ESPN

The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, or ESPN, is the premiere American sports cable television network. Including 16 television and three radio stations, ESPN is broadcast to over 150 countries worldwide. They also produce a bi-weekly print edition, ESPN The Magazine and operate ESPN Zone, a chain of sports themed restaurants across the United States.

Fast Facts

1. Launched: September 7, 1979
2. Slogan: The Worldwide Leader in Sports
3. President: George Bodenheimer
4. Affiliated networks and businesses:
   • ESPN2
   • ESPN Classic
   • ESPN Deportes
   • ESPN Radio
   • ESPN.com
   • ESPN The Magazine
   • ESPN Zone restaurants

Programming

It's identity has grown through development of programming on three fronts: coverage of live sporting events, expansion of coverage through multiple networks within the ESPN family, and development of signature shows like SportsCenter. ESPN currently holds the broadcasting rights to several live sporting events including Monday Night Football, the Little League World Series, and a variety of other events such as basketball, soccer, golf, and auto racing.

History

Founded by Scott and Bill Rasmussen as the first cable television network devoted solely to sports, ESPN aired its first program SportsCenter on September 7, 1979. In 1985, Capital Cities Communications purchased ABC and ESPN in separate deals, then sold the properties to The Walt Disney Company in 1996. In 2006, ABC Sports, which had existed for 45 years, was integrated into ESPN, so now all ABC sports related programming appears as "ESPN on ABC".

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