Hawkvision
{{short description|American regional sports network}}
{{Infobox Network
| network_name = Hawkvision
| network_logo =
| headquarters = Chicago, IL
| network_type = Pay television network (sports)
| available = United States
| owner = Wirtz Corporation
| launch_date = {{start date and age|1992}}
| dissolved = {{End date and age|1995}}
| key_people =
| past_names =
| website =
}}
Hawkvision was a short-lived subscription TV service founded by Wirtz Corporation and Chicago Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz.{{cite web
|url=http://www.csweekly.com/featuredStory/index/id/112
|title=Shooting The Hawks
|access-date=2008-01-03
|author=Wood, Matt
|date=November 21, 2007
|publisher=Chicago Sports Weekly
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201110839/http://www.csweekly.com/featuredStory/index/id/112
|archive-date=December 1, 2007
|url-status=dead
}}
The service broadcast Chicago Blackhawks games. It operated in conjunction with Chicago's local version of SportsChannel, and access cost $29.95 per month.
Overview
In 1992, Wirtz, who had a reputation for stubbornness and frugality,
{{cite web|url = http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=3ABD84EA791AB982852D865E38D586E3?contentId=4467845&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1|title = Blackhawks Owner William Wirtz Dies
|access-date = 2007-09-29|agency = Associated Press|date = September 26, 2007|publisher = Fox News}} ended all Blackhawks broadcast agreements with network and cable television outlets. While vilified for this decision by many Blackhawks fans, he felt that broadcasting regular home games was unfair to the team's season-ticket holders.{{cite web
|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20020227/ai_n12455624
|title=All playoff games will be televised
|access-date=2007-09-29
|first=Len
|last=Ziehm
|date=February 27, 2002
|publisher=Chicago SunTimes
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210162206/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20020227/ai_n12455624
|archive-date=December 10, 2007
|url-status=dead
}} Only Blackhawks games picked up by national broadcasters (which only happened when the Blackhawks made the playoffs) were shown on basic cable (complicated further by SportsChannel America having various issues with carriage).
Hawkvision only broadcast for a short time, ending after the {{nhly|1994}} season. However, regular Blackhawk home games did not resume airing on television until the {{nhly|2007}} season after Wirtz's death. His son Rocky took over the team's operations and agreed to allow WGN-TV and NBC Sports Chicago to carry those games.
Similar subscription TV services were utilized for the Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets by rightsholder TSN from 2010 through 2014.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Navboxes|list1=
{{Chicago TV}}
{{National Hockey League on national television}}
{{Chicago Blackhawks}}
{{NHL on SportsChannel America}}
{{U.S. premium television services}}
{{SportsChannel America}}
}}
Category:American subscription television services
Category:Television stations in Chicago
Category:Television channels and stations established in 1992
Category:1992 establishments in Illinois
Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 1995
Category:1995 disestablishments in Illinois