Editing Paramount Network

{{short description|American television channel}}
{{About|a present-day television channel|the streaming service|Paramount+|the international networks|Paramount Network (international)|the defunct television network|UPN}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Paramount Network
| logo = [[File:Paramount Network 2024.svg|220px|class=skin-invert]]
| logo_size = 220px
| logo_caption = Logo used since February 25, 2024
| type = [[Generalist channel|General entertainment]] cable network
| country = United States
| area = Nationwide
| headquarters = One Astor Plaza, [[New York City|New York]], United States
| language = English
| picture_format = [[1080i]] [[HDTV]]<br />(downscaled to [[letterbox (filming)|letterbox]]ed [[480i]] for the [[SDTV]] feed)
| owner = [[Paramount Media Networks]] ([[Paramount Global]])
| parent = [[Paramount Media Networks#MTV Entertainment Group|MTV Entertainment Group]]
| key_people = {{plainlist|
* Chris McCarthy (President, Entertainment & Youth Brands, Paramount Media Networks)
* Tanya Giles ([[General Manager|GM]]){{efn|In addition to oversight for Paramount Network, duties of the noted executives also include oversight of sister networks [[Comedy Central]] and [[TV Land]].|group=note|name=executives}}
* Rob O’Neill ([[Vice President|SVP]], Programming & Promotion Strategy){{efn|group=note|name=executives}}
* Debbie Beiter (Senior Vice President, Operations and Production){{efn|group=note|name=executives}}
}}
| sister_channels = {{collapsible list|
* [[CBS]]
* [[CBS Sports Network]]
* [[CBS Sports HQ]]
* [[CBS Sports Golazo Network]]
* [[MTV]]
* [[MTV2]]
* [[MTV Live (TV network)|MTV Live]]
* [[MTV Classic (American TV channel)|MTV Classic]]
* [[BET]]
* [[BET Gospel]]
* [[BET Her]]
* [[BET Hip-Hop]]
* [[BET Jams]]
* [[BET Soul]]
* [[VH1]]
* [[Nickelodeon]]
* [[Nick Jr. Channel]]
* [[Nicktoons (American TV channel)|Nicktoons]]
* [[TeenNick]]
* [[Comedy Central]]
* [[TV Land]]
* [[Logo TV|Logo]]
* [[CMT (American TV channel)|CMT]]
* [[Pop (American TV channel)|Pop TV]]
* [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]
* [[The Movie Channel]]
* [[Flix (TV network)|Flix]]
* [[Smithsonian Channel]]
}}
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1983|3|7}}
| former_names = {{Plainlist|'''[[The Nashville Network]]'''<br>(1983–2000)<br>'''The National Network'''<br>(2000–2001)<br>'''The New TNN'''<br>(2001–2003)<br>'''Spike TV'''<br>(2003–2006)<br>'''Spike'''<br>(2006–2018)
}}
| website = {{URL|1=https://www.paramountnetwork.com/|2=paramountnetwork.com}}
| online_serv_1 = Associated Streaming Service
| online_chan_1 = [[Paramount+]]
| online_serv_2 = Service(s)
| online_chan_2 = [[YouTube TV]], [[Hulu + Live TV]], [[Philo]], [[FuboTV]]
}}

'''Paramount Network''' is an American basic [[cable television]] channel and the flagship property of the [[Paramount Media Networks]] division of [[Paramount Global]], who operates it through the [[MTV Entertainment Group]]. The network's headquarters are located at the [[Paramount Pictures]] studio lot in [[Los Angeles]]. The channel was originally founded by a partnership between radio station [[WSM (AM)|WSM]] and [[Westinghouse Broadcasting]] as '''[[The Nashville Network]] (TNN)''' and began broadcasting on March 7, 1983.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/03/05/Nashville-Network-giant-commercial-for-country-music/4663415688400/|title=Nashville Network -- Giant Commercial for Country Music|last=Schwed|first=Mark|date=March 5, 1983|website=UPI|access-date=March 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=The Nashville Network Begins With Optimism|agency=UPI|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/03/11/arts/the-nashville-network-begins-with-optimism.html|date=March 11, 1983|work=The New York Times|id={{ProQuest|122145731}}}}</ref> 

It initially featured programming catering towards the culture of the [[Southern United States]], including [[country music]], [[variety show]]s, outdoors programming, and [[motor racing]] coverage (such as [[NASCAR]]). TNN was purchased by the [[Gaylord Entertainment Company]] in 1983.<ref>{{Cite news|work=The New York Times|title=Grand Ole Opry Finds a Buyer|last=Berg|first=Eric N.|date=July 2, 1983|id={{ProQuest|122147165}}}}</ref> After Gaylord bought [[Country Music Television|CMT]] in 1991, TNN's music programming was shifted to CMT, leaving TNN to focus on entertainment and lifestyle programming.

In 1995, [[The Nashville Network|TNN]] and [[CMT (American TV channel)|CMT]] were acquired by Westinghouse (owner of [[CBS]]), which was in turn acquired by [[Viacom (1952–2006)|Viacom]] in 1999. Under Viacom ownership, TNN would phase out country-influenced programming in favor of a general entertainment format appealing to [[Middle America (United States)|Middle America]]. It was renamed '''The National Network''' in September 2000, coinciding with the network premiere of ''[[WWE Raw|WWF Raw]]''. In August 2003, TNN relaunched as '''Spike TV''', which targeted a [[Men's interest channel|young adult male audience]]. From June 2006, the network's programming had a more explicit focus on the action genre, while in 2010, the network had an increased focus on original reality series. This culminated with a final rebrand in 2015 to emphasize gender-balanced series (such as ''[[Lip Sync Battle]]'') and a return to original scripted programming. 

On January 18, 2018, the channel took its current name, aiming to align the network with its Paramount Pictures (which previously lent its name to the [[UPN|United Paramount Network]], which is now [[The CW]]), and to position Spike as a flagship, "[[Pay television|premium]]" channel (similar to pay television networks [[HBO]] and [[Cinemax]], which are both owned by [[Home Box Office, Inc.]]). Paramount Network's most successful original program was ''[[Yellowstone (American TV series)|Yellowstone]]—''which quickly became its flagship series, and has spawned multiple spin-offs on [[Paramount+]], the streaming service owned by its parent company [[Paramount Global]]. The network has also featured limited engagements of new Paramount+ original series by ''Yellowstone'' co-creator [[Taylor Sheridan]], using ''Yellowstone'' as a lead-in. 

Between 2020 and 2021, most of Paramount Network's [[List of programs broadcast by Paramount Network|original programming]] would either be cancelled, or moved to other Paramount Global outlets, as part of a proposed plan to relaunch the network with a focus on [[Television film|made-for-TV films]]. By January 2022, these plans had been scrapped due to the impact of [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]], and the success of the ''Yellowstone'' franchise; leaving it, and Spike holdover ''[[Bar Rescue]]'', as the channel's only original, first-run programs. {{As of|2023|12}}, approximately 61.33 million pay television households in the United States received Paramount Network;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wrestlenomics.com/u-s-cable-network-households-universe-1990-2023-nielsen-data/|title=U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023|website=wrestlenomics.com|date=May 14, 2024|access-date=July 28, 2019}}</ref> down from 80.24 million in September 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/nielsen-coverage-estimates-september-espn-nbcsn-nbatv-mlbn-nfln.html|title=Nielsen coverage estimates for September see gains at ESPN networks, NBCSN, and NBA TV, drops at MLBN and NFLN|website=awfulannouncing.com|date=10 September 2018 |access-date=July 28, 2019}}</ref>

== History ==

=== The Nashville Network (1983–2000) ===
{{Main|The Nashville Network}}

The Nashville Network first launched on March 7, 1983; it was dedicated to the culture and lifestyle of [[country music]] and the [[Southern United States]].<ref name="TNN history">{{Cite web|url=http://www.country.com/tnn/history/history-f.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000301171349/http://www.country.com/tnn/history/history-f.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2000-03-01|title=TNN history |date=March 1, 2000}}</ref>  It originally operated as a [[joint venture]] of WSM, Inc., at the time owned by [[National Life and Accident Insurance Company]], and [[Westinghouse Broadcasting|Group W]] Satellite Communications. TNN operated from the now-defunct [[Opryland USA]] theme park near [[Nashville|Nashville, Tennessee]]. [[Country Music Television]] (CMT), founded by Glenn D. Daniels, beat TNN's launch by two days, robbing them of the claim of the "first country music cable television network." TNN's flagship shows included ''[[Nashville Now]]'', ''[[The Statler Brothers Show]]'', ''[[American Sports Cavalcade]]'' and ''[[Grand Ole Opry]] Live''. ''Nashville Now'' and the ''Grand Ole Opry'' were broadcast live from Opryland USA.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/editorial.asp?xid=102|title=Goodbye Nashville Network|work=Country Standard Time|date=November 2000|access-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Country Comes to Cable|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,923376,00.html?iid=chix-sphere|last=Stengel|first=Richard|date=March 21, 1987|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930135815/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,923376,00.html?iid=chix-sphere|archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref>

The [[Ryman Hospitality Properties|Gaylord Entertainment Company]] purchased WSM, along with TNN and the Opryland properties, in the latter half of 1987. Much of TNN's programming (except for its sports) during the Gaylord era was originally produced by Opryland Productions, also owned by Gaylord Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9507E6DB1439F932A25750C0A965948260|title=The Nashville Network Begins With Optimism|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 11, 1987|access-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref> From 1983 to 1992, all of TNN's auto racing and motor sports coverage was produced by Diamond P Sports. Starting in 1993, TNN started having its [[NASCAR]] coverage produced by World Sports Enterprises, and the [[American Speed Association]] (ASA) coverage produced by Group 5 Sports, while Diamond P continued to produce most of the rest of the racing coverage. Programming included variety shows, [[talk show]]s, [[game show]]s, outdoor shows (such as hunting and fishing), and lifestyle shows; all centered in some way around country music or the country style of living.<ref>{{cite book|last=Banks|first=Jack|title=Monopoly Television: MTV's Quest to Control the Music|publisher=Westview Press|year=1996|location=Boulder, Colorado|page=[https://archive.org/details/monopolytelevisi0000bank/page/59 59]|url= https://archive.org/details/monopolytelevisi0000bank|url-access=registration|quote=the nashville network.|isbn=0-8133-1821-1}}</ref>

Some of TNN's popular on-air talent included local Nashville media personalities [[Ralph Emery]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmaawards.com/2007/hof/default.asp|title=2015 CMA Awards - Country Music's Biggest Night|work=2015 CMA Awards|access-date=June 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514021128/http://www.cmaawards.com/2007/hof/default.asp|archive-date=May 14, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Dan Miller (journalist)|Dan Miller]], [[Charlie Chase (broadcaster)|Charlie Chase]] and [[Lorianne Crook]], as well as established stars such as country music singer [[Bill Anderson (singer)|Bill Anderson]] and actresses [[Florence Henderson]] and [[Dinah Shore]]. By 1995, TNN was acquired by [[Westinghouse Electric Corporation]], which had recently acquired [[CBS]] around that time; two years later, Westinghouse bought CMT, TNN's chief competitor. In 1998, the channel dropped its "The Nashville Network" moniker and shortened its official name to TNN. Ownership shifted to [[Viacom (1952–2006)|Viacom]] in the late 1990s after its acquisition of CBS Corporation, Westinghouse's successor.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

=== {{anchor|The National Network and The New TNN (2000-2003)}} The National Network, the New TNN, and professional wrestling (2000–2003) ===
[[File:Tnnlogo.webp|thumb|200px|TNN's logo, between 2000 and 2003]]
In 1999, TNN began to downplay its previous country lifestyle programming to appeal to a wider demographic, including younger viewers; capitalizing on the success of ''[[RollerJam]]'' (a [[roller derby]]-inspired series with elements of [[professional wrestling]]), TNN reached a three-year deal to broadcast a [[ECW on TNN|weekly television series]] from the Philadelphia-based wrestling promotion [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] (ECW), which would air on Friday nights beginning in late August 1999. Under the contract, ECW also agreed to [[revenue sharing]] with TNN for all of the promotion's events (including live shows and [[pay-per-view]]s) and merchandising. These two programs would air as part of a Friday-night [[programming block|block]] themed around [[extreme sports]] programming, alongside ''[[Motor Madness]]'' and [[bull riding]] from the [[Professional Bull Riders]] (PBR); a TNN executive described bull riding as being "the original extreme sport".<ref name="riseandfall-ecw">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KYrCt0kt3iYC&q=%22ecw%22+%22tnn%22+%22rollerjam%22&pg=PA231|title=The Rise & Fall of ECW: Extreme Championship Wrestling|last=Loverro|first=Thom|date=May 22, 2007|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=9781416513124}}</ref><ref name="adage-ecwtnn">{{Cite news|url=http://adage.com/article/news/wrestling-choke-hold-cable-fans/58776/|title=Wrestling has choke-hold on cable fans|work=Advertising Age|access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/1999/tv/news/tnn-in-the-grips-of-extreme-wrestling-1117503659/|title=TNN in the grips of Extreme wrestling|last=Katz|first=Richard|date=July 1, 1999|work=Variety|access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Extreme Sports|url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1999/10/19/liv_273859.shtml#.WlvCYqinGUk|work=Newsday|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111121641/http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1999/10/19/liv_273859.shtml|archive-date=11 November 2012|access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref>

In November 1999, TNN announced new programming and primetime theme blocks it planned to introduce in 2000, including ''Movie Monday'' (which would target female viewers), ''Action Wednesday'', ''Friday Night Thrill Zone'', ''Classic Country'' on Saturday nights, and ''TNN Outdoors'' on Sundays. The new schedule, along with new series such as the action drama ''[[18 Wheels of Justice]]'', collegiate [[ten-pin bowling|bowling]] competition series ''Rockin' Bowl'', reruns of the Western anthology ''[[Dead Man's Gun]]'', and a new promotional campaign targeting younger viewers, were intended to introduce a broader audience to the network.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/orphan-articles/tnn-overhauls-primetime-schedule/143075|title=TNN Overhauls Primetime Schedule|website=Multichannel News|date=15 November 1999 |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref>

Despite ECW reportedly driving a 200% increase in young male viewership in its timeslot, the promotion had a strained relationship with TNN's management—which had given the program little advertising, among other issues. ECW would reference these difficulties in its storylines with its [[Stable (professional wrestling)|stable]] "[[The Network (professional wrestling)|The Network]],” whose leader [[Don Callis|Cyrus]] criticized the ECW program for its content, and showed a blatant adoration for TNN shows such as ''RollerJam''.<ref name="riseandfall-ecw" /><ref name="adage-ecwtnn" /><ref name="Reynolds2010">{{cite book |author=R.D. Reynolds |author-link=R.D. Reynolds |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HFBTUhnc9DwC&pg=PA185 |title=The Wrestlecrap Book of Lists! |date=16 November 2010 |publisher=ECW Press |isbn=978-1-55490-287-3 |pages=185}}</ref>

On September 25, 2000, TNN was folded into the [[MTV Networks]] division based in New York City, and was renamed The National Network. The rebranding coincided with major changes to the network's programming, including the network premiere of ''[[WWE Raw|Raw Is War]]—''the flagship weekly program of the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF, later WWE)''—''which moved to TNN from [[USA Network]] as part of a new contract with Viacom. As WWF programs were among USA Network's top programs, the move was considered a major coup for TNN. MTV Networks chairman Tom Freston described TNN as now being a general entertainment service, albeit one with a "sort of populist [[Middle America (United States)|middle-America]] flavor" rather than "another network for New York or Los Angeles."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/orphan-articles/viacom-takes-tnn-national/162404|title=Viacom Takes TNN National|website=Multichannel News|date=25 September 2000 |access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Downey|first=Kevin|title=The new TNN: T&A, trekking and sleuths|work=Media Life Magazine|date=April 9, 2001|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/apr01/apr09/1_mon/news2monday.html|access-date=August 31, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930183808/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/apr01/apr09/1_mon/news2monday.html|archive-date=September 30, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

[[American football|Football]] also became more prominent on the network, as it began airing games of the original [[Arena Football League]] (AFL) with [[Eli Gold]] as an announcer. TNN was also one of three networks to air games of the ill-fated, WWF-backed [[XFL (2001)|XFL]] (along with [[NBC]] and [[UPN]]). As part of its contract, TNN had the rights to a late Sunday afternoon game each week except for the first week, when UPN aired the afternoon game instead. In 2001, TNN aired [[College Basketball on CBS|CBS Sports-produced]] coverage of the inaugural [[First Four|opening round game]] of the [[2001 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=NCAA Tournament 2001 - This play-in concept has potential|url=http://static.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney01/s/katzopener.html|access-date=2021-08-01|website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> The opening round game would later move to [[ESPN College Basketball|ESPN]] in [[2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2002]].

In 2001, TNN added off-network sitcoms and dramas such as ''[[Diff'rent Strokes]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sitcomsonline.com/dsbroadcast.html|title=Diff'rent Strokes: Broadcast Stations|access-date=June 6, 2015}}</ref> ''[[The Wonder Years]]'',<ref name="originals">[https://web.archive.org/web/20080828201502/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA60419.html TNN Shooting for Lineup that's 50% More Original]. ''[[Broadcasting & Cable]]'': January 22, 2001</ref> ''[[The Rockford Files]]'',<ref name="originals"/> ''[[WKRP in Cincinnati]]'',<ref name="originals"/> ''[[Newhart]]'', ''[[Hangin' With Mr. Cooper]]'', ''[[Miami Vice]]''<ref name="originals"/> and ''[[Taxi (TV series)|Taxi]]''.<ref name="originals"/><ref>[http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/apr01/apr09/1_mon/news2monday.html The new TNN: T&A, trekking and sleuths] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930183808/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/apr01/apr09/1_mon/news2monday.html |date=September 30, 2007 }}, ''Media Life Magazine'', April 1, 2001</ref> It also became the first channel to air reruns of ''[[MADtv]]''. These moves went unnoticed for the most part, due to TNN's lack of popularity. By this time, all country-western programming had been purged from the network; some of The Nashville Network's former programming was picked up by CMT, while other classic TNN shows were picked up by [[Great American Country]], including eventually the ''[[Grand Ole Opry]]'', which was pushed off to CMT and eventually removed by Viacom after they did not renew the agreement to carry the series. In 2001, TNN began to market itself as "The New TNN", an inadvertent [[pleonasm]] in its full context.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2003-04-18|title=The Your-Name-Here Network|url=http://www.teevee.org/2003/04/the-your-name-here-network.html|access-date=2021-05-14|website=TeeVee.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=October 24, 2002|title=TNN bucks (rodeo) bull|page=15|newspaper=Elyria Chronicle Telegram|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/elyria-chronicle-telegram-oct-24-2002-p-15/|via=Newspaper Archives}}</ref>

By late 2002, the channel had picked up more male-oriented shows, such as ''[[Baywatch]]'', ''[[Monster Jam]]'', the hidden camera game show ''[[Oblivious (American game show)|Oblivious]]'', ''[[Robot Wars (TV series)|Robot Wars Extreme Warriors]]'', and ''[[Slamball]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Robbins|first=Liz|date=2002-07-31|title=Bouncing to Extremes: Introducing SlamBall|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/31/sports/recreation-bouncing-to-extremes-introducing-slamball.html|access-date=2021-05-14|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

=== {{anchor|Spike TV}} Spike (2003–2018) ===
[[File:Spike-tv-1.svg|thumb|200px|Spike's logo, used from August 11, 2003 to May 9, 2006]]
In April 2003, Viacom would announce that TNN would be relaunched as '''Spike TV''' on June 16.<ref name="Romano" /> Promoted with the slogan "The First [[Men's interest channel|Network for Men]]", They aimed to target [[Young adult (psychology)|young adult]] males aged 18–34 — a demographic they believed were being served insufficiently by other cable networks. Spike's launch programming started with three animated shows including ''[[Gary the Rat]]'', ''[[Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon"]]'' (an adult-oriented revival of the original [[Nickelodeon]] ''[[The Ren & Stimpy Show]]''), and ''[[Stripperella]]'', as well as other new series such as ''[[Ride with Funkmaster Flex]]'', ''CSI'', ''Star Trek'', and ''Raw.''<ref name="Romano" /> Other planned programming included [[Interstitial television show|interstitial]] segments on health, technology, and finance in collaboration with ''[[Men's Health]]'', ''[[Stuff (magazine)|Stuff]]'', and [[MarketWatch]].<ref name="Romano">{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Allison|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|title=TNN Hopes Mainly Men Will Watch "Spike TV"|date=April 21, 2003|url=http://broadcastingcable.com/article/CA293348.html|access-date=August 31, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016204031/http://broadcastingcable.com/article/CA293348.html|archive-date=October 16, 2007}}</ref>

Three days before the planned launch date, [[film director]] and [[actor]] [[Spike Lee]] won a [[New York Supreme Court]] [[injunction]] preventing Viacom from using the "Spike TV” name. Lee claimed that due to his well-known popularity in Hollywood, viewers would therefore assume that he was associated with the new channel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://broadcastingcable.com/article/CA305461.html|title=Breaking...|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=June 16, 2003|access-date=February 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016204034/http://broadcastingcable.com/article/CA305461.html|archive-date=October 16, 2007}}</ref> Lee stated in court papers that: "The media description of this change of name, as well as comments made to me and my wife, confirmed what was obvious—that Spike TV referred to Spike Lee."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/2961726.stm|work=BBC News|title=Spike sues over channel name|date=June 4, 2003|access-date=May 23, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Romano"/> Spike Jones Jr., son of comic musician [[Spike Jones]], became a party to the lawsuit as part of Viacom's defense to protect the rights to his father's name.<ref>{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Allison|title=Another Spike Stakes His Case|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=June 30, 2003|url=http://broadcastingcable.com/article/CA308200.html|access-date=August 31, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012125858/http://broadcastingcable.com/article/CA308200.html|archive-date=October 12, 2008}}</ref>

Most of the new programming would premiere on the originally-planned date as a [[soft launch]], at this time, the TNN name and logo was downplayed heavily in favor of the "First Network for Men" tagline. The suit was settled on July 8, 2003, in announcing the settlement, Lee admitted that he did not believe that the channel intentionally tried to trade on his name.<ref>{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Allison|title=TNN, Lee resolve Spike fight|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=July 9, 2003|url=http://broadcastingcable.com/article/CA310409.html|access-date=August 31, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016204045/http://broadcastingcable.com/article/CA310409.html|archive-date=October 16, 2007}}</ref> On July 28, 2003, it was announced that Spike TV would officially launch on August 11, of the same year.—eight weeks later than initially scheduled. Its launch night programming featured two programs originally intended to air on June 16, including ''Party with Spike''—a launch special filmed at the [[Playboy Mansion]], and the premiere of ''[[Most Extreme Elimination Challenge]]''—a comedic [[Dubbing (filmmaking)|dub]] of the [[Japanese game show]] ''[[Takeshi's Castle]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Allison|title=Spike to Start, Finally, Aug. 11|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=July 28, 2003|url=http://broadcastingcable.com/article/CA313236.html|access-date=August 31, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016204054/http://broadcastingcable.com/article/CA313236.html|archive-date=October 16, 2007}}</ref> [[Klasky Csupo]]'s ''[[Immigrants (2008 film)|Immigrants]]'' and the [[John Leguizamo]]-produced ''Zilch & Zero'' were originally slated to run on Spike TV's animation block,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/spike-tv-welcomes-the-immigrants-with-marathon/|title=Spike TV Welcomes The Immigrants with Marathon|last=Ball|first=Ryan|work=Animation Magazine|date=July 19, 2004|access-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref> but these plans never materialized and the former was released as a film instead.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2003-06-25-toons_x.htm|title=Toons with a lot more 'tude|last=Keveney|first=Bill|work=USA Today|date=June 26, 2003|access-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Spike TV Announces John Leguizamo's New Original Animated Project 'Zilch & Zero'|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spike-tv-announces-john-leguizamos-new-original-animated-project-zilch--zero-55530697.html|date=May 6, 2003|work=PR Newswire|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625194853/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spike-tv-announces-john-leguizamos-new-original-animated-project-zilch--zero-55530697.html|archive-date=25 June 2015|access-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref> Later that year, Spike premiered the [[reality television]] parody ''[[The Joe Schmo Show]]'', which had positive attention.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Marechal |first=A. J. |date=2013-01-06 |title='The Joe Schmo Show' is the freshest reality program, but also an ephemeron |url=https://variety.com/2013/tv/news/the-joe-schmo-show-is-the-freshest-reality-program-but-also-an-ephemera-8986/ |access-date=2022-06-21 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> and launched the [[VGX (award show)|Spike Video Game Awards]].

On January 17, 2005, The network premiered ''[[The Ultimate Fighter]]'', a reality competition series following [[mixed martial arts]] (MMA) fighters training and competing to earn a contract with the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] (UFC). The series helped to raise the profile of the promotion, and would run for 14 seasons, ending its run in 2011 only after [[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox Sports]] acquired the U.S. television rights to UFC programming and events under a new, seven-year deal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-Fox-Announce-7-Year-Broadcast-Deal-34862|title=UFC, Fox Announce 7-Year Broadcast Deal|website=Sherdog|access-date=January 15, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mmaweekly.com/spike-tv-announces-partnership-with-the-ufc-has-ended-tuf-14-will-be-the-last-on-the-network|title=Spike TV Announces Partnership with the UFC Has Ended, TUF 14 Will Be the Last on the Network|last=Martin|first=Damon|date=August 18, 2011|work=MMAWeekly.com|access-date=August 18, 2011}}</ref>

In March 2005, Viacom announced that it would not renew its contract with [[WWE]] when it expired in September 2005. Spike TV's new president, [[Doug Herzog]], stated that Spike TV had planned to "expand its investments in original programming and new acquisitions for its core audience", including new scripted programming. The following month, it was announced that ''WWE Raw'' would return to USA Network.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26593-2005Apr4.html|title=USA and WWE, a Tag Team Again|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2018-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2005/scene/markets-festivals/spike-tv-smacks-down-wwe-1117919243/|title=Spike TV smacks down WWE|last=Martin|first=Denise|date=2005-03-11|work=Variety|access-date=2018-06-11}}</ref> Spike TV subsequently reached a deal with another wrestling promotion, [[Impact Wrestling|Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] (TNA), which saw ''[[Impact! (TV series)|TNA Impact!]]'' premiere on Saturday, October 1, 2005.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2005/09/28/1239124.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724182525/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2005/09/28/1239124.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 24, 2017|title=Franchise ready for Spike|work=Canoe.com|access-date=2018-06-11}}</ref> Later in the month, The block debuted the video game news show ''[[GameTrailers TV with Geoff Keighley|Game Head]]'', hosted by [[Geoff Keighley]].

==== "Get More Action" ====
[[File:Spike.svg|thumb|200px|Spike's logo, used from May 9, 2006 to March 3, 2015]]
In 2005, Viacom conducted research which found that word-of-mouth knowledge narrowly perceived Spike TV's programming as being predominantly "[[Low culture|low-brow]],” violent, and reliant on [[sex appeal]]. These findings led Viacom to pursue a rebrand in an effort to clarify the network's focus. At its upfront presentations in 2006, Viacom unveiled a new logo for the channel (officially shortening its name to "Spike"), with the new slogan "Get More Action.” The new brand was described as being "authentic" and "unapologetically" masculine, and emphasizing [[Action fiction|action]] as a core genre of programming for the network. The new branding would launch alongside the premiere of ''[[Blade: The Series]]'' in June 2006. An aspect of the rebranding were themed [[Promo (media)|promos]] with integrated [[product placement]], such as "Men of Action" (which featured homages and parodies of "classic action moments").<ref>{{Cite news |title=For Spike TV, It's a Man's World |url=http://www.adweek.com/tv-video/spike-tv-its-mans-world-96489/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241103031640/https://www.adweek.com/convergent-tv/spike-tv-its-mans-world-96489/ |archive-date=2024-11-03 |access-date=January 15, 2018 |work=Adweek}}</ref> 

On September 5, 2006, Spike premiered the documentary film ''Metal of Honor: The Ironworkers of 9/11'' by filmmaker Rachel Maguire, which profiled the ironworkers' efforts in the attempts for rescue and recovery of the [[September 11 attacks]] at the [[World Trade Center site]]. The film proceeds through the ironworkers' dismantling of the fallen towers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2006/09/05/arts/television/05buil.html|title=Metal of Honor: Building on Ground Zero|last=Heffernan|first=Virginia|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 5, 2006|access-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref> On October 10, 2006, Spike aired the [[2006 Scream Awards|inaugural]] [[Scream Awards]], an awards show honoring [[Horror fiction|horror]], science fiction, fantasy and comic book-based entertainment.<ref name="bloody-disgusting_2023">{{Cite web |last=Vasquez Jr |first=Felix |date=22 March 2023 |title=The "Spike TV Scream Awards" Gave Horror Fans Their Own Oscars for Six Special Years |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3755598/spike-tv-scream-awards-gave-horror-fans-their-own-oscars-for-six-special-years |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510233141/https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3755598/spike-tv-scream-awards-gave-horror-fans-their-own-oscars-for-six-special-years |archive-date=10 May 2023 |access-date=13 August 2023 |work=Bloody Disgusting (www.bloody-disgusting.com) |language=en-US |df=dmy}}</ref> In January 2007, Spike premiered their first and only [[anime]] series ''[[Afro Samurai]]'', whose English-language cast featured actor [[Samuel L. Jackson]].<ref>{{cite news |date=February 27, 2006 |title=Funimation Acquires Afro Samurai |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-02-27/funimation-acquires-afro-samurai |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915142947/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-02-27/funimation-acquires-afro-samurai |archive-date=September 15, 2024 |access-date=September 2, 2009 |work=[[Anime News Network]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 31, 2006 |title=Afro Samurai Hits Spike TV on January 4 |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-10-31/afro-samurai-hits-spike-tv-on-january-4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210025929/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-10-31/afro-samurai-hits-spike-tv-on-january-4 |archive-date=February 10, 2009 |access-date=September 2, 2009 |work=[[Anime News Network]]}}</ref>

In October 2007, [[Kevin Kay]] was appointed network president after serving as executive vice president and general manager of the channel for the previous two years.<ref>{{cite news|author=John Dempsey|title=New Prexy For Spike TV|publisher=Daily Variety|page=4|date=October 10, 2007}}</ref> The post had been vacant since December 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spike TV Names Kevin Kay President – TVWeek|url=http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/10/spike_tv_names_kevin_kay_presi.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011190522/http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/10/spike_tv_names_kevin_kay_presi.php|archive-date=11 October 2007|access-date=June 6, 2015}}</ref> In 2008, the network premiered ''DEA'', a reality series based on the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Spike TV Orders DEA Reality Show|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6519461.html?rssid=193|last=Weprin|first=Alex|date=January 10, 2008|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004064309/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/111922-Spike_TV_Orders_DEA_Reality_Show.php|archive-date=4 October 2012|access-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref>

On April 7, 2008, Spike acquired cable syndication rights for the sitcom ''[[Married... with Children]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Weprin|first=Alex|date=April 7, 2008|title=Spike TV Acquires Married...With Children|work=Broadcasting & Cable|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6548537.html?rssid=193|url-status=live|access-date=April 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506102039/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6548537.html?rssid=193|archive-date=6 May 2009}}</ref> And five new unscripted shows were also picked up for the channel's Summer 2008 lineup, including ''[[1000 Ways to Die]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spike TV Picks Up Five Unscripted Series|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6558935.html?rssid=193|last=Weprin|first=Alex|date=May 8, 2008|work=Broadcasting & Cable|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506102329/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6558935.html?rssid=193|archive-date=6 May 2009|access-date=May 8, 2008}}</ref>

In the fall of 2009, Spike broadcast live Australian [[rugby league]] semifinal games from the [[National Rugby League]] and also showed the grand final, as part of efforts by [[David Niu]] to bring the [[American National Rugby League|National Rugby League USA]] to the United States.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spike TV Brings Rugby To America|url=http://www.spike.com/blog/spike-tv-brings/86142|date=September 2, 2009|work=Spike.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906093956/http://www.spike.com/blog/spike-tv-brings/86142|archive-date=6 September 2009|access-date=June 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/cape_may/article_b0a124ce-0e45-5f9a-b6a3-35b91f906e51.html|title=New league hopes to popularize rugby in U.S.|work=pressofAtlanticCity.com|date=2 August 2009 |access-date=June 6, 2015}}</ref> On June 1, 2010, Spike launched into the first crowd-sourced pilot episode contest with [[Scripped]], a web-based screenwriting community.<ref>{{cite news|date=June 1, 2010|title=Scripped.com Announces Script Competition With Spike TV|work=Marketwire|url=http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Scrippedcom-Announces-Script-Competition-With-Spike-TV-NYSE-VIA-1268723.htm|url-status=live|access-date=June 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626005529/http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Scrippedcom-Announces-Script-Competition-With-Spike-TV-NYSE-VIA-1268723.htm|archive-date=26 June 2010}}</ref>

==== "Get Real" ====
In January 2011, Spike ordered two new [[reality television]] shows, ''[[Bar Rescue]]'' and ''[[Repo Games]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morabito |first=Andrea |title=Spike Orders Two New Reality Series |url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/spike-orders-two-new-reality-series-37396 |access-date=2019-08-30 |website=Broadcasting & Cable|date=31 January 2011 }}</ref> During Viacom's upfronts presentation that May, it was announced that Spike would undergo a brand repositioning, with a larger focus on reality programming and a broader audience of males in the [[key demographic]]. The changes were intended to pivot Spike's brand in a more mature direction, which were described as an aim to be less like ''[[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]]'' magazine and more like ''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]''.<ref name=":2" /> A promotional campaign emphasized [[adversity]] as a common theme in Spike's programming.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/ink-spike-hopes-tomaster-reality-broaden-audience-38927|title=With Ink, Spike Hopes to Master Reality, Broaden Audience|last=Morabito|first=Andrea|website=Broadcasting & Cable|date=9 January 2012 |access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/spike-picks-six-unscripted-pilots-37914|title=Spike Picks Up Six Unscripted Pilots|last=Morabito|first=Andrea|website=Broadcasting & Cable|date=11 May 2011 |access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/business/media/29adco.html|title=Spike Pursues an Older and More Female Audience|last=Elliott|first=Stuart|date=2011-03-28|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-08-30|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

The following year, Spike ordered the new series ''Rat Bastards'' (a series following a [[pest control]] business in Mississippi), ''[[Tattoo Nightmares]]'', along with a revival of ''[[World's Wildest Police Videos]],''<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Levine |first1=Stuart |date=2012-01-30 |title=Spike orders three new series |url=https://variety.com/2012/tv/news/spike-orders-three-new-series-1118049465/ |access-date=2022-06-21 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> and ''Full Bounty''—a [[bounty hunting]] reality series that was later revealed to actually be a third season of ''The Joe Schmo Show''.<ref name=":3" /> In 2013, [[Bellator MMA]] made its network debut with the premiere of its [[Bellator MMA: Season Eight|eighth season]]; the now Viacom-owned [[mixed martial arts]] promotion previously aired on sibling channel [[MTV2]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mma/2013/01/17/spike-tv-hopes-to-propel-newest-mma-partner-bellator/1842433/|title=Spike TV bets on propelling newest MMA partner Bellator|work=USA Today|access-date=2018-06-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2013/6/11/4419838/bellators-new-time-slot-in-fall-will-be-friday-nights|title=Spike announces Bellator for Fridays in fall|work=MMA Fighting|access-date=2018-06-27}}</ref> Later that year, [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] reality series ''[[Cops (TV program)|Cops]]'' moved to Spike beginning September 14.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/08/26/cops-moves-to-spike-tv-saturday-september-14-at-800pm-404410/20130826spiketv01/|title="Cops" Moves to Spike TV Saturday, September 14 at 8:00PM|work=The Futon Critic|date=August 26, 2013}}</ref> In the fall, [[kickboxing]] promotion [[Glory (kickboxing)|Glory]] made its network debut with [[Glory 11: Chicago]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2013/6/27/4470514/glory-spike-sign-multi-year-broadcasting-deal |title=GLORY, Spike sign multi-year broadcasting deal |date=27 June 2013 |publisher=MMA Fighting |access-date=April 8, 2014}}</ref> This was not Spike's first time broadcasting a kickboxing event as, in 2012, they partnered with [[K-1]] to broadcast several events on their website.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Spike TV And K-1, World's Premier Kickboxing Promotion, Agree To Multi-Platform Partnership|website=Spike.com|date=August 20, 2012|url=http://www.spike.com/press/2012/08/20/spike-tv-and-k-1-worlds-premier-kickboxing-promotion-agree-to-multi-platform-partnership/|access-date=May 12, 2014}}</ref> The end of the year saw the ''Video Game Awards'' revamped and become known as VGX.<ref name="2013VGX">{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/11/15/5107808/spike-video-game-awards-vgx-2013-date|title=Spike Video Game Awards renamed VGX, set for Dec. 7|date=November 15, 2013|author=Samit Sarkar|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref>

At the end of the year, ''Impact Wrestling'' would air its last episode on Spike on December 24, 2014, before moving to [[Destination America]] in 2015.<ref name=deadline-tnadiscovery>{{cite web|title=Discovery's Destination America Adds TNA Impact Wrestling To Lineup|url=https://deadline.com/2014/11/discovery-destination-america-total-nonstop-action-impact-tna-wrestling-1201289194/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=19 November 2014 |access-date=November 20, 2014}}</ref> Spike also announced that they would drop their video game award show;<ref name="tga 2014">{{cite web|last1=Takahashi|first1=Dean|title=Geoff Keighley unveils The Game Awards 2014 to replace the VGAs|url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/11/10/geoff-keighley-unveils-the-game-awards-2014-to-replace-the-vgas/|website=Venture Beat|date=10 November 2014 |access-date=November 29, 2014}}</ref> Geoff Keighley would go on to create his own award show in the form of ''[[The Game Awards]]''. In January 2015, following a similar deal made by [[NBC Sports|NBC]], Spike announced they would air monthly fight cards by the ''Haymon Boxing''-created "[[Premier Boxing Champions]].”<ref>{{cite web|title=Spike Gets In The Ring With Premier Boxing Champions|url=http://www.spike.com/articles/lazzcp/premier-boxing-champions-spike-gets-in-the-ring-with-premier-boxing-champions|date=January 22, 2015|work=Spike.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150126050234/http://www.spike.com/articles/lazzcp/premier-boxing-champions-spike-gets-in-the-ring-with-premier-boxing-champions|archive-date=26 January 2015|access-date=January 24, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2339217-premier-boxing-champions-start-date-tv-schedule-fighters-for-spike-tv-series|title=Premier Boxing Champions: Start Date, TV Schedule, Fighters for Spike TV Series |work=Bleacher Report|date=January 22, 2015|access-date=January 24, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Spike TV to begin airing monthly PBC fights|date=22 January 2015 |url=http://www.premierboxingchampions.com/article/spike-tv-begin-airing-monthly-pbc-fights|access-date=January 24, 2015}}</ref>

==== "The Ones to Watch" ====
[[File:Spike logo 2015.svg|thumb|The final Spike logo used from March 3, 2015 to January 18, 2018. Currently used by the collection of Pluto TV channels of the same name.]]
During its upfronts on March 3, 2015, Spike featured a new logo and tagline, "The Ones to Watch".<ref>{{cite web|title=Juniper Jones Creates New On-Air Identity For Spike|url=http://cgnews.com/15861/juniper-jones-creates-new-air-identity-spike/|work=CG News|date=10 March 2015 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402112443/http://cgnews.com/15861/juniper-jones-creates-new-air-identity-spike/|archive-date=2 April 2015|access-date=March 16, 2015}}</ref> The re-branding aimed to make the channel more inclusive to women, emphasizing a focus on "big talent, engaging shows and hits that get people talking" and further expansions into scripted series. Alongside the miniseries ''[[Tut (miniseries)|Tut]]'' and the announcement of an expanded episode order for the series ''[[Lip Sync Battle]]'' (a spin-off of a segment from ''[[Late Night with Jimmy Fallon]]''), Spike announced an output deal with [[Dwayne Johnson]]'s Seven Bucks Productions for a series of specials, ''Emergency Broadcast'', an original drama co-created by [[Max Brooks]], and ''Sweat Inc.'', a fitness-oriented reality series hosted by [[Jillian Michaels]].<ref name=nybj-sweatinc>{{cite news |title=New Jillian Michaels show is part 'Shark Tank' part 'American Idol' |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/newyork/news/2015/08/27/new-jillian-michaels-show-is-part-shark-tank-part.html |access-date=October 12, 2015 |work=New York Business Journal}}</ref><ref name=thr-onestowatch>{{cite web |title=Spike TV Rebrands, Inks Deal With Dwayne Johnson |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/spike-tv-rebrands-inks-deal-778969 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=3 March 2015 |access-date=March 3, 2015}}</ref><ref name=adweek-2015rebrand>{{cite web |title=Guy-Centric Spike Network Hopes Scripted Shows Like Tut Will Entice Female Viewers |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/television/guy-centric-spike-network-hopes-scripted-shows-tut-will-entice-female-viewers-163253 |work=Ad Week |date=3 March 2015 |access-date=March 3, 2015}}</ref>

=== Paramount Network (2018–present) ===
[[File:Paramount Network.svg|thumb|Paramount Network logo used from January 18, 2018 to February 24, 2024]]
[[File:Paramount Network wordmark (Black).svg|thumb|230px|Paramount Network logo without the mountain, used since January 18, 2018]]
On February 9, 2017, Viacom announced that Spike would relaunch as Paramount Network in 2018 and move its headquarters from the [[One Astor Plaza]] in [[New York City]] to [[Paramount Pictures]] in [[Los Angeles]] to give the network a closer association with the film studio. This was part of a restructuring plan by new Viacom CEO [[Robert Bakish|Bob Bakish]] to refocus the majority of its media business around six flagship brands, which included Paramount Pictures, [[BET]], [[Comedy Central]], [[Nickelodeon]], the [[Nick Jr. Channel]], and [[MTV]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/spike-the-paramount-network-renamed-viacom-rebranding-1201906611/|title=Spike President On Channel's Rebranding As The Paramount Network|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 9, 2017|access-date=February 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/spike-name-change-the-paramount-network-viacom-1201906039/|title=Spike To Change Name & Become The Paramount Network In Viacom Rebranding|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 9, 2017|access-date=September 18, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/viacom-ceo-bob-bakish-supports-paramount-non-core-networks-how-long-1201906682/|title=Viacom CEO Supports Paramount And Non-Core Networks – But For How Long?|last=Lieberman|first=David|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 9, 2017|access-date=September 18, 2017}}</ref> New original series announced in the first half of 2018 included the miniseries ''[[Waco (miniseries)|Waco]]'' and ''[[Yellowstone (American TV series)|Yellowstone]]'', along with ''[[American Woman (TV series)|American Woman]]'' and ''[[Heathers (TV series)|Heathers]]''—two comedies originally slated for [[TV Land]]. ''[[The Shannara Chronicles]]'', which moved to Spike for season 2 from MTV, was not renewed by Paramount Network.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/shannara-chronicles-canceled-as-paramount-network-passes-season-3-1075217|title='Shannara Chronicles' Canceled as Paramount Network Passes on Season 3|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/tv-land-paramount-network-heathers-american-woman-1202010496/|title=TV Land's 'Heathers' Reboot and 'American Woman' Moving to Launch Paramount Network|last1=Wagmeister|first1=Daniel|last2=Holloway|first2=Elizabeth|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 16, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/09/paramount-network-january-launch-date-live-lip-sync-battle-1202176283 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928005524/http://deadline.com/2017/09/paramount-network-january-launch-date-live-lip-sync-battle-1202176283/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 28, 2017 |title= Paramount Network Sets January Launch Date; Kicks Off with Live 'Lip Sync Battle' |last=Petski |first= Denise |website=Deadline Hollywood |date= September 25, 2017 |access-date= September 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/viacom-to-rebrand-spike-tv-paramount-television-1201981960/|title=Viacom to Rebrand Spike TV as Paramount Network|last1=Littleton|first1=Cynthia|last2=Holloway|first2=Daniel|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=February 8, 2017|access-date=February 8, 2017}}</ref>

Paramount Network is being positioned as a "premium" basic cable network, similar to [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] and [[FX (TV channel)|FX]].<ref name="indiewire-pn"/> Network president Kevin Kay explained that Bakish wanted Viacom to have a "flagship" outlet for scripted programming, as opposed to making inefficient investments into them across individual channels. He added that Paramount Network's offerings would be distinguished from its competitors by continuing to emphasize Middle America as a key viewer base. Even with its subsequent rebrandings, Paramount Network still had significant carriage strength and viewership in the [[U.S. Midwest|Midwest]] and [[U.S. South|South]] due to its heritage as TNN. Kay argued that its initial slate of original dramas were not as "dark,” citing the [[Yellowstone National Park|setting]] of ''Yellowstone'' as making it "brighter and a bit more blue sky than some of the things that are on premium cable TV now.”<ref name="indiewire-pn">{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/01/paramount-network-launch-spike-tv-waco-yellowstone-heathers-1201919082/|title=Paramount Network Will Take On FX and AMC By Rooting Itself In Middle America|last=Schneider|first=Michael|date=January 19, 2018|work=IndieWire|access-date=January 20, 2018}}</ref>

In regards to the programs moved to Paramount Network from TV Land, ''American Woman'' was moved to take advantage of its prominent leads [[Alicia Silverstone]] and [[Mena Suvari]], while ''Heathers'' was moved because, in Kay's opinion, the show was not appropriate for TV Land's target audience.<ref name="indiewire-pn" /> In June 2018, ''Heathers'' was dropped by Paramount Network and Viacom, citing network concerns over the content of the series in the wake of recent shootings in the United States, such as the [[Stoneman Douglas High School shooting]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/heathers-reboot-scrapped-at-paramount-network-anthology-will-be-shopped-1116439|title='Heathers' Scrapped at Paramount Network, Will be Shopped Elsewhere (Exclusive)|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2018-06-02}}</ref> The series would eventually air on Paramount Network in October 2018 in an edited form, with two episodes dropped due to the [[Pittsburgh synagogue shooting]].<ref name="ParamountReturn">{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title='Heathers': Shelved Reboot Series To Air On Paramount Network With Edits |url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/heathers-scrapped-reboot-series-to-air-on-paramount-network-with-edits-1202475793/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=October 4, 2018 |date=October 4, 2018}}</ref><ref name="EightNine">{{cite web|last1=Goldberg|first1=Lesley|title='Heathers' Episodes Pulled in Wake of Pittsburgh Shooting|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/heathers-episodes-pulled-wake-pittsburgh-shooting-1155958|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=October 30, 2018|date=October 29, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title='Heathers' Episodes Pulled Following Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting |url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/heathers-episodes-pulled-following-synagogue-shooting-pittsburgh-1202491469/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=October 30, 2018 |date=October 29, 2018}}</ref>

Paramount Network began a [[viral marketing]] campaign to promote its launch in December 2017. The campaign included a [[Times Square]] advertisement asking viewers to phone and email Paramount Network's chief marketing officer Niels Schuurmans to protest Spike's "firing,” as well as a string of [[self-deprecation|self-deprecating]] posts by the network's [[Twitter]] account about its history and programming (including that "My favorite number is 329 because it's the number of times ''[[Cops (TV program)|Cops]]'' is on every night,” "We had a show called ''[[The Joe Schmo Show]]''. Apparently every decent show name was taken", and that "There's a reason all our early shows were ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation|CSI]]'', [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]], [[Impact Wrestling|TNA]], ''[[Most Extreme Elimination Challenge|MXC]]'', [[Universal Technical Institute|UTI]]. No one around here knew how to read"). A network executive stated that the campaign was meant to represent a "public meltdown" by a fired employee.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Spike TV's Twitter account goes 'rogue,' profanely mocking channel's shows |work=EW.com |url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/01/17/spike-tv-twitter-account/ |access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Spike TV's Twitter Account Is Going Absolutely Bonkers Right Before the Channel Is Replaced by Paramount Network |work=Fortune |url=http://fortune.com/2018/01/17/spike-tv-twitter-paramount-network/ |access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref>

The campaign concluded with a live streaming event on January 17, 2018, where users could vote on various ways a crew would deface a large model of the former Spike logo, culminating in its demolition.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.adweek.com/creativity/spike-tv-is-mad-as-hell-about-being-rebranded-as-paramount-network/|title=Spike TV Is Mad as Hell About Being Rebranded as Paramount Network|access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://deadline.com/2018/01/spike-tv-send-off-facebook-logo-destruction-1202244951 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180117235741/http://deadline.com/2018/01/spike-tv-send-off-facebook-logo-destruction-1202244951/ |url-status= dead |archive-date= January 17, 2018 |title= Spike TV Logo Gets Explosive Send-Off On Facebook |last= Petski |first= Denise |date= January 17, 2018 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date= January 18, 2018}}</ref> Paramount Network officially launched the following night at 9:00&nbsp;p.m. ET, marked by a live, [[Michael Jackson]]-themed ''Lip Sync Battle'' special from the [[Dolby Theatre]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |title='Lip Sync Battle LIVE' announces first three celebrities for Michael Jackson celebration |url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/01/10/lip-sync-battle-harris-henson-steinfeld-michael-jackson-celebration/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=January 18, 2018}}</ref>

In April 2019, Viacom would revive the Spike branding as channels for its [[free ad-supported streaming television]] (FAST) platform [[Pluto TV]], including a Spike channel mainly carrying action and reality programming from its library, and Spike Outdoors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/viacom-newfronts-pluto-tv-channels-originals-slate-1203200042/|title=Viacom Launching 14 Free Channels on Pluto TV, Sets Broad Digital Originals Slate|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=2019-04-29|website=Variety|access-date=2019-04-30}}</ref>

==== Aborted rebrand as a movie network ====
In early 2020, Paramount Network began to cut back on scripted series development, having dropped upcoming projects such as ''[[Emily in Paris]]'' (which was subsequently picked up by [[Netflix]]), and cancelling ''[[68 Whiskey]]'' after a single season.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Otterson|first=Joe|date=September 22, 2020|title=Paramount Network Rebrands, Doubles Down on Movies and Minis (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/paramount-network-made-for-tv-movies-1234711671/|access-date=September 22, 2020|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> On September 11, 2020, it was announced that Bellator would move to [[CBS Sports Network]] in October 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Martin|first=Damon|date=2020-09-11|title=Bellator MMA announces move from Paramount Network to CBS Sports Network|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/9/11/21432619/bellator-mma-announces-move-from-paramount-network-to-cbs-sports-network|access-date=2020-09-12|website=MMA Fighting}}</ref> It would later move to [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] in April 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-31|title=No Showtime? No problem – at least for Bellator 255|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/03/bellator-255-mma-showtime-free-trial-subscription-patricio-freire-emmanuel-sanchez-rematch|access-date=2021-05-16|website=MMA Junkie}}</ref>

On September 22, 2020, ViacomCBS president of Entertainment and Youth Brands Chris McCarthy told ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' in an exclusive that Paramount Network would relaunch as the  Paramount Movie Network "within the next year". The relaunched network was to focus primarily on original [[Television film|made-for-TV films]] featuring major talent, with a plan to premiere 52 films per-year.<ref name=":0" /> The films would have been largely produced by Paramount Pictures and [[MTV|MTV Studios]], with plans for co-productions with [[Paramount Global Distribution Group|ViacomCBS International]] networks such as Argentina's [[Telefe]], Australia's [[Network 10]], and the United Kingdom's [[Channel 5 (British TV channel)|Channel 5]].<ref name=":0" /> These changes would have mirrored a similar shift in programming that McCarthy undertook at sister channel [[Comedy Central]], which also dropped live-action series development in favor of original specials, films, and [[adult animation]].<ref name=":0" />

At least one scripted series or miniseries was to be carried per-quarter, such as ''Yellowstone'' (albeit with episodes premiering in a different format to suit a cinematic presentation), but the channel was to abandon non-scripted programming.<ref name=":0" /> In preparation for the relaunch, it was stated that ''Bar Rescue and Lip Sync Battle'' would move to another ViacomCBS channel to be determined, while ''[[Ink Master]]'' and ''[[Wife Swap (American TV series)|Wife Swap]]'' were both cancelled.<ref name=":0" />

Former [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] SVP of original movies Meghan Hooper White had been brought on as ViacomCBS's head of original movies and specials in May 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Low |first=Elaine |date=2020-05-12 |title=Megan Hooper White to Head ViacomCBS Entertainment & Youth Group's New Original Movies, Limited Series Division |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/megan-hooper-white-viacomcbs-original-movies-limited-series-1234604510/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> and was to oversee the Paramount Movie Network slate, as well as television films and specials across all other ViacomCBS networks.<ref name="deadline-pmn-ice" /> However, she was released from the company in August 2021 as part of a reorganization of [[Paramount+]] and MTV Entertainment Group's executive structure.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=2021-08-12 |title=MTV Entertainment Elevates Nina L. Diaz to Head Unscripted, Adult Animation for Paramount Plus; Meghan Hooper White and Justin Rosenblatt to Exit (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/meghan-hooper-white-viacomcbs-1235037581/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> In the interim, new seasons of ''Bar Rescue'' and ''Yellowstone'' would premiere on the network in 2021,<ref name="deadline-pmn-ice" /> and in October 2021, the second season of ''The Last Cowboy'' (a reality competition series by ''Yellowstone'' co-creator [[Taylor Sheridan]]) moved to CMT.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-20 |title=Taylor Sheridan Reality Series 'The Last Cowboy' Moves To CMT, Ropes Season 2 Premiere Date |url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/taylor-sheridan-cmt-move-season-two-the-last-cowboy-yellowstone-november-12-1234859274/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Deadline}}</ref> ''Ink Master'' was also picked up for a new season by Paramount+.<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2021-02-25 |title='Ink Master' & 'Dating Naked' Set For New Seasons At Paramount+ |url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/ink-master-dating-naked-set-for-new-seasons-at-paramount-1234700573/ |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

The channel also began a strategy of promoting new Paramount+ original series involving Sheridan, such as ''[[Mayor of Kingstown]]'' and ''Yellowstone'' prequel ''[[1883 (TV series)|1883]]'', under which their initial episodes were given special television airings on Paramount Network as lead-outs for ''Yellowstone''. ''1883'' would set a record for the highest-rated premiere in Paramount Network history, and on cable overall since 2015, with 4.9 million viewers. McCarthy described this practice as a method of using its linear platforms as a "launch pad" for streaming content.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zorrilla |first=Monica Marie |date=November 16, 2021 |title=TV Ratings: 'Yellowstone' Stays Strong in Week 2, 'Mayor of Kingstown' Premieres to 2.6 Million Viewers |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/tv-ratings-yellowstone-stays-strong-in-week-2-mayor-of-kingstown-premieres-to-2-6-million-viewers-1235113173/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118194442/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/tv-ratings-yellowstone-stays-strong-in-week-2-mayor-of-kingstown-premieres-to-2-6-million-viewers-1235113173/ |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |access-date=November 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2021-11-17 |title=As 'Yellowstone' Holds Up Well In Week 2 & 'Mayor Of Kingstown' Has Solid Ratings Debut, Chris McCarthy Discusses Growing Taylor Sheridan Universe |url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/yellowstone-week-2-ratings-mayor-of-kingstown-premiere-chris-mccarthy-qa-taylor-sheridan-universe-1234874924/ |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2021-12-21 |title='1883': 'Yellowstone' Prequel Sets Paramount+ Premiere Record, Draws 4.9 Million Viewers On Paramount Network |url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/1883-yellowstone-prequel-paramount-plus-premiere-record-ratings-paramount-network-viewership-1234900017/ |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Deadline}}</ref>

In January 2022, ''[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]'' reported that the network relaunch had been shelved, partly due to the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television in the United States|impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television and film production]], in addition to ''Yellowstone''{{'}}s ratings success—which had been influenced by the acquisition of streaming rights to the series by [[NBCUniversal]]'s [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]].<ref name="deadline-pmn-ice">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/paramount-movie-network-put-on-ice-as-viacomcbs-nixes-rebrand-plans-1234917830/|title=Paramount Movie Network Put On Ice As ViacomCBS Nixes Rebrand Plans For 'Yellowstone' Network|first=Peter|last=White|work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|date=January 24, 2022|access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref> The network also acquired linear rights to the [[Spectrum Originals]] series ''George & Tammy''.<ref name="deadline-pmn-ice" /> During the Paramount Global upfronts in May 2022, it was announced that ''Yellowstone'' spin-off ''6666'' had been shifted from Paramount+ to Paramount Network, the fifth season of ''Yellowstone'' would premiere in November 2022, and that the first two episodes of Sheridan and [[Sylvester Stallone]]'s Paramount+ series ''[[Tulsa King]]'' would receive special airings as lead-outs for ''Yellowstone''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2022-05-18 |title='Yellowstone' Spinoff '6666' Moves From Paramount+ To Paramount Network |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/yellowstone-spinoff-6666-moves-to-paramount-network-1235026901/ |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Deadline }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=2022-05-18 |title='Yellowstone' Season 5 Premiere Date: Kevin Costner Series Returns To Paramount Network In The Fall |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/yellowstone-season-5-premiere-date-kevin-costner-paramount-network-1235027462/ |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Deadline}}</ref>

== Programming ==
{{Main|List of programs broadcast by Paramount Network}}

Paramount Network's current programming consists primarily of reruns of [[sitcom]]s and [[Drama (film and television)|drama series]], as well as airings of feature films. As of 2022, the network's lone original drama is [[Yellowstone (American TV series)|''Yellowstone'']], which launched alongside the rebranding of Spike as Paramount Network, and grew in viewership throughout its first four seasons.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jacobs|first=Meredith|title='Yellowstone' Continues to Be a Ratings Hit With Season 4 Finale|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1027666/yellowstone-season-4-finale-ratings-paramount-network/|access-date=2022-02-04|website=TV Insider|date=5 January 2022 }}</ref> ''[[Bar Rescue]]'', a reality series carried over from Spike, has also continued to air new episodes on Paramount Network.<ref name="deadline-pmn-ice" />

As Spike, male-oriented programs constituted the majority of the network's schedule upon its original relaunch in 2003. By 2011, Spike had shifted its programming towards shows aimed at a broader audience, such as ''Bar Rescue''. Finally, with its 2015 rebrand, Spike attempted to add more "gender-balanced" programming.<ref name=thr-onestowatch/><ref name=adweek-2015rebrand/>

The network had formerly carried [[combat sport]]s programming throughout its various incarnations; being the first basic cable home of [[mixed martial arts]] promotion [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]], and including early seasons of the promotion's reality series ''[[The Ultimate Fighter]]''. Other promotions and sports-related programming have included [[kickboxing]] events from [[Glory (kickboxing)|Glory]] and [[K-1]]; [[professional wrestling]] from [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling|TNA Wrestling]], [[WWE]], and [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]]; [[boxing]] cards from [[Premier Boxing Champions]]; and the Paramount-owned [[Bellator MMA]] and [[Bellator Kickboxing]].

== Website ==
On October 15, 2005, Viacom acquired [[iFilm]], which was initially launched in 1997. After acquiring the website for $49 million, it was eventually rebranded to Spike.com and provided hosting of [[User-generated content|user-uploaded videos]] in a short-lived attempt to compete with [[YouTube]] (which Viacom had [[Viacom International Inc. v. YouTube, Inc.|sued]] to remove user-generated uploads of its programming from), a strategy eventually abandoned to refocus Spike.com as a general network site. The iFilm.com domain redirected to the [[Screen Junkies]] website for a period of time.

During the era where they hosted user generated content, Spike.com's managers only approved videos pre-screened to meet their standards.<ref>Bangeman, Eric. [https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2007/03/infringing-videos-on-ifilm-could-cause-problems-for-viacom.ars "Infringing videos on iFilm could cause problems for Viacom"] [[Ars Technica]]. March 19, 2007</ref> On January 18, 2018, Spike.com was sunsetted, and viewers were redirected to the new Paramount Network site and domain.

== International availability ==
{{main|Paramount Network (international)}}

=== Canada ===
In April 1984, while as TNN, the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC) approved the channel for carriage by Canadian cable and satellite television providers.<ref name=cp-tnnapproved>{{cite news|title=Nashville Network Approved by CRTC|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2194&dat=19840414&id=yboyAAAAIBAJ&pg=3635,1744640|access-date=March 3, 2015|agency=Canadian Press|date=April 14, 1984}}</ref> Following its re-branding as Spike TV, the [[Canadian Association of Broadcasters]] filed a complaint with the CRTC on behalf of [[Canwest|Canwest Global]], demanding the channel be removed from Canadian television providers. The CAB felt that its new general entertainment format would unduly compete with various Canadian-run specialty channels, arguing that there was overlap in its niche and its then-current schedule with [[History2 (Canadian TV channel)|Men TV]] (men's lifestyle), [[CTV Sci-Fi Channel|Space]] (''Star Trek''), sports channels such as [[Sportsnet 360|TheScore]] (WWE), [[FYI (Canadian TV channel)|Discovery Health]] (interstitial segments focusing on men's health, although the network did not air any full-length programs on the topic and mainly focused on generic women's and children's health and pregnancy-related programming at the time), along with the inexplicable naming of [[BNN Bloomberg|Report on Business Television]] and [[T+E|CTV Travel]] for reasons unknown.<ref name=crtc-spikecanada/>

In January 2005, the CRTC dismissed the CAB's complaint, ruling that it provided insufficient evidence that Spike was directly competing with Canadian specialty channels. The CRTC ruled that Spike did not unduly compete with Men TV, since it was licensed as a service that would carry men's lifestyle programming (in contrast to Spike, which the CRTC classified as a [[Generalist channel|general entertainment]] channel targeting males), and that the remaining allegations of overlap with domestic Canadian specialty channels represented only a minority of Spike's overall programming.<ref name=crtc-spikecanada>{{cite web|title=Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2005-9|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2005/pb2005-9.htm|website=CRTC|access-date=March 3, 2015}}</ref><ref name=gandm-spikecanada>{{cite news|title=CRTC: Spike TV can stay in Canada|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/crtc-spike-tv-can-stay-in-canada/article1113799/|access-date=March 3, 2015|work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref>

Due to programming rights issues, programs which the channel does not hold rights to air outside of the U.S. are replaced with alternate programs, consisting mainly of reruns of Spike's previous reality programs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvpassport.com/tv-listings/stations/paramount-network-canada/3|title=TV Schedule for Paramount Network Canada|website=TV Passport}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ontvtonight.com/ca/guide/listings/channel/69049654/paramount-network-canada-east.html|title=🌐Paramount Network Canada (East) - TV Listings Guide}}</ref> 

In 2022, with Paramount Global prioritizing promotion of the [[Paramount+]] streaming service in the market instead, a number of major providers began dropping the channel, beginning with [[Rogers Communications]] on April 1, 2022, followed by [[Shaw Communications|Shaw Cable]] and [[Shaw Direct]] on August 31, 2023, and [[Eastlink (company)|Eastlink]] on September 15, 2023.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} The Canadian feed was discontinued on all other providers on January 1, 2024.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

=== Czech Republic ===
Prima Comedy Central was rebranded as Paramount Network on January 12, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2020/12/04/paramount-network-set-for-czech-republic/|title=Paramount Network set for Czech Republic|date=December 4, 2020|website=Broadband TV News}}</ref>

=== Hungary ===
On December 17, 2020, Paramount Channel in Hungary rebranded as the Paramount Network.<ref name="Akos">{{Cite web|last=Akos|date=2020-11-23|title=ViacomCBS to Make Changes to Its Hungarian Pay-TV Portfolio|url=https://en.crt-tv.com/2020/11/23/viacomcbs-hu-ro-spike-teennick/|access-date=2020-11-24|website=CRT|archive-date=2020-11-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123103301/https://en.crt-tv.com/2020/11/23/viacomcbs-hu-ro-spike-teennick/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Latin America ===
On April 14, 2020, ViacomCBS rebranded the Latin American version of Paramount Channel into Paramount Network.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nextvlatam.com/paramount-channel-cambia-de-nombre-a-paramount-network-y-estrena-serie-original-producida-en-mexico/|title=Paramount Channel cambia de nombre a Paramount Network y estrena serie original producida en México|last=Bertran|first=Agustin|date=April 17, 2020|website=NexTV News Latin America|language=es-ES|access-date=April 22, 2020}}</ref>

=== Netherlands ===
{{see also|Paramount Network (Dutch TV channel)}}
Spike rebranded as the Paramount Network in the Netherlands on May 24, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nederlandsmedianieuws.nl/TV-en-Video/tv-en-video-nieuws/Nederlandse-Spike-wordt-per-24-mei-2022-Paramount-Network/|title=Nederlandse Spike wordt per 24 mei 2022 Paramount Network|last=de Jong|first=David|website=NederlandsMediaNieuws.nl|date=30 March 2022|access-date=31 March 2022|language=nl}}</ref>

=== Spain ===
In May 2018, Viacom announced that it would rebrand [[Paramount Channel]] in Spain under the [[Paramount Network (Spanish TV channel)|Paramount Network]] name on June 10, 2018, marking Viacom's first property outside of the U.S. to adopt the brand. Paramount Channel in Spain had been among Viacom's most successful international properties. The channel adopted a similar general entertainment format to the U.S. version, with its launch lineup featuring the fifth season of ''[[Alaska y Mario]]'' (moving from [[MTV (Spanish TV channel)|MTV Spain]]), and a lineup of imported dramas and films.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/spain-getting-first-paramount-network-us-1113613|title=Spain Getting First Paramount Network Outside U.S.|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2018-06-01}}</ref>

=== United Kingdom ===
{{see also|5Action|5Spike}}
Paramount Network launched in the UK on July 4, 2018, it is operated by the Viacom-owned network [[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2018/06/viacom-to-launch-paramount-network-in-the-uk-in-july-with-suits-the-mick-1202406154/|title=Viacom To Launch Paramount Network In The UK In July With 'Suits' & 'The Mick'|last=White|first=Peter|date=2018-06-08|work=Deadline|access-date=2018-06-08}}</ref> It is the second Paramount-branded property in that market; its domestic version of [[Comedy Central (UK and Ireland)|Comedy Central]] launched as the Paramount Channel in 1995, then was Paramount Comedy from 1997 until 2009, when it took the Comedy Central name. On January 7, 2020, it replaced the [[5Spike|British version of Spike]] in its channel allotments on [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]], cable, and satellite.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=5Spike UK axed in alignment with US brands|url=https://www.rxtvlog.com/2019/12/5spike-uk-axed-in-alignment-with-us.html|access-date=2019-12-28|work=rxtvlog|archive-date=2019-12-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217095934/http://www.rxtvlog.com/2019/12/5spike-uk-axed-in-alignment-with-us.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> The British version of Paramount Network was closed the day prior, and rebranded as 5Action on January 19, 2022.

=== Spike ===
Viacom began to launch localized versions of Spike in 2015.
* On April 15, 2015, a [[5Spike|British version of Spike]] was launched; owned by [[Viacom International Media Networks (Europe)|Viacom International Media Networks Europe]], it is operated as a sister [[Freeview (UK)|digital terrestrial television]] channel to [[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]], which Viacom had acquired the previous year. Its launch lineup primarily featured Spike's original programs and reruns from its parent network, acquired U.S. drama imports (such as ''[[Breaking Bad]]'', ''[[Justified (TV series)|Justified]]'' and ''[[The Walking Dead (TV series)|The Walking Dead]]''), along with Bellator MMA and the domestic MMA promotion [[BAMMA]].<ref name=variety-spikeuk>{{cite web|title=Spike to Launch in U.K. with 'Breaking Bad', 'Walking Dead', 'Sons of Anarchy'|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/global/spike-to-launch-in-u-k-with-breaking-bad-walking-dead-sons-of-anarchy-1201460670/|work=Variety|date=26 March 2015 |access-date=April 25, 2015}}</ref> On 31 October 2017, the channel changed its name to 5Spike to better-signify its connection to Channel 5's other digital networks. On 7 January 2020, 5Spike was shut down, with its channel allotments and selected programs being assumed by the British version of Paramount Network.<ref name=":1" />
*On August 18, 2015, Viacom announced that [[Spike (Dutch TV channel)|a Dutch version of Spike]] would launch in the Netherlands and Flanders. The channel began as a timeshare on the Dutch [[Nickelodeon (Netherlands)|Nickelodeon]] channel, airing from 21:00 to 02:30 CET daily.<ref name=dutchspike>{{cite web|title=Dutch launch for Spike in October|url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2015/08/18/dutch-launch-for-spike-tv/|website=broadbandtvnews|date=18 August 2015 |access-date=August 18, 2015}}</ref> On December 12, 2016, Spike launched in the Netherlands as a 24-hour channel on [[Ziggo]]. Spike and Nickelodeon continued time-sharing in Flanders until January 6, 2021, when Nickelodeon became a 24-hour channel again.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2016/11/01/spike-goes-247-exclusively-ziggo/|title=Spike goes 24/7 exclusively on Ziggo|publisher=BroadbandTVNews.com|author=Robert Briel|date=November 1, 2016|access-date=November 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://community.ziggo.nl/altijd-iets-op-tv-93/verschuiving-zender-nickelodeon-14364|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124030054/https://community.ziggo.nl/altijd-iets-op-tv-93/verschuiving-zender-nickelodeon-14364|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 24, 2016|title=Verschuiving zender Nickelodeon|publisher=Ziggo.nl|access-date=November 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>[https://www2.telenet.be/nl/klantenservice/zenderaanpassingen/ Telenet - Zederaanpassingen], [[Telenet]], 11 December 2020</ref><ref>[https://www.netweters.be/t5/Entertainment/Wat-komt-in-de-plaats-van-Spike/m-p/114098#M5098 Wat komt in de plaats van Spike? - De Netweters], [[Telenet]], 17 December 2020</ref> on May 24, 2022, Spike was replaced by Paramount Network.
* In July 2016, an Australian [[Spike (Australian TV channel)|version]] of Spike was launched on [[Fetch TV]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://decidertv.com/page/2016/6/15/spike-tv-arrives|title=Spike channel to launch in Australia via Fetch TV|date=5 March 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2016/06/new-fetch-tv-box-adds-spike-presto.html|title=New Fetch TV box adds Spike, Presto.|date=June 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Spike TV To Launch In Australia - CraveOnline|url=http://www.craveonline.com.au/site/1000749-spike-tv-launch-australia|date=June 15, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118050859/http://www.craveonline.com.au/site/1000749-spike-tv-launch-australia|archive-date=18 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaweek.com.au/spike-to-launch-on-fetch-tv-1-july-2016/|title=Spike to launch on Fetch TV - 1 July 2016 - Mediaweek|website=www.mediaweek.com.au|date=15 June 2016 }}</ref> This channel was closed on 27 February 2022 with no replacement.
* On December 1, 2016, a Hungarian version of the channel named RTL Spike was launched, via brand licensing and advertising sales agreements with the RTL Group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2016/11/08/spike-launch-rtl-hungary/|title=Viacom's Spike to launch in Hungary|date=November 8, 2016|work=Broadband TV News|access-date=December 17, 2016}}</ref> On October 20, 2020, ViacomCBS announced the channel's closure, and the closure date was confirmed on November 23 that year. RTL Spike was shut down on January 12, 2021, and was replaced by [[Teennick (Netherlands&Flanders)|TeenNick]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-20|title=Egy csatornát megszüntet, egyet indít, egyet pedig átnevez a ViacomCBS|url=https://dtvnews.hu/hirek/egy-csatornat-megszuntet-egyet-indit-egyet-pedig-atnevez-a-viacomcbs|access-date=2020-10-20|website=DTV News|language=hu-HU}}</ref><ref name="Akos"/>
* On March 15, 2017, a Russian version of Spike was launched as a separate channel, airing alongside the local version of Paramount Channel.<ref>{{cite web|title=Телеканал Spike начал вещание в России|url=https://telesputnik.ru/materials/tsifrovoe-televidenie/news/telekanal-spike-nachal-veshchanie-v-rossii/|website=Telesputnik|language=ru}}</ref> This channel was shut down on June 1, 2021. 
* On October 22, 2017, an Italian version of Spike was launched in the country as a free-to-air channel, replacing Fine Living on Digital TV channel 49.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spike si accenderà al numero 49 del digitale terrestre il 22 ottobre - HDblog.it|url=https://altadefinizione.hdblog.it/2017/09/15/Spike-canale-tv-numero-49-digitale-terrestre/|website=altadefinizione.hdblog.it|date=15 September 2017 |language=it}}</ref> The channel, however, ceased broadcasting on January 16, 2022.

== Note ==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website}}

{{Paramount Network}}
{{Paramount Media Networks}}
{{Paramount Global}}

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[[Category:Paramount Network| ]]
[[Category:Television networks in the United States]]
[[Category:English-language television stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Former video hosting services]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1983]]
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[[Category:Paramount Pictures]]
[[Category:Paramount Media Networks]]