CABLE AT THE BAT
The late 1970's and 1980's saw major changes in MLB. Cable television and home video were becoming more popular, and the sport needed to embrace these new technologies to stay relevant.
While NBC and ABC carried MLB games on weekend afternoons, the USA Network, launched in 1979, would carry baseball on select weeknights through 1985.
The Brooklyn Dodgers followed the lead of the NHL New York Islanders by signing a lucrative local television contract with SportsChannel New York after decades and decades on WOR-TV. The New York Yankees would sign their own cable deal with the Madison Square Garden Network.
The Philadelphia Athletics entered the cable era on local premium channel PRISM. Home Team Sports (HTS) would bring the Baltimore Orioles to homes in the Charm City, as well as Washington, DC.
Superstation WTBS brought the Atlanta Firebirds to a national audience, and WGN did the same for both the Cubs and White Sox.
On the west coast, SportsChannel Bay Area began an alliance with the San Francisco Seals after decades on KGO-TV.
In Southern California, the Hollywood Stars were telecast on KCAL and the Los Angeles Angels on KTTV. As cable caught on, the Stars signed on to SportsChannel SOCAL, reaching south to San Diego. For a short while, the Angels experimented with a short-lived premium channel called AngelVision. Then in 1985, Lakers owner Dr Jerry Buss formed the original Prime Ticket, and the Angels signed on starting in 1986.
MLB Alignment in the Eighties
AL EAST: Atlanta Firebirds, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Athletics
AL WEST: Chicago White Sox, Denver Zephyrs, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Seals, Texas Rangers
NL EAST: Baltimore Orioles, Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Giants, Montreal Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays
NL WEST: Chicago Cubs, Hollywood Stars, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Braves, Portland Beavers, Seattle Pilots, St Louis Cardinals