USA Network, an American basic cable channel, was launched on September 22, 1977 as the Madison Square Garden Sports Network, pioneering satellite distribution and advertising revenue before being renamed USA Network on April 9, 1980. Under longtime CEO Kay Koplovitz, it gained popularity through original programming and a long-running partnership with WWF/WWE, while also airing sports and children's shows like the USA Cartoon Express. The network's ownership shifted among media giants (including Time, MCA, and Paramount), and it was part of Comcast's NBCUniversal from 2004 to 2026, significantly expanding its sports coverage in 2022 as the main cable home of NBC Sports after NBCSN shut down. Its reach has declined sharply, dropping from a peak of 100 million households in 2011 to about 70 million by November 2023. Today, USA Network remains a notable player in cable television, though its audience has shrunk with the rise of streaming.