ESPNSPORTS The Global Leader
The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, best known as ESPN
is the sports-related television network broadcasting 24-hours a day.
With studios in Bristol, Connecticut and Charlotte, San Francisco, ESPNSports
is cable-available reaching the homes of 90 million Americans and furthermore,
thanks to its International variant covers more than 147 countries.
How did ESPNSports channel grow to become what it is today? It all starts
in the mid 70s when William Rasmussen launched in a new kind of business:
cable television. He first wanted to focus on local Connecticut sports
events. Yet, what first began as an idea for a few hours night broadcasting,
turned into a 24-hours national network.
The first show aired by ESPNSports channel was a softball game, on
September 7, 1979. Broadcasting quality programs 24 hours a day was
no easy task, and ESPNSports chose to air a variety of events, that
were not present with the other networks. The variety of shows with
ESPNSports ranged from Australian Football, to the Davis Cup and included
bowling, wrestling and boxing.
ESPNSports expansion continued as in 1987 when the company obtained
partial rights to deal with the National Football League, a step that
instated ESPN as a TV strong institution. No sooner than 1990, ESPNSports
also gained the Major League Baseball. These agreements are valid to
this day, and are likely to continue to at least 2011.
The 90s brought the massive ESPNSports expansion with the birth of
ESPN2 in 1993, and ESPNEWS in 1996. Broadcasting via satellite opened
Asia, Africa, South America and Canada to ESPN International sports
programs, bringing further audience, and more successful results that
are also reflected in the recent 2006 new purchases of North American
Sports Nerwork.
