Corporate Information

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, ESPNEWS HD and ESPNU HD (high-definition simulcast services of ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS and ESPNU, respectively), ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (45 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
Television
ESPN on ABC (Broadcast), six U.S. Cable Networks (four with high definition simulcast services), Regional, Syndicated, Pay Subscription Packages, 45 International Networks
Radio ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes Radio, syndicated radio in 11 international countries
Online ESPN.com, ESPNDeportes.com and more
Broadband ESPN360.com
Publishing ESPN The Magazine and other periodicals & ESPN Books
Emerging Technologies Interactive TV:  ESPN My Vote, ESPN In-Game Extra and My Bottom Line
Wireless ESPN Mobile Properties, Scores, Headlines, Video Highlights, Games
Consumer Products CDs, DVDs, video games, apparel, merchandise
Event Management X Games, Winter X Games, BASS, ESPYs, bowl games and basketball events
ESPN Zones restaurant, games and shopping
Corporate Outreach Team ESPN, The V Foundation for Cancer Research and more
Television

ESPN on ABC

Programming:  ESPN on ABC is the home of the NBA Finals; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series, including the entire Chase for the Cup; college football including Saturday primetime games and the Rose Bowl; college basketball; the Belmont, FIFA World Cup Soccer; The Open Championship (British Open); Little League World Series; and select IndyCar races, including the Indy 500.

ESPN

Viewers, Operators and Advertisers Rank ESPN Number One

The most current Beta Research results show:

 
ESPN

Launched: September 7, 1979 as the flagship network. Households: Surpassed 90 million households on June 1, 2005; currently in more than 98 mm. Programming Hours: more than 5,100 live and/or original hours of sports programming presented annually more than 65 sports including the BCS (coming in 2011), MLB, NBA, NFL’s Monday Night Football, NASCAR, the Open Championship (British Open, coming in 2010), 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, Little League World Series, and 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. In August 2008, 30 additional live hours of SportsCenter were added to ESPN’s lineup. 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, Papajohn’s.com and St. Petersburg 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 22 million homes receive the service; it is available to more than 96 million. 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 97 million. Programming Hours: more than 4,800 live and/or original hours of sports programming annually featuring NASCAR Nationwide Series, Grand Slam tennis, MLB, college football and basketball, golf, 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.

ESPN2 HD

Launched: January 6, 2005 as a simulcast of ESPN2. Homes: currently reaches 22 million homes and is available to more than 88 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 2008, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD will deliver more than 12,000 hours of HD programming, 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: More than 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: 67 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 is the leading multimedia, Spanish-language sports brand dedicated to providing the widest variety of sports to the U.S. Hispanic sports fan. Media assets include:

 

ESPN Deportes Television

Launched: January 7, 2004.  Households: Approximately 4 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 Highlights:  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 45 percent of the U.S. Hispanic market.  Market Presence: Affiliates in 13 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets – Los Angeles, New York (New Jersey affiliate is part of New York DMA), Dallas, Miami, 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 desperta, 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:  Launched: 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, Papajohn’s.com and St. Petersburg 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 service based primarily on pay-per-view events, featuring NCAA Baseball Championship games, martial arts programs, fantasy and league specials 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 marked 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.  International business entities include television, radio, print, internet, wireless, consumer products, and event management. 

Networks:  45 reaching 200 countries and territories.

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 13 local versions of SportsCenter outside of the U.S. serving viewers in Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina/Southern Cone, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Latin America, Malaysia, Middle East/Africa, Mexico, and Taiwan. SportsCenter is transmitted in eight languages -- Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, Hindi, Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese.

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.; Tirico & Van Pelt, 1-3 p.m.; The Scott Van Pelt Show, 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.   In June 2008, the formation of the ESPNradio.com online affiliate network was announced. 

 

DIGITAL MEDIA

ESPN.com

Launched:  April 1, 1995.  Users:  ESPN.com, the leading sports Web site, averages 21 million unique users per month, more than any other sports Web site, according to Neilsen Netratings.  Video:  500 – 1000 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.  In 2008, fans are viewing an average of 120 million videos per month, a 32 percent increase from 2007.  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 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 24 million homes.  Description:  ESPN360.com is ESPN's signature 24/7 broadband sports network, and the online home for live sports – delivering more than 3,500 live global sports events a year. The service, which relaunched in August 2007, is available at no additional charge to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection from an affiliated service provider and is available via more than 20 providers around the country including AT&T, Verizon, RCN, Insight, Frontier, Cavalier, Charter, Mediacom, Conway, Grande Communications and many more.  It is also available at no cost to approximately 18 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational and military networks (".edu" or “.mil”).  Programming:  As the first full-time, live, multi-sport broadband network, ESPN360.com features thousands of hours of live online coverage from a broad array of global games and events including the NBA, college football and basketball, NASCAR; UEFA and FIFA soccer; international cricket, including the 2008 Asia Cup and Stanford 20/20 tournament; Canadian Football League and Arena Football League;  major golf and tennis events including the US Open (golf) and Masters and extensive multi-court coverage from Wimbledon, French Open, Australian Open and the WTA Tour; international soccer (Italian SerieA, Russian Premiere League, Chinese Super League); and Euroleague basketball.

 

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 10 million unique visitors monthly.


PUBLISHING

ESPN The Magazine

Launched:  March 11, 1998.  Circulation: Guaranteed rate base is 2.0 million.  Content:  ESPN The 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 six 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 at 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;  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, ESPN Ultimate NASCAR 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 encompasses ESPN's multi-faceted corporate outreach initiatives, including volunteerism, corporate giving and cause marketing, while utilizing its diverse media assets. Through Team ESPN, ESPN, its employees, and its fans work together to make a difference in our world and the communities in which we live. Primary charitable programs include The V Foundation for Cancer Research, SportsFigures, ESPN Play Your Way and Disabled Sports.

The V Foundation: The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, the Foundation has raised more than $70 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. The Foundation, which has received five consecutive top 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, awards grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Review Committee. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit 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.


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, 20% is sold to Nabisco and that share is later bought by Hearst.

January 1987

ESPN airs the America's Cup live from Australia; overwhelming response proves impact of cable.

March 15, 1987

ESPN awarded NFL's first cable contract; begins fall '87.

January 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.

January 1, 1992

ESPN Radio launches.

March 4, 1993

The first-ever ESPY Awards and the birth of The V Foundation.

October 1, 1993

ESPN2 launches in 10 million homes.

May 9, 1994

ESPN acquires Creative Sports (now ESPN Regional Television).

April 1, 1995

ESPNET SportsZone (now ESPN.com) launches.

February 9, 1996

The Walt Disney Company completes acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. (which owns ESPN).

November 1, 1996

ESPNEWS launches.

October 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.

March 14, 2001

ESPN2 reaches 75 million homes faster than any other network -- 89 months.

April 4, 2001

ESPN acquires BASS, Inc., the largest fishing organization in the world.

October 22, 2001

ESPN secures an 11-year agreement to show the entire NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

January 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, 2003

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.

 

 

January 7, 2004

ESPN Deportes, a 24-hour, Spanish language sports network, launches.

June 7, 2004

ESPN’s state-of-the-art Digital Center opens. 

January 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.

November 2, 2005

ESPN acquires rights for multiple Men’s and Women’s World Cups.

December 7, 2005

ESPN announces eight-year agreement with NASCAR, 2007 - 2014.

June 21, 2006

ESPN and the Big Ten Conference announce 10-year agreement.

December 5, 2006

ESPN acquires NASN (now ESPN America), Europe’s only channel of North American sports.

February 8, 2007

ESPN announces agreement for exclusive content for Verizon’s V Cast customers.

February 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 podcast.

May 23, 2007

The 14th international version of SportsCenter launches, serving Africa/Middle East.

June 27, 2007

ESPN and NBA announce eight-year, multi-platform deal, the first for platforms yet to be invented.

Sept. 1, 2007

ESPN360.com relaunches, focusing on live events, offering more than 3000 in 12 months.

March 30, 2008

ESPNEWS HD, a high-definition simulcast service of ESPNEWS, launches.

May 12, 2008

ESPN announces six-year, multiplatform agreement with USTA for US Open, bringing all four of tennis’ Grand Slam events to ESPN2 and ESPN360.com.

August 25, 2008

ESPN announces unprecedented 15-year agreement the SEC, providing content for 16 outlets.

August 28, 2008

ESPNU HD, a high-definition simulcast service of ESPNU, launches.

Sept. 15, 2008

Monday Night Football (Phila.-Dallas) draws cable’s top audience – 12.953MM homes, (13.3 rating).

November 13, 2008

ESPN reaches a wide-ranging, eight-year agreement to televise all four rounds of the Open Championship (British Open).

November 18, 2008

ESPN announces a four-year, multiplatform agreement to televise 15 BCS games, including the national championship game in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

December 29, 2008

In the fourth quarter, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS & ESPN Deportes, combine to reach a record 220 million Americans (76% of population, 92% of cable homes).  Including ESPN on ABC, the number rises to a record 250 million Americans – 86% of the population.

December 29, 2008

For the year, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic & ESPNEWS combine to average a record 1,139,000 homes (at any time, 24-hour basis).

March 30, 2009

ESPN and ESPN2 each close their most-watched first quarter.  The combined 24-hour audience for the four domestic ESPN networks is also a record.

April 6, 2009

ESPN’s Los Angeles Production Center debuts as new home of weekday 1 a.m. ET SportsCenter.

 

 

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