MSC (TV channel)

MSC (short for The MotorSports Channel) is an American sports television network owned by the RKO Sports Group division of RKO Media. Founded in, the network is now based in along with the rest of the RKO Sports Group networks.

The network is dedicated to motorsports programming, including auto racing, as well as automotive-focused programs. It is the U.S. cable rightsholder for several, , and Formula NEXT races.

Through the MSC unit, RKO also owns several motorsports and/or automobile-related businesses, including FindASpeedway, MSC Drivers Ed and BetMSC. Some of these related businesses operate from the network's former home of.

History
The idea for the Motorsports Channel, a 24-hour all-motorsports network, came from media entrepreneur Patrick G. Walters of, who came up with the concept after attending the with his cousin. The idea began to "really blossom" according to Walters when he attended the 1993 United States Grand Prix in, expecting it to mostly be attended by European tourists, only to meet many Americans and Canadians who knew every driver. Walters thought there was enough interest in motorsports among the public, even outside the South, that he felt an all-motorsports television network was needed. Walters commissioned a to see if his instincts were correct. With the support of the polling behind him, Walters and owners  secured US$89 million in financing from several cable television providers (NCM TeleCable,, , , ,  and ) to launch the network, one of the first 24-hour cable television networks dedicated solely to one sport.

The network launched on October 1, 1995 with a ceremonial flip of the switch by NASCAR legend, beating fellow all-motorsports network Speedvision (later ) to the air by two months.

The network rebranded to MSC in 2001.

Acquisition by RKO
On May 22, 2005, RKO Media acquired MSC for US$11.6 million.

In February 2019, RKO Media announced MSC would consolidate its television operations with the remainder of RKO Sports at its facilities in, in a move expected to occur over the next 12 to 18 months. The FindASpeedway and MSC Drivers Ed services continue to primarily operate from Concord. With the move to East Rutherford, MSC also ended its long-time morning show Start Your Engines!, replacing it with the new morning show MSC Mornings from East Rutherford beginning January 2020.