Which cable network was the first to put a dent in the audience held by the ABC-CBS-NBC triumvirate?

My guess is Fox and wasn't that in the mid 1980's.

My guess is Fox and wasn't that in the mid 1980's.

I mean stuff like MTV, USA Network, TBS/TNT, or HBO since Fox is still technically, a broadcast network like the "Big Three".

I know TBS and HBO were the first cable networks I got in the late 70's. That was before the other networks were even thought of.

I don't know, my guess would be-HBO?

i"m guessing either HBO, ESPN, MTV, Disney Channel or Discovery Channel

I don't know about making a dent, but WTBS, WGN, and WWOR were early "superstations" largely revolving around baseball broadcasts. WUAB in Cleveland was another early attempt at a superstation, but didn't last so long.

I heard WUAB was going to be a Superstation, but now it plays mostly infomercials.

Now WBNX has the edge over WUAB since they now have the CW. I dunno if a Superstation can exist today, because if so... WBNX should be a nominee.

And for cable stations... HBO is the first successful cable station.

I don't know for sure, but it seems like WTBS (TBS Superstation) is the answer you are looking for. At least in terms of being one of the earliest cable stations.

But if you are referring to the more recent trend of cable network programming original programming the answer is likely HBO or USA Network. USA Network as far as I can remember was one of the earliest cable networks to develop their own original programming meant to take viewers away from the big four broadcasters. HBO as a premium station was also one of the earliest, but often targeted a different audience than the big three.

Was there one called WHT?

I don't know about making a dent, but WTBS, WGN, and WWOR were early "superstations" largely revolving around baseball broadcasts. WUAB in Cleveland was another early attempt at a superstation, but didn't last so long.what's a "superstation"?

what's a "superstation"?
A local station that broadcast its signal to the entire country via satellite. WTBS (later just TBS) and WGN are the best known examples.

HBO

Besides HBO (which started in 1972) probably CNN, which started in 1980- though I've NEVER accepted having to watch commercials on a channel I'm already paying for.