History Creator / SpikeTV

'''Spike''' (formerly '''Spike TV''') is a Creator/{{Viacom}}-owned network that was dedicated to every single male interest possible, as you might've been able to tell by its edgy name. It was basically the RatedMForManly Network, though some may say they lampshaded this often enough to venture into TestosteronePoisoning and invariably into UnfortunateImplications.

In 2015, with ''Impact Wrestling'' ending its run on the network, [[ScrewedByTheNetwork thanks to an executive fallout between TNA and Viacom]], the end of the ''Video Game Awards'', and the loss of many syndicated rerun programs, Spike relaunched (yet again) as a general entertainment channel, with a rebrand that's meant to be more inclusive to women. A UK version of the channel was launched later that spring, with local programming from [[Creator/ChannelFive Channel 5]] (which is also owned by Viacom). Around the same time, the network dropped the ''Star Wars'' film licenses, likely because it was becoming to expensive to keep them (Turner Networks, owned by Time Warner, eventually picked up the licenses a year later). Among other things, it is the first conventional TV channel in Britain to show ''Series/BreakingBad'', which had previously only been available via Creator/{{Netflix}} or on disc.

* ''Lip Sync Battle'', hosted by LLCoolJ and originated as a recurring segment from ''[[Series/TheTonightShow The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]]''.

In 2003, the network title was completely changed to Spike TV, they would drop "TV" from their name three years later. The name change was delayed a little from a lawsuit by director Creator/SpikeLee, who claimed that viewers would associate the network with him. Unsurprisingly, the Spike network won the case. It did set up an awkward situation where a party at the Magazine/{{Playboy}} Mansion celebrating the new network had to have censor bars and bleeping all over the place to remove all mentions of "Spike" until they got their issues ironed out with Mr. Lee. ''[[Wrestling/WWERaw Raw]]'' stuck around for a while but went back to its original home on the Creator/USANetwork due to problems between Wrestling/{{WWE}} and Viacom, causing Spike to fill the ProfessionalWrestling void with the [[Wrestling/{{TNA}} competition]]... and ''Series/{{CSI}}'' and ''Franchise/StarTrek'' reruns.

In 2015, with ''Impact Wrestling'' ending its run on the network, [[ScrewedByTheNetwork thanks to an executive fallout between TNA and Viacom]], the end of the ''Video Game Awards'', and the loss of many syndicated rerun programs, Spike relaunched (yet again) as a general entertainment channel, with a rebrand that's meant to be more inclusive to women. A UK version of the channel was launched later that spring, with local programming from [[Creator/ChannelFive Channel 5]] (which is also owned by Viacom). Among other things, it is the first conventional TV channel in Britain to show ''Series/BreakingBad'', which had previously only been available via Creator/{{Netflix}} or on disc.

Originally, it was known as TNN, a country music channel launched two days after rival Creator/{{CMT}}. The Nashville Network was originally owned by Gaylord Entertainment, alongside Westinghouse Broadcasting (an arm of Westinghouse Electric Company). Westinghouse, after becoming Creator/{{CBS}} Corporation, purchased all of TNN (and CMT, which Gaylord bought in 1991) in 1997. While it focused mainly on music videos, TNN included original programming such as the game shows ''TopCard'', UsefulNotes/{{NASCAR}} races, and outdoor, lifestyle and talk shows targeted to a country audience.

Viacom bought Creator/{{CBS}} in 2000, and merged TNN and CMT into Creator/{{MTV}} Networks. In order to avoid redundancy, TNN was {{retool}}ed into The National Network, or The New TNN, which tried to go beyond the Southern demographic, and was Viacom's second attempt at a "general entertainment" channel (the first was Creator/USANetwork, which they were once a part-owner of). Its most successful original program was Wrestling/WWERaw (whose move to the network basically killed Wrestling/{{ECW}}, who had a show on the network which had to be canceled). While that still sounds like a part of the original demographic, The New TNN also featured reruns of shows such as ''Series/{{Baywatch}}'', ''Series/DiffrentStrokes'', ''Series/MiamiVice'', ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' and ''Series/ThreesCompany''.

In 2003, the network title was completely changed to Spike TV, they would drop "TV" from their name three years later. The name change was delayed a little from a lawsuit by director Creator/SpikeLee, who claimed that viewers would associate the network with him. Unsurprisingly, the Spike network won the case. It did set up an awkward situation where a party at the Magazine/{{Playboy}} Mansion celebrating the new network had to have censor bars and bleeping all over the place to remove all mentions of "Spike" until they got their issues ironed out with Mr. Lee. ''[[Wrestling/WWERaw Raw]]'' stuck around for a while but went back to its original home on the Creator/USANetwork due to problems between Wrestling/{{WWE}} and Viacom, causing Spike to fill the ProfessionalWrestling void with the [[Wrestling/{{TNA}} competition]]... and ''Series/{{CSI}}'' reruns.

In 2015, with ''Impact Wrestling'' ending its run on the network, [[ScrewedByTheNetwork thanks to an executive fallout between TNA and Viacom]], the end of the ''Video Game Awards'', and the loss of many syndicated rerun programs, Spike decided to tone it down a bit with a rebrand that's meant to be more inclusive to women. A UK version of the channel was launched later that spring, with local programming from [[Creator/ChannelFive Channel 5]] (which is also owned by Viacom). Among other things, it is the first conventional TV channel in Britain to show ''Series/BreakingBad'', which had previously only been available via Creator/{{Netflix}} or on disc.

* ''Series/{{Cops}}'', from 2013 onward
** ''Jail'', both reruns and new episodes.

* ''Lip Sync Battle'', hosted by LLCoolJ and originated as a recurring segment from ''[[TheTonightShow The TonightShow Starring Jimmy Fallon]]''.

* ''Lip Sync Battle'', hosted by LLCoolJ and originated as a recurring segment from ''TheTonightShowWithJimmyFallon''.

* [[UsefulNotes/{{ElectronicEntertainmentExpo}} E3]] coverage with [=GameTrailers=].com, from 2012-2014. They continue to air [[Creator/MicrosoftStudios Microsoft's]] E3 briefing from 2015 onward.

In 2003, the network title was completely changed to Spike TV, or simply Spike as it is called now. The name change was delayed a little from a lawsuit by director Creator/SpikeLee, who claimed that viewers would associate the network with him. Unsurprisingly, the Spike network won the case. It did set up an awkward situation where a party at the Magazine/{{Playboy}} Mansion celebrating the new network had to have censor bars and bleeping all over the place to remove all mentions of "Spike" until they got their issues ironed out with Mr. Lee. ''[[Wrestling/WWERaw Raw]]'' stuck around for a while but went back to its original home on the Creator/USANetwork due to problems between Wrestling/{{WWE}} and Viacom, causing Spike to fill the ProfessionalWrestling void with the [[Wrestling/{{TNA}} competition]]... and ''Series/{{CSI}}'' reruns.


In 2015, with the [[ScrewedByTheNetwork loss]] of TNA ''Impact Wrestling'' thanks to an executive fallout between TNA and Viacom, the end of the ''Spike Video Game Awards'' and the loss of many syndicated rerun programs, Spike decided to tone it down a bit with a rebrand that's meant to be more inclusive to women. A UK version of the channel was launched later that spring, with local programming from [[Creator/ChannelFive Channel 5]] (which is also owned by Viacom). Among other things, it is the first conventional TV channel in Britain to show ''Series/BreakingBad'', which had previously only been available via Creator/{{Netflix}} or on disc.

* [[UsefulNotes/{{ElectronicEntertainmentExpo}} E3]] coverage, from 2012 onward

* [[UsefulNotes/{{ElectronicEntertainmentExpo}} E3]] coverage from 2012-2015.

In 2015, they decided to tone it down a bit with a rebrand that's meant to be more inclusive to women. A UK version of the channel was launched later that spring, with local programming from [[Creator/ChannelFive Channel 5]] (which is also owned by Viacom). Among other things, it is the first conventional TV channel in Britain to show ''Series/BreakingBad'', which had previously only been available via Creator/{{Netflix}} or on disc.

In 2015, they decided to tone it down a bit with a rebranding that's meant to be more inclusive to women. A UK version of the channel was launched in later that spring, taking some of its programming from Channel 5, which is also owned by Viacom. Among other things, it is the first conventional TV channel in Britain to show ''Series/BreakingBad'', which had previously only been available via Netflix or on disc.

* ''Spike Video Game Awards'' -- An award show dedicated to video gaming that lasted for a decade from 2003 to 2013 (with the last show being a event called ''VGX''). The winners were chosen by the gaming community at large, leading to criticism that it was more of a popularity contest. However, it was mainly criticized for its focus on the mainstream celebrities that appeal to the network's male demographic. [[Main/JustHereForGodzilla Most gamers just watched it for the exclusive reveals]].
** After Spike announced it would not hold another event, producer Geoff Keighley of ''[=GameTrailers=] TV'' fame quickly created ''The Game Awards'' in response. It was more independent, jury-voted (save for a few fan-voted awards) show that was streamed exclusively online.

* ''Guys' Choice Awards'' -- an annual award show which exists to give the network's demographic a choice on what they like the best, though lately seems to be an overly-complicated way to get Creator/JenniferAniston to appear on an awards show once a year since 2010.

* ''[[Wrestling/{{TNA}} Impact Wrestling]]'' -- The flagship show of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling; aired from 2005-2015.

* ''Scream Awards'' -- another annual award show dedicated to sci-fi, fantasy, and horror movies & television shows, as well as comic books.

** After Spike announced it would not hold another event, producer Geoff Keighley of ''[=GameTrailers=] TV'' fame quickly created ''The Game Awards'' in response; it was more independent, jury-voted (save for a few fan-voted awards) show that was streamed exclusively online.

In 2003, the network title was completely changed to Spike TV, or simply Spike as it is called now. The name change was delayed a little from a lawsuit by director Creator/SpikeLee, who claimed that viewers would associate the network with him. Unsurprisingly, the Spike network won the case. It did set up an awkward situation where a party at the Magazine/{{Playboy}} Mansion celebrating the new network had to have censor bars and bleeping all over the place to remove all mentions of "Spike" until they got their issues ironed out with Mr. Lee.

In 2015, they decided to tone it down a bit with a rebranding that's meant to be more inclusive to women. Time will tell if this sticks.

''[[Wrestling/WWERaw Raw]]'' stuck around for a while but went back to its original home on the Creator/USANetwork due to problems between Wrestling/{{WWE}} and Viacom, causing Spike to fill the ProfessionalWrestling void with the [[Wrestling/{{TNA}} competition]]... and ''Series/{{CSI}}'' reruns.

A UK version of the channel was launched in the spring of 2015, taking some of its programming from Channel 5, which is also owned by Viacom. Among other things, it is the first conventional TV channel in Britain to show ''Series/BreakingBad'', which had previously only been available via Netflix or on disc.

* ''Bellator FC'' programs, including ''Fight Master'' and live event cards

* E3 coverage beginning in 2013 due to G4's discontinuation, though much, much less and seemingly bent to promoting the games rather than providing critical commentary.

* ''[[Wrestling/{{TNA}} Impact Wrestling]]''

* ''Spike Video Game Awards'' -- yet another award show that lasted for a decade from 2003 to 2013 (with the last show being named the ''VGX''), obviously dedicated to video gaming. The winners were chosen by the gaming community at large, making it more of a popularity contest. It was criticized during its run for being an insult to the gaming community, with more focuses on the mainstream celebrities that appeal to the network's demographic. Still, most gamers watched it anyway for the exclusive reveals that were shown throughout the show. After Spike announced it would not make anymore ''[=VGAs=]'' in November 2014, producer Geoff Keighley of ''[=GameTrailers=] TV'' fame quickly created ''The Game Awards'' in response, which is independent, jury-voted (save for a few fan-voted awards) and streamed exclusively online.

* ''The Ultimate Fighter'', an elimination style reality-series with guys competing to become a UFC fighter; this has consistently been one of the top-rated shows on the network since its inception. Since moved to Creator/{{Fox}} Sports 1.

Originally, it was known as TNN, a country music channel launched two days after rival Creator/{{CMT}}. The Nashville Network was originally owned by Gaylord Entertainment, alongside Westinghouse Broadcasting (an arm of Westinghouse Electric Company). Westinghouse, after becoming Creator/{{CBS}} Corporation, purchased all of TNN (and CMT, which Gaylord bought in 1991) in 1997. While it focused mainly on music videos, TNN included original programming such as the game shows ''TopCard'', {{NASCAR}} races, and outdoor, lifestyle and talk shows targeted to a country audience.

[[/index]]

A UK version of the channel, taking some of its programming from Channel 5, which is also owned by Viacom. Among other things, it is the first conventional TV channel in Britain to show ''Series/BreakingBad'', which had previously only been available via Netflix or on disc.

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tv_tropes_networks_spike.png]]
[[caption-width-right:300:DoubleEntendre? What DoubleEntendre?]]

A Viacom-owned network dedicated to every single male interest possible, as you might've been able to tell by its edgy name. Basically the RatedMForManly Network, though some may say they lampshade this often enough to venture into TestosteronePoisoning and invariably into UnfortunateImplications..

''[[Wrestling/WWERaw Raw]]'' stuck around for a while but went back to its original home on the Creator/USANetwork due to problems between Wrestling/{{WWE}} and Viacom, causing Spike to fill the ProfessionalWrestling void with the [[Wrestling/{{TNA}} competition]]...and ''Series/{{CSI}}'' reruns.

!!'''Notable original programming on Spike:'''