COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 51322

Cable and Other Program Distribution

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

14companies1925–2001founding years13still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedGaylord Entertainment Company
1925
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedThe Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc.
1960
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
Founded4Kids Entertainment Inc.
1970
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedLodgeNet Entertainment Corporation
1983
FoundedPanAmSat Corporation
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedWilliams Communications Group, Inc.
1985
FoundedBritish Sky Broadcasting Group plc
1988
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedCrown Media Holdings, Inc.FoundedMultimedia Games, Inc.FoundedPaxson Communications Corporation
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedCharter Communications, Inc.FoundedEchoStar Communications Corporation
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedMediacom Communications Corporation
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedLiberty Media Corporation
2001
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Gaylord Entertainment Company →
Active · founded 1925
Gaylord Entertainment Company is a diversified entertainment and communications company whose holdings include the…
The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. →
Active · founded 1960
The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc.
4Kids Entertainment Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
As Kahn envisioned, Yu-Gi-Oh!
LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation is a leading entertainment company providing network-based video games,…
PanAmSat Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1984
PanAmSat Corporation is a leading provider of satellite operations, serving markets in all parts of the globe.
Williams Communications Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Williams Communications Group, Inc., a subsidiary of The Williams Companies, Inc.,…
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc →
Active · founded 1988 · United Kingdom
With nearly 17 million viewers, digital satellite television operator British Sky Broadcasting Group plc, better known…
Crown Media Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Crown Media Holdings, Inc.
Multimedia Games, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Multimedia Games, Inc.
Paxson Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1991
Paxson Communications Corporation was founded in 1991 by Lowell 'Bud' Paxson, the man who cofounded the Home Shopping…
Charter Communications, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
At the end of 1999 Charter Communications, Inc.
EchoStar Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1993
EchoStar Communications Corporation is perhaps best known for its direct broadcast satellite (DBS) system, DISH…
Mediacom Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1995
Mediacom Communications Corporation is a cable television multiple system operator (MSO), the eighth largest in the…
Liberty Media Corporation →
Active · founded 2001
Liberty Media Corporation is a holding company with a variety of subsidiaries and investments operating in the media,…
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