Back in the year 1980, one year before MTV was launched, finding music videos on television was next to impossible. That was, until USA Network launched Night Flight two months before MTV’s first airdate. The four-hour programming block would take over the network from 11 p.m. – 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. With content ranging from cutting-edge music videos to underground cinema, such midnight movie fare as The Grateful Dead Movie and Yessongs gave rock fans a reason to tune in regularly.
“Night Flight was one of the cool shows to be seen on, and it was a big deal to us to get the opportunity,” is how Mark Mothersbaugh of DEVO remembered the show in a press release.
Now, it’s been revealed that stalwart indie music label Sub Pop is teaming up with the revived Night Flight in a new partnership for the Night Flight Plus streaming service. Members can watch videos from the likes of Weyes Blood, Mudhoney, Orville Peck, and Sleater-Kinney, all introduced by original Night Flight narrator, Pat Prescott.
“Sub Pop is the quintessential independent label, and Night Flight has always been dedicated to the discovery and support of emerging and alternative artists,” stated Stuart S. Shapiro, Night Flight creator and CEO, in the press statement. “We are thrilled that Sub Pop is our first label featured on NF Plus, and expect to make a big push to all the others.”
Night Flight Plus is available on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and online. Get more details here, and watch some original Night Flight clips circa 1986 below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsTxOVgkaPg
