History Creator / USANetwork

In 1998, media mogul Barry Diller bought the USA network and Universal's television division. Diller, the former CEO of Paramount and Fox, and owner of the Home Shopping Network (HSN), decided to use these assets to create a new conglomerate, USA Networks Inc. Diller re-branded Universal Television as ''Studios USA'', which continued making the Universal shows for networks, cable and syndication. When Universal bought USA back in 2001 it was renamed back to Universal TV; there were also film and home entertainment divisions (the former created by merging October Films and Creator/GramercyPictures after he acquired them along with USA, and has since become Creator/FocusFeatures, the latter absorbed into Universal's video division). Diller also created ''USA Broadcasting'' and began converting his over-the-air HSN stations into independent stations airing syndicated and local programming; this experiment was carried out in Miami, Boston, Atlanta, and Dallas, but any further attempts to expand the format were quashed by fiscal issues (indeed, the New York station was on the verge of switching to the new format) and the stations were sold, after a bidding war with Creator/{{ABC}}, to Univision (which utilized the stations to form a secondary network named Telefutura, since renamed [=UniMas=]).

Starting in TheNewTens, USA began moving away from its "Blue Skies" programming concept and deliberately commissioned series that were significantly DarkerAndEdgier and HotterAndSexier than the frothy procedurals the network had become known for. Shows like ''Series/{{Suits}}'', ''Series/{{Complications}}'', ''Satisfaction'', and ''Series/MrRobot'' all featuring dramatic storylines along with more swearing, sex, and drug use. Even older comedic shows like ''Series/RoyalPains'' started veering towards drama rather than laughs. To some, this symbolizes USA's entry into a DorkAge as the response to many shows is that they're being "adult" simply for the sake of being "adult" rather than actually addressing mature themes through meaningful stories. The fact that outside of ''Series/{{Suits}}''[[note]]the first of the darker shows which kept the Blue Skies-era's core idea of the two main characters having a strong platonic relationship[[/note]] and ''Series/MrRobot''[[note]]which is truly unique in its concept and execution[[/note]] many of these new shows have short runs seems to be testament to that[[note]]In fact, not a single USA show that debuted from 2012 to 2015 managed to survive[[/note]]. However, it is a decision USA seems to be sticking to. ''Series/RoyalPains'', the last of the "Blue Skies"-era shows, ended in 2016 and USA no longer has any truly family-friendly programming on its slate or in development.

* ''Series/SavedByTheBell: The New Class'' (1993-2000) -- Was rerun from 1997 to 2001.

Starting in TheNewTens, USA began moving away from its "Blue Skies" programming concept and deliberately commissioned series that were significantly DarkerAndEdgier and HotterAndSexier than the frothy procedurals the network had become known for. Shows like ''Series/{{Suits}}'', ''Series/{{Complications}}'', ''Satisfaction'', and ''Series/MrRobot'' all featuring dramatic storylines along with more swearing, sex, and drug use. Even older comedic shows like ''Series/RoyalPains'' started veering towards drama rather than laughs. To some, this symbolizes USA's entry into a DorkAge as the response to many shows is that they're being "adult" simply for the sake of being "adult" rather than actually addressing mature themes through meaningful stories. The fact that outside of ''Series/{{Suits}}''[[note]]the first of the darker shows which kept the Blue Skies-era's core idea of the two main characters having a strong platonic relationship[[/note]] and ''Series/MrRobot''[[note]]which is truly unique in its concept and execution[[/note]] many of these new shows have short runs seems to be testament to that. However, it is a decision USA seems to be sticking to. ''Series/RoyalPains'', the last of the "Blue Skies"-era shows, ended in 2016 and USA no longer has any truly family-friendly programming on its slate or in development.

** ''Tuesday Night Titans'' (1984-1986): A talk show in which Wrestling/VinceMcMahon interviews WWF talent, interspersed with sketches, included several genre parodies with Wrestling/MrFuji.
** ''WWF Action Zone'' (1994-1996)

** ''WWF Livewire'' (1996-2000): a call-in talk show.

** ''WWF Livewire (1996-2000): a call-in talk show.

** ''Series/WWEToughEnough'' (2011, 2005)

The USA Network is a cable channel owned by Creator/{{NBC}} Creator/{{Universal}} (initially it was owned together by Universal, Creator/{{Paramount}} and Creator/{{HBO}}, but HBO sold their stake in 1987 and Paramount sold out in 1997). Initially debuting as the Madison Square Garden Network from 1977 to 1980 ([[SimilarlyNamedWorks no, not the one that shows the Knicks and Rangers]], although they were staples of the network's early years). Over the years, it has shown a variety of series and events, most notably ''Wrestling/WWERaw'' and ''[[Wrestling/WWESmackdown Smackdown]] (until it moves to Creator/{{Fox}} in 2019), ''Series/{{Monk}}'', ''Series/{{Psych}}'', ''Series/BurnNotice'', the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and U.S. Open UsefulNotes/{{tennis}}.

The USA Network is a cable channel owned by Creator/{{NBC}} Creator/{{Universal}} (initially it was owned together by Universal, Creator/{{Paramount}} and Creator/{{HBO}}, but HBO sold their stake in 1987 and Paramount sold out in 1997). Initially debuting as the Madison Square Garden Network from 1977 to 1980 ([[SimilarlyNamedWorks no, not the one that shows the Knicks and Rangers]], although they were staples of the network's early years). Over the years, it has shown a variety of series and events, most notably ''Wrestling/WWERaw'', ''Series/{{Monk}}'', ''Series/{{Psych}}'', ''Series/BurnNotice'', the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and U.S. Open UsefulNotes/{{tennis}}.

* ''Series/{{Unsolved}}'', a true crime series

* ''Series/SirensUS''

* ''USA Up All Night'' (1989-1998) -- A late-night interstitial program showcasing edited versions of cheesy B-Movies that typically ran on Friday and Saturday nights from 1989 to 1998. One of the network's most beloved originals by longtime viewers[[note]]though some, such as the author of ''Literature/WhatWereTheyThinkingThe100DumbestEventsInTelevisionHistory'', were not pleased that many of the films shown were {{bowdlerize}}d despite being shown in the hour where they would have been shown uncut and uncensored[[/note]], GilbertGottfried hosted on Saturdays from the beginning of the run in January 1989 to the end in March 1998, Caroline Schlitt hosted on Fridays from June 1989 to December 1990, and Rhonda Shear replaced her on that edition from January 1991 to March 1998. After that, only the name remained as the banner for overnight movies until 2002.

* ''Anime/SailorMoon'': Reruns of the DiC dub as part of the ''Action Extreme Team'' until ''Creator/{{Toonami}}'' picked it up.

More recently, after years of developing shows with dominant comedic sides, the network made a move towards DarkerAndEdgier and HotterAndSexier programming with shows like ''Series/{{Suits}}'', ''Series/{{Complications}}'', ''Satisfaction'', and ''Series/MrRobot'' all featuring dramatic storylines along with more swearing, sex, and drug use. Even older comedic shows like ''Series/RoyalPains'' have started veering towards drama rather than laughs. To some, this symbolizes USA's entry into a DorkAge as the response to many shows is that they're being "adult" simply for the sake of being "adult" rather than actually addressing mature themes through meaningful stories. The fact that many of these new shows have short runs seems to be testament to that. However, it is a decision USA seems to be sticking to. ''Series/RoyalPains'', the last of the "Blue Skies"-era shows, ended in 2016 and USA no longer has any truly family-friendly programming on its slate or in development.

* ''Series/PlayingHouse''

* ''USA High'' (1997-1999) -- Teen comedy from the creators of ''Saved by the Bell''.

The USA Network is a cable channel owned by Creator/{{NBC}} Creator/{{Universal}} (initially it was owned together by Universal, Creator/{{Paramount}} and Creator/{{HBO}}, but HBO sold their stake in 1987 and Paramount sold out in 1997). Initially debuting as the Madison Square Garden Network from 1977 to 1980 ([[SimilarlyNamedWorks no, not the one that shows the Knicks and Rangers]], although they were staples of the network's early years). Over the years, it has shown a variety of series and events, most notably ''Wrestling/{{WWE}} [[Wrestling/WWERaw Raw]]'', ''Series/{{Monk}}'', ''Series/{{Psych}}'', ''Series/BurnNotice'', the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and U.S. Open UsefulNotes/{{tennis}}.

The USA Network is a cable channel owned by Creator/{{NBC}} Creator/{{Universal}} (initially it was owned together by Universal, Creator/{{Paramount}} and Creator/{{HBO}}, but HBO sold their stake in 1987 and Paramount sold out in 1997). Initially debuting as the Madison Square Garden Network from 1977 to 1980 ([[SimilarlyNamedWorks no, not the one that shows the Knicks and Rangers]], although they were staples of the network's early years). Over the years, it has shown a variety of series and events, most notably ''Wrestling/{{WWE}} [[Wrestling/WWERaw Raw]]'', ''Series/{{Monk}}'', ''Series/{{Psych}}'', ''Series/BurnNotice'', the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and U.S. Open tennis.

One of USA's notable [[AccidentalPun characteristics]] from the early 2000s onward has been their programming choices and their focus on unique characters, which gave the network the [[{{Slogans}} tag line]] ''USA: Characters Welcome'' . They like to make new shows, with unique premises, starring talented but largely unrecognized C- or D-list actors, but with an optimistic edge to their characters who are usually [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Jerks with Hearts of Gold]] and promoted by the network under a theme known as the "[[http://intersectedlightly.wordpress.com/2010/08/07/usa-networks-blue-skies-theme-is-it-right-for-chuck/ Blue Skies]]" concept. This has worked out pretty well; how many Emmys did ''Series/{{Monk}}'' win again?[[note]]Six[[/note]] Often, they guest-star actors from cancelled shows on sister NBC Universal networks Creator/{{Syfy}} and NBC.

* ''Check it Out'', a Canadian sitcom (co-produced by USA) and an adaptation of the notably bad British sitcom ''Tripper's Day'', centering around a fictional supermarket and its' weird crew of employees. Notably, the main character was played by ''[[Series/GetSmart Don Adams]]''!

* ''Series/{{Jackpot}} 1985'' (1985-1988) -- Canadian-produced revival hosted by Mike Darrow, and aired in Canada on Global TV.

They started changing in the mid-90s, dropping the court and game shows and starting to focus more on original productions and off-net reruns, with the slick, CGI-heavy look dropped in favor of a new, "star" logo, and a look based off a behind-the-scenes look at the fictional "USA Studios" (which was now the brand for USA original programming). This was replaced in 1999 with a new "flag" logo and flat CGI graphics (they had dropped the cartoons and news updates by this point); that lasted until 2005, when the current logo and look was adopted. However, this isn't a case of NetworkDecay- primarily because USA catered to a wide audience, and never really had much of a focus.

Back in the 80s and early 90's, it was essentially cable's "melting pot", or less favorably, "used car" network. It reran everything under the sun- from the usual assortment of sitcoms, dramas, movies, cartoons and sports, to the less expected, such as game shows, court shows, and news updates. During the early to mid 90s their slogan was "The Remote Stops Here", to emphasize the variety of programming and that theoretically you could stay tuned and see everything.