ESPN, Inc., The Worldwide Leader in Sports, is the leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring the broadest portfolio of multimedia sports assets with over 50 business entities. Sports media assets include ESPN on ABC, six domestic cable television networks (ESPN, launched in 1979; ESPN2; ESPN Classic; ESPNEWS; ESPN Deportes; ESPNU), ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD and ESPNEWS HD (high-definition simulcast services of ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNEWS, respectively), ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (34 international networks and syndication), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Enterprises, ESPN PPV, ESPN Zones (sports-themed restaurants), and other growing new businesses including ESPN360.com (Broadband), ESPN Mobile Properties (wireless), ESPN On Demand and ESPN Interactive. Based in Bristol, Ct., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.
President: George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports, and Co-Chairman Disney Media Networks, joined ESPN in 1981. He was appointed President, ESPN, Inc. on November 9, 1998. He previously had been ESPN’s Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing.
Primary Business Entities |
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| Television | ESPN on ABC (Broadcast), six Domestic Cable Networks, Regional, Syndicated, Pay Subscription Packages, 34 International Networks |
| Radio | ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes Radio, syndicated radio in 11 international countries |
| Online | ESPN.com, ESPNDeportes.com, ESPNRadio.com, ESPNSoccernet.com, EXPN.com |
| Publishing | ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Deportes Magazine, Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times, Fishing Tackle & Retailer, ESPN Books |
| Emerging Technologies | ESPN on Demand, ESPN360.com (Broadband), ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, ESPNEWS HD (March 08), ESPNU HD (Aug. 08), Interactive TV |
| Wireless | ESPN Mobile Properties, Scores, Headlines, Video Highlights, Games |
| Restaurants | ESPN Zones |
| Consumer Products | CDs, DVDs, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Golf Schools, ESPN The Truck, ESPN-branded trading cards |
| Merchandise | ESPN Zone, TeamStore@ESPN |
| Polls | ESPN Sports Poll, Sports Nation |
| Event Management | X Games, Winter X Games, International X Games, ESPN Outdoors & BASS, ESPYS, Bowl Games, Jimmy V Men’s and Women’s Basketball Classics |
| Corporate Outreach | Team ESPN, The V Foundation for Cancer Research, ESPN Play Your Way fitness initiative, Cable in the Classroom SportsFigures |
Television
ESPN on ABC
Programming: ESPN on ABC is the home of the NBA Finals, NASCAR, including the entire Chase for the Cup, college football including Saturday primetime games and the Rose Bowl, college basketball, World Cup Soccer, British Open, Little League World Series, the IndyCar Series featuring the Indy 500.
ESPN
Viewers, Operators and Advertisers Rank ESPN Number One
The most current Beta Research results show:
· For the eighth consecutive year, cable operators ranked ESPN #1 in perceived value. ESPN2 was ranked #2 for the third consecutive year.
· For the fourth consecutive year, operators considered ESPN the most important network in their cable system and the most effective in selling broadband/interactive services.
· Operators also ranked ESPN number one in the following categories: network importance for subscriber acquisition and retention; having programming that generates local ad sales revenue; best overall marketing services; effectiveness of broadband/interactive TV sales; and most helpful in driving VOD and SVOD efforts.
· Since the survey’s inception, ESPN has been voted #1 by local ad sales executives for generating local ad sales revenue, providing original research and up-to-date programming information, promotions, having appealing demographics and more.
· Viewers ranked ESPN 1st, ESPN2 2nd and ESPN Classic 3rd in perceived value among total network viewers, male network viewers 18+, and adult network viewers 18-49.
· ESPN and ESPN2 ranked 1st (tied) in programming quality among all viewers of each network.
· Advertisers ranked ESPN #1 for the fifth consecutive year in having appealing au6ience demos, providing creative marketing & promotion opportunities, brand image, and having a desirable programming environment in which to advertise. ESPN also ranked first in providing creative marketing and promotion opportunities and in brand image.
ESPN
Launched: September 7, 1979 as the flagship network. Households: Surpassed 90 million households on June 1, 2005; currently in more than 96 mm. Programming Hours: more than 5,100 live and/or original hours of sports programming presented annually more than 65 sports including MLB, NBA, NFL’s Monday Night Football, NASCAR, FIFA World Cup, WNBA, college football, men's and women's college basketball, including every game of the women’s basketball tournament, golf, including the Masters (2008), Little League World Series, the X Games. ESPN Content Development creates branded programming outside of the network's traditional event and sports news genres. ESPN on Demand: timely news and sports events, exclusive content, library programs from a variety of disciplines including ESPN owned events, college sports.
SportsCenter
Debut: September 7, 1979, ESPN’s first show. Flagship: SportsCenter is ESPN's flagship studio show and television's only nightly, one-hour sports news program. Offering in-depth reports on breaking news, creative highlights, features and in-depth analysis from award-winning journalists, SportsCenter is television's most comprehensive and longest-running sports news show. The 30,000 show aired February 11, 2007. Viewership: As many as 93.7 million people a month watch SportsCenter.
Event Ownership
ESPN has created or acquired events it owns, markets and televises to increase its value to fans, advertisers and affiliates. Examples include the X Games, Winter X Games; ESPN Outdoors featuring the Bassmaster Classic; the ESPYs, Skins Games, Jimmy V Classic (men’s and women’s college basketball), the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces, Hawaii, Las Vegas, New Mexico and Papajohn’s.com Bowls and College Football Awards.
ESPN HD
Launched: ESPN HD, a high-definition simulcast service of ESPN, launched on March 30, 2003 with ESPN’s first Major League Baseball game of the season, Texas at Anaheim. Households: Over 15 million receive the service; it is available to more than 76 million homes. ESPN’s industry-leading sports programming is a great match for the clarity and widescreen format of high-definition television. Format: 720 progressive scan. Fast facts: biggest HD commitment in sports; first 24-hour sports service; widest variety in sports; high profile events like Monday Night Football, MLB, NBA, NFL, NASCAR, Women’s Basketball Final Four, College World Series and all Bristol-based studio shows; best collection of sports assets; high-end production; significant investment in facility, trucks and equipment; compelling viewing experience; supports affiliates’ rollout of HD; offers quality environment for advertisers; provides content to drive consumer demand of HDTV.
ESPN2
Launched: October 1, 1993 in 10 million households. Households: Over 96 million. Programming Hours: more than 4,800 live and/or original hours of sports programming annually featuring NASCAR Busch Series, MLB, college football and basketball, golf, tennis, FIFA World Cup, MLS, and more. First Take, the network’s two-hour morning show, combines sports with pop culture and lifestyle features. A simulcast of ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning began July 2005. Rapid Growth: ESPN2, launched Oct. 1, 1993, reached 50, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80 and 90 million homes faster than any network previously. Penetration: ESPN2 is available in 96% of ESPN households.
ESPN2 HD
Launched: January 6, 2005 as a simulcast of ESPN2. Homes: currently reaches 11 million homes and available to more than 76 million. Programming: Over 150 live telecasts in its first year – featuring college football plus men’s and women’s college basketball, the Little League World Series and Major League Baseball. Hours: In 2007, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD offered viewers more than 10,000 hours, including Monday Night Football, NASCAR, MLB, NBA, college football, MLS and all Bristol-based studio shows.
ESPN Classic
Launched: May 6, 1995 (as Classic Sports Network) with 6,500 households in Ada, Okla. Households: 63 million homes; the base has grown more than 600 percent since ESPN's acquisition. Acquisition: On Oct. 9, 1997, ESPN acquired Classic Sports Network (since renamed ESPN Classic), a 24-hour, all-sports network. Programming Philosophy: devoted to highlighting and celebrating the timeless events, personalities, moments and stories comprising the heritage of sports. As a curator of sports history, ESPN Classic connects the past with the present-day sports landscape, providing sports fans with perspective, context and relevancy. Programming Lineup: Includes a combination of live and classic sporting events; original entertainment series such as Who’s #1?and Top 5 Reasons You Can’t Blame;and documentary programming, including the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning SportsCentury. Programming relates to MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, NASCAR, boxing (including the ESPN Big Fights Library), tennis, golf, college football and basketball.
ESPNEWS
Launched: Nov. 1, 1996 with 1.5 million subscribers. Subscribers: Over 63 million homes full-time; 16 million part-time. Immediacy: ESPNEWS, the only 24-hour sports news network, has established itself as an immediate source of sports news and information. Philosophy: merge ESPN's on-air and online entities to present the ultimate interactive sports news outlet. Relaunch: On Sept. 7, 2001, ESPNEWS relaunched with new elements including enhanced interactive features, graphics and a television first - highlights combined with box scores and shot charts. Programming: The Hot List, 4 Qtrs, NFL Monday Quarterback, NFL Blitz, The Pulse, College Coaches’ Spotlight, ESPNEWS Post-Game Extra, press conferences.
ESPNEWS HD
Launched: March 30, 2008.
ESPN Deportes
ESPN Deportes Television
Launched: January 7, 2004. Households: Approximately five million Hispanic cable households, reaching more than 40 percent of the U.S. Hispanic cable homes. Programming Philosophy: Devoted to serving the Latino sports fans – a fanbase that has been historically underserved – by offering high-quality, culturally relevant sports programming. The network currently offers the most diverse sports programming available on Spanish-language television. Programming Lineup: More than 1,500 live and/or original hours of sports programming presented annually including Baseball: MLB, 2008 Caribbean Series, winter league baseball from the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Venezuela, summer league baseball from Mexico; Soccer: South American World Cup Qualifiers, Mexican First Division Soccer, Euro 2008, UEFA Champions League, 2008 CONCACAF Under-23 Championship, MLS; Football: NFL's Monday Night Football, ONEFA (college football from Mexico); Motor Sports: NASCAR, IRL Indy Car Series; Tennis: Mexican Tennis Open, Australia Open, French Open, Wimbledon; Golf: exclusive rights to televise the first two rounds of The Masters Tournament beginning in 2008, LPGA: Corona Open Highlights, PGA Masters’, US Open Golf. In addition, ESPN Deportes creates branded entertainment outside of the network’s traditional event and sports news genres. In 2006, the network brought Dominoes to the television screen with its telecast of the World Domino Tournament. In 2008, the network will air the World Series of Dominoes and the World Salsa Championships. News and information: ESPN Deportes also showcases the widest selection of sports news and information shows anchored by: SportsCenter: ESPN Deportes’ flagship studio show offering culturally relevant in-depth reports on breaking news, creative highlights, features and in-depth analysis. In August 2007, the program was expanded from a half-hour to a one-hour format. Fútbol Picante: Live news and information Mexican soccer program aired Monday – Saturday. Hazaña, el Deporte Vive: A series of shows that bring to life some of the most memorable personalities, moments, rivalries and events that have marked the history of Mexican sports; Cronómetro: Innovative sports news, information and debate program devoted to the discussion of headline issues surrounding Latino sports stars; Béisbol Esta Noche: Spanish-language version of ESPN’s Emmy Award-winning Baseball Tonight airing Sunday nights; Fuera de Juego: Soccer roundtable program that airs twice weekly; NFL Semanal: a studio program with highlights, analysis, features and predictions; ESPN Perfiles: A series of half-hour portraits that narrates the lives of the greatest Latino sports stars; RPM Semanal: a motorsports program with highlights, interviews, and insider news with emphasis on Latino drivers. History: ESPN Deportes began as a Sunday night programming block in July 2000 when ESPN and Major League Baseball offered Spanish-language telecasts of the Home Run Derby and select Sunday Night Baseball games. Starting in 2001, ESPN Deportes began offering full Sunday Night Baseball and Sunday Night NFL schedules, as well as boxing.
ESPN Deportes Radio
Launched: Oct. 5, 2005. Affiliates: The country’s only around-the-clock national Spanish-language sports radio network. ESPN Deportes Radio provides programming to more than 25 affiliates nationwide, reaching more than 45 percent U.S. Hispanic market. Market Presence: Affiliates in 12 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets – Los Angeles, New York (the New Jersey affiliate is part of the New York DMA), Dallas, Phoenix, San Diego, Fresno, El Paso, Albuquerque, Austin, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Tucson. The radio network is also available nationally on SIRUS Satellite Radio. ESPN Deportes Radio affiliate, Los Angeles’ KWKW, is No.1 among men 18+ in that market among all sports radio stations, both Spanish or English language (2007 Arbitron Books). Programming Highlights: Major League Baseball games, including the All-Star Game, League Championship Series and World Series; Mexican League Soccer, UEFA Champions League, South American World Cup Qualifiers, NASCAR, and much more. Talk Shows: ESPN al despertar, a fast-paced informative morning drive show; Jorge Ramos y su banda, a fast-paced soccer talk show airing weekdays 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. ET.;
A los golpes, a one-hour, fast-paced weeknight program; Destino Sudafrica, a two-hour show covering all the news leading up-to the 2010 World Cup South Africa.
ESPN Deportes La Revista
Launched: August 2005. Content: A monthly Spanish-language magazine launched in association with Editorial Televisa, ESPN Deportes La Revista offers a mix of original content targeted to the interests of U.S. Hispanics, as well as material from the English-language editions of ESPN The Magazine. Editorial includes coverage of Major League Baseball, as well as winter baseball from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela; boxing; NFL; international soccer; auto racing; action sports; and more.
ESPNdeportes.com
Launched: September 2000. Users: 4 million unique users per month and over 72 million page views monthly. Features: Covers more than 20 different sports with up-to-the-minute sports news, statistics, analysis and real-time scores; extensive video and audio programming; multiple free fantasy games; live event webcasts; live chat with players, ESPN experts and other sports personalities; a wide array of enterprise journalism; user-generated content features includes message boards and ‘Conversations’, with fans able to post comments on selected news items and blogs. Awards: ESPNdeportes.com received the 2006 Arroba de Oro for best Spanish-language sports Web site in the U.S. ESPN Video: Allows users each day to view video highlights, analysis and original programming, including updated ESPNdeportes.com SportsCenter two-minute clips, and content from ESPN programs such as SportsCenter, Béisbol Esta Noche, and Perfiles.
ESPN Deportes Wireless
Introduced: September 2005. Mission: serve Latino sports fans anytime, anywhere and via any device. ESPN Deportes Wireless delivers ESPN-branded, up-to-the minute scores, headlines and fantasy updates to numerous wireless providers.
ESPNU
Launched: ESPNU is a 24-hour college sports network which launched March 4, 2005. Distribution: 20 million households. Programming: ESPNU featured almost 500 live events (regular-season and championships) and doubled its distribution in its first year. Action includes a variety of top football and men’s and women’s basketball mixed with baseball, softball, volleyball, lacrosse, ice hockey, wrestling and more. ESPNU also offers comprehensive studio programming, such as SportsCenterU, ESPNU Coaches Spotlight, ESPNU Recruiting Insider and National Signing Day, replays of ABC Sports, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Regional Television games, plus specials and more. Production: ESPN Regional Television (ERT) in Charlotte, N.C. handles production responsibilities for ESPNU. ESPNU.com: launched in August 2006 as an online college sports hub that functions as home for college sports multimedia content. ESPNU HD: coming August 28, 2008.
ESPN Regional Television
Acquired: On May 9, 1994, ESPN acquired Creative Sports (since renamed ESPN Regional Television), a tv/radio sports marketing, syndication and production company. Production: produces more than 900 events annually for ESPN networks, ABC and other national, regional and local outlets. Events include college football; college basketball; the popular "Skins Games;" five owned Bowl games: the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces, Hawaii, Las Vegas, New Mexico and Papajohn’s.com Bowls; the College Football Awards; NHRA and much more. ERT is also the production headquarters for ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network. Marketing: college marketing agreements with Kansas, Oregon and South Florida. Syndication: the nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming is the exclusive syndication rightsholder for Big Ten and BIG EAST football and men's basketball, as well as Big 12 men's basketball. ERT, the nation’s largest syndicator of intercollegiate sports programming, produces more than 900 college TV programs, including football, basketball, NCAA events, golf and NHRA events, which accounts for more than 2,200 live and/or original hours of programming.
ESPN Pay-Per-View
Launched: June 2003. Offerings: ESPN Pay-Per-View, a new service based primarily on pay-per-view events, featuring NCAA Baseball Championship games, martial arts programs, fantasy league specials, and EOE-produced movies joins ESPN’s other PPV packages – ESPN GamePlan and ESPN Full Court. Boxing: ESPN Pay-Per-View offered its first four-fight boxing card at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on April 23, 2005. The fight was also available online at ESPN.com and marks the first time that such a high-profile night of boxing was carried live online.
ESPN International
Formed: January 1988, growing ESPN, Inc.’s global footprint on all seven continents; began syndicating programming in 1983.
Networks: 34 reaching more than 190 countries and territories. ESPN (Latin America), ESPN Brasil, ESPN+, ESPN Caribbean, ESPN Dos (Mexico); TSN, RDS, ESPN Classic Canada, NHL Network, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, Discovery Civilization, Le Réseau Info-Sports (Canada); Star Cricket (India); ESPN Asia, ESPN India, ESPN Taiwan, ESPN Hong Kong, Star Sports Asia, Star Sports India, Star Sports South East Asia, Star Sports Hong Kong, MBA-ESPN Sports (Korea); Sports-i ESPN (Japan), ESPN (Australia), ESPN (New Zealand); Orbit ESPN Sports, ESPN (Africa), ESPN Israel; ESPN Classic Sport (France), ESPN Classic Sport (Italy), ESPN Classic Sport (English-language feed) and NASN, the only European channel dedicated to North American sports.
Languages: 16 (Arabic, Cantonese, Dutch, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish and Turkish).
Programming includes: UEFA Champions League, Spanish Premier League, English Premier League, and Italian Serie A soccer; International Cricket; NBA; MLB; NFL; NHL; NASCAR, IRL and Formula One auto racing; the Masters, PGA Championship, British Open, and US Open golf majors; as well as Wimbledon, Roland Garros, the Australian Open, and US Open tennis Grand Slams.
SportsCenter: There are 14 local versions of SportsCenter outside of the U.S. serving viewers in Asia, Brazil, Australia/New Zealand, Argentina/Southern Cone, Canada (English and French versions), Hong Kong, India, Japan, Latin America, Malaysia, Middle/East Africa, Mexico, and Taiwan. A version for Australia and New Zealand will be launched in early 2007. SportsCenter is transmitted in eight languages -- Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, Hindi, Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese.
ESPN The Magazine: A Chinese-language edition of is published monthly and distributed in Mainland China, including Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Hong Kong.
ESPN International Radio
Reach: Began syndicating branded radio content in 2000 and now reaches 11 countries.
RADIO
ESPN Radio
Launched: January 1, 1992. Affiliates: The country's largest sports radio network, ESPN Radio provides more than 9,000 hours of talk and event content annually to 750 stations nationwide, including the top 100 markets. Full-time Affiliates: more than 335 stations including owned stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and Pittsburgh. ESPN Radio programming is available to U.S. troops in more than 175 countries and U.S. territories through American Forces Networks. Programming includes: NBA and Major League Baseball games, including the Finals and World Series; College football's BCS Series and regular-season games; the Kentucky Derby. Monday – Friday shows include: Mike and Mike in the Morning (Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic), 6-10 a.m. ET; The Herd with Colin Cowherd, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; The Mike Tirico Show, 1-3 p.m.; Stephen A. Smith, 3-4 p.m.; SportsNation, 4-6:30 p.m.; The Pulse, 7-10 p.m.; GameNight, 10 p.m.-1a.m.; and All Night, 1-5 a.m. ESPNRadio.com: most visited online sports radio destination in the U.S., logging as many as 250,000 online listeners and millions of listening hours per month. More than 35 original podcasts are offered each week that account for more than four million downloads each month to portable digital devices.
DIGITAL MEDIA
Integrated Online Media Player
ESPN.com
Launched: April 1, 1995. Users: ESPN.com, the leading sports Web site, averages 19.3 million unique users per month, more than any other sports Web site, according to Neilsen Netratings. Video: 500 new videos – free and ad-supported - available each week, featuring daily highlights, news, interviews, analysis, and originally produced exclusive content like SportsCenter Right Now, downloaded 900,000 times per day, ESPN Soccernet SportsCenter, and Fantasy Focus. Fans viewed videos more than 1.2 billion times in 2007, a 54 percent increase over 2006 - an average of more than 105 million videos per month for the year (growing to an average of more than 127 million for Sept. – Dec.). Additional features: Up-to-the-minute sports news, statistics, analysis and scores; multiple free and premium fantasy games; more than 4,800 widgets; free online poker; live event webcasts on ESPN360.com; live chats with players, ESPN experts and other sports personalities; a wide array of enterprise journalism; popular sections including Page 2 (humor, editorial, and pop culture), ESPN Insider (premium in-depth analysis and ESPN The Magazine content), SportsNation (interactive community forum); and a host of notable reporters and columnists including “The Sports Guy” Bill Simmons, Marc Stein, Andy Katz, John Clayton, Len Pasquarelli, Eric Neel, Scoop Jackson, Jim Caple, Rachel Nichols and more. Awards: ESPN.com received Online Journalism Awards in 2003 and 2006, the 2003 and 2007 Editor and Publisher EPpy Awards for online sports service, is a three-time Webby Award winner, six-time People’s Voice Award winner, and winner of multiple other awards.
Acquisitions: Since 2006, ESPN has acquired the following sites: Active.com (partial interest), Cricinfo.com, Hoopgurlz.com, Jayski.com, Scouts Inc., Scrum.com, TalentedMrRoto.com and TrueHoop.com.
ESPN360.com
Launched: August 2001 as ESPN Broadband and now available to 20 million homes, doubling its distribution since 2006. Description: Relaunched in August 2007 as the premiere online destination for live sports events, featuring 2500 in 12 months. Users are able to watch up to six different events at the same time, often choosing between up to 10 live events. The robust, multi-dimensional, customizable, high-speed offering delivers free on-demand video content to broadband subscribers who receive their service through an affiliated Internet provider. Programming: NBA; College football, basketball, baseball, softball and lacrosse; NASCAR Busch Series, IRL and Champ Car races; UEFA, MLS and FIFA World Cup Soccer; Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon tennis; AFL; US Open golf; X Games; Winter X Games; and more.
ESPN Mobile Properties
Introduced: Fall 1995. Mission: serve the sports fan any time, anywhere and via any device. ESPN provides up-to-the-minute scores, stats, news headlines and mobile video content to numerous wireless providers. Growth: ESPN’s wireless lineup features agreements with every major U.S. carrier and more than 35 international carriers. ESPN MVP, a unique, immersive sports content application is offered exclusively to Verizon Wireless V CAST subscribers. Additionally, in February 2007, ESPN launched ESPN Mobile TV through QUALCOMM's MediaFLO USA mobile entertainment platform. ESPN Mobile TV is ESPN's first 24/7 channel for wireless and includes streaming video of ESPN programming, news, highlights and live games and events. In January 2008, the service became available through MobiTV. WAP site: ESPN's wireless Internet (WAP) site is consistently the number one wireless sports content site and generates more than nine million unique visitors monthly.
PUBLISHING
ESPN The Magazine
Launched: March 11, 1998. Circulation: Guaranteed rate base is 2.0 million. Content: ESPNThe Magazine utilizes an award-winning variety of sports news resources combined with fast-paced, timely, in-depth commentary and opinion, all depicted in the rough eye-catching photography. Awards: Surrounding its launch, ESPN The Magazine received honors from Adweek and Advertising Age as the best magazine launch of 1998 and the 1999 National Magazine Award for Design, its first year of eligibility. The Magazine was honored with the 2006 and 2003 National Magazine Award for General Excellence and was nominated for the same award in 2002 and 2004. In October 2005, the American Society of Magazine Editors unveiled the 40 greatest magazine covers of the last 40 years, and ESPN The Magazine’s cover from June 29, 1998, featuring Michael Jordan, was ranked No. 18 on the list. ESPN The Magazine was the only sports title on the list.
ESPN Books
Launched: ESPN Books was created in May 2004 to leverage the company’s expertise in sports reporting and sports entertainment to develop and promote a sweeping catalog of sports titles. ESPN Books is schedule to release 6 titles in 2008 including Game On: The All American Race to Make Champions of Our Children by Tom Farrey and Fathers & Sons & Sports: Great Writing by Buzz Bissinger, John Ed Bradley, Mark Kriegel, Norman Maclean and more.
ESPN Enterprises
Created: November 1992. Mission: To develop new products and businesses using the ESPN brand and assets. Consumer Products: ESPN Consumer Products Licensing includes X Games Consumer Products – X Games branded apparel and accessories, Moto X and BMX bikes, skateboards, and protective gear – ESPN Consumer Products – includes ESPN branded personal expressions gifts and greeting cards @ Hallmark, indoor recreational game tables, co-branded toys and games with Fisher Price and USAopoly, ESPNU and College Game Day apparel and accessories, and sporting goods and ESPN Direct includes catalog and ESPNshop.com retail outlets and the ESPN Total AccessTM Visa® credit card; ESPN Zones sports-themed dining and entertainment in Anaheim, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, New York City and Washington, D.C. – also includes ESPN CLUB on Disney's Boardwalk in Orlando; ESPN Home Entertainment featuring DVD titles Ali Rap, SportsCenter Year in Review 2006 and Through the Fire; ESPN Golf Schools. ESPN Interactive: Interactive gaming experiences primarily in conjunction with EA Sports, titles include Madden NFL 08, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 and NBA Live 08.
ESPN Outdoors
Created: In May 2001, to coordinate companywide, multimedia efforts in the outdoors genre. Encompasses: the company's nearly 500 hours of television programming, BASS and the Bassmaster Classic; ESPN Radio's weekly fishing show; bassmaster.com and ESPNOutdoors.com, and all related promotion.
BASS: Acquired: On April 4, 2001, ESPN acquired the business and assets of BASS, Inc. Businesses: Bassmaster Magazine, the Bassmaster Tournament Trail and Bassmaster Classic.
ESPN Digital Center
Opened: June 7, 2004, as one of the world’s largest HD facilities at 120,000 square feet. Description: one of the most technically sophisticated television production facilities in North America that is completely outfitted as an all-encompassing digital facility. First Studio Program Televised in HD: June 7, 11 p.m. SportsCenter.
Team ESPN
Description: Team ESPN, ESPN’s corporate outreach program, uses the power of sports to make a difference in the lives of fans and in their communities through initiatives that support ESPN’s mission and corporate philosophy. Team ESPN encompasses employee volunteerism, corporate giving, charitable and cause-related marketing programs.
The V Foundation for Cancer Research: Established: at the inaugural ESPY Awards in 1993 by ESPN with the late Jim Valvano to raise funds for cancer research; over $50 million has been raised. For more info, call 1-800- 4JIMMYV or log on to www.jimmyv.org.
Play Your Way: multi-faceted physical fitness materials and initiatives developed to encourage kids to get active through “games to play, places to play and stuff to play with.” Visit www.espnplayyourway.com.
ESPN2's Cable in the Classroom SportsFigures: Presented commercial-free, the series teaches math and physics through sports, using prominent athletes. Visit www.ESPNSportsFigures.espn.com.
ESPN MILESTONES
Sept. 7, 1979
ESPN launches at 7 p.m. ET.
April 1983
ESPN begins distributing programming internationally.
April 30, 1984
ABC completes acquisition of ESPN from Getty Oil. Later sells 20 percent to Nabisco, which is later bought by Hearst.
January 1987
ESPN airs the America's Cup live from Australia; overwhelming response proves impact of cable and ESPN.
March 15, 1987
ESPN awarded NFL's first cable contract; begins fall '87.
March 31, 1988
ESPN International debuts in Central and South America.
Jan. 5, 1989
ESPN and Major League Baseball reach a four-year agreement to begin in 1990.
March 31, 1989
ESPN International launches its first network, ESPN in Latin America.
Jan.1, 1992
ESPN Radio launches.
Oct. 1, 1993
ESPN2 launches in 10 million homes.
May 9, 1994
ESPN acquires Creative Sports (now ESPN Regional Television).
Nov. 7, 1994
ESPN acquires SportsTicker.
April 1, 1995
ESPNET SportsZone (now ESPN.com) launches.
Feb. 9, 1996
The Walt Disney Company completes acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. (which owns ESPN, Inc.).
Nov. 1, 1996
ESPNEWS launches.
Oct. 9, 1997
ESPN, Inc. acquires Classic Sports Network (now ESPN Classic).
March 11, 1998
ESPN The Magazine launches.
July 11, 1998
First ESPN Zone, in Baltimore, opens.
Sept. 7, 1999
ESPN, Inc. celebrates 20th anniversary.
March 14, 2001
ESPN2 reaches 75 million homes faster than any other network - 89 months.
April 1, 2001
ESPN Deportes, a year-round block of exclusive Sunday night Spanish-language programming, premieres.
April 4, 2001
ESPN acquires the business and assets of BASS, Inc., the largest fishing organization in the world.
June 5, 2001
ESPN Today launches.
Oct. 22, 2001
ESPN announces an 11-year agreement with the NCAA to televise every game of the Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament.
Jan. 22, 2002
ESPN reaches agreement for multimedia NBA coverage, becoming the first network to televise all four major professional sports-NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA.
March 4, 2002
ESPN Classic Sport in France debuts. Later that year, ESPN Classic Sport launches in Italy.
March 30, 2003
ESPN HD, a high-definition simulcast service of ESPN, launches.
June 2003
ESPN Pay-Per-View, a new service based primarily on pay-per-view events, launches
Jan. 7, 2004
ESPN Deportes, a 24-hour, Spanish language sports network, launches.
June 7, 2004
ESPN’s state-of-the-art Digital Center opens. SportsCenter is the first studio program televised on ESPN HD.
Sept. 7, 2004
ESPN, Inc. celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Jan. 6, 2005
ESPN2 HD, a high-definition simulcast service of ESPN2, launches.
March 4, 2005
ESPNU, a 24-hour network devoted to college sports, launches
April 18, 2005
ESPN Acquires Monday Night Football for eight years, beginning in 2006
June 1, 2005
ESPN, along with the Discovery Channel, becomes the first network in cable television history to pass the 90-million subscriber mark in the U.S.
Sept. 14, 2005
ESPN reaches agreement with Major League Baseball for eight years, through 2013.
Nov. 2, 2005
ESPN acquires rights for multiple Men's and Women's World Cups.
Dec. 7, 2005
ESPN announces eight-year agreement with NASCAR, 2007 - 2014.
June 21, 2006
ESPN and the Big Ten Conferenece announce 10-year agreement.
Dec. 5, 2006
ESPN announces it has agreed to acquire NASN, the only European channel dedicated to North American sports.
Jan. 16, 2007
The 11th international version of SportsCenter launches, this one localized for Australia and New Zealand.
Feb. 8, 2007
ESPN announces agreement with Verizon for V Cast customers to receive exclusive access to ESPN content.
Feb. 8, 2007
ESPN announces that ESPN Mobile TV – its first channel on a wireless service – will be available on MediaFLO’s new mobile entertainment service.
April 26 , 2007
ESPN announces eight-year, multi-platform agreement with the Big 12.
May 15 , 2007
ESPN launches its first free, downloadable video podcasts.
May 23 , 2007
The 13th international version of SportsCenter launches, serving Africa/Middle East.
June 11 , 2007
ESPN acquires Cricinfo.com, the world’s leading cricket news and information site.
June 27 , 2007
ESPN announces eight-year, multi-platform agreement with the NBA.
September 1, 2007
ESPN360.com (Broadband) relaunches as the online home of live sporting events, offering more than 2500 in 12 months.
December 3 , 2007
ESPN’s New England/Baltimore MNF telecast attracts the largest household audience in cable television history (12,529,000 homes) and breaks the record for most viewers (17,522,000 P2+).
January 14, 2008
ESPN invests in the newly formed NBA China, which conduct the League’s business in Greater China.
March 30 , 2008
ESPNEWS HD, a high-definition simulcast service of ESPNEWS, launches.
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