 MSG+ originally launched in 1976 as Cablevision Sports 3, a local sports network owned by Cablevision (the "3" referenced the network's channel slot on Cablevision, where it remained through the 1990s).The service was renamed SportsChannel New York in March 1979.Along with carrying New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders hockey (the only teams that it has carried since its launch that remain on the network to this day as MSG Plus), the network carried sports events featuring the New York Yankees and New York Mets Major League Baseball teams as well as the NBA's New Jersey Nets.