing network affiliation
Births
Deaths
| Date | Name | Age | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 4 | Mae Questel | 89 | Actress (voice of Olive Oyl in Popeye the Sailor) |
| January 5 | Sonny Bono | 62 | Singer and entertainer (The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour) |
| January 21 | Jack Lord | 77 | Actor (Steve McGarrett on Hawaii Five-O) |
| February 3 | Fat Pat | 27 | American rapper |
| February 6 | Carl Wilson | 51 | Singer-songwriter (The Beach Boys) and brother of Brian Wilson |
| February 19 | Grandpa Jones | 84 | Comedian and musician (Hee Haw) |
| February 23 | Philip Abbott | 74 | Actor (The F.B.I.) |
| March 10 | Lloyd Bridges | 85 | Actor (Mike Nelson on Sea Hunt) |
| April 17 | Linda McCartney | 56 | Musician (guest star on The Simpsons) (Paul McCartney's wife) |
| May 14 | Frank Sinatra | 82 | Singer, actor, and producer |
| May 28 | Phil Hartman | 49 | Actor, comedian (Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons, NewsRadio) |
| July 6 | Roy Rogers | 86 | Singer and actor (The Roy Rogers Show) |
| July 21 | Robert Young | 91 | Actor (Father Knows Best, Marcus Welby, M.D.) |
| July 30 | Buffalo Bob Smith | 80 | Children's show host (Howdy Doody) |
| August 2 | Shari Lewis | 65 | Puppeteer (Lamb Chop's Play-Along) |
| September 23 | Mary Frann | 55 | Actress (Joanna on Newhart) |
| October 2 | Gene Autry | 91 | Musical performer (The Gene Autry Show) |
| October 3 | Roddy McDowall | 70 | Actor (Tales of the Gold Monkey) |
| November 17 | Dick O'Neill | 70 | Actor (Family Matters, Home Improvement) |
| Esther Rolle | 78 | Actress (Florida on Maude and Good Times) | |
| December 6 | Michael Zaslow | 56 | Actor (Roger Thorpe on Guiding Light) |
| December 14 | Norman Fell | 74 | Actor (Stanley Roper on Three's Company) |
| December 23 | Michelle Thomas | 30 | Actress (Myra on Family Matters, Justine on The Cosby Show) |
| December 25 | Richard Paul | 58 | Actor (Carter Country, Match Game) |
See also
References
- ^ "News Lite: TV Guide Deal Sets Up Broadcast Opportunity". Los Angeles Daily News. HighBeam Research. June 12, 1998. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
- ^ "The $2 Billion Acquisition of TV Guide". Folio. January 1, 1999. Archived from the original on April 1, 2021.
- ^ "72 million saw Bulls take the prize". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. June 17, 1998. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ "NBA Players Removed from U.S. Rosters". Los Angeles Times. June 17, 1998. Retrieved February 13, 2009.
- ^ "Juneau-based television station to hit airwaves soon". Juneau Empire. June 26, 1998. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
- ^ "New local television station to hit airwaves Monday". Juneau Empire. August 16, 1998. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
- ^ "THE RUGRATS MOVIE". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
- ^ [1] from Broadcasting & Cable
- ^ a b c d Lisa de Moraes (August 29, 1998). "On Monday, the Genesis of PAX TV". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2013 – via HighBeam Research.
- ^ [2] from Broadcasting & Cable
- ^ [3] from Broadcasting & Cable
- ^ [4] from Broadcasting & Cable
- ^ [5] from Broadcasting & Cable
- ^ [6] from Broadcasting & Cable
- ^ [7] from Broadcasting & Cable
- ^ [8] from Broadcasting & Cable
- ^ Richmond, Ray (1998-04-29). "The Last Don II". Variety. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- ^ "A Salute to The WB 100+ Station Group on its Fifth Anniversary" (PDF). TelevisionWeek. September 22, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-11-05 – via RussellMyerson.com.
- ^ Hobbs, Jack; Keller, Erin (2023-09-21). "'Euphoria' star Angus Cloud's cause of death revealed". Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Vawter, Eve (2022-08-27). "'American Idol' Winner Just Sam Gives Update After Recent Hospitalization". TV Insider. Retrieved 2024-02-19.