History of ESPN in Timeline
ESPN is an American international multiplatform sports media company founded in 1979 by Bill Rasmussen, Scott Rasmussen, and Ed Eagan. It's primarily owned by The Walt Disney Company, with Hearst Communications holding a 20% stake through ESPN Inc., a joint venture. ESPN provides sports coverage across various platforms.
May 1978: Bill Rasmussen conceives ESPN
In May 1978, Bill Rasmussen conceived the idea for ESPN after being fired from the New England Whalers.
February 22, 1979: Getty Oil Purchases 85% of ESPN
On February 22, 1979, Getty Oil purchased 85% of ESPN from Bill Rasmussen.
September 7, 1979: ESPN Launches with SportsCenter
On September 7, 1979, ESPN launched, debuting its flagship program, SportsCenter, broadcast to 1.4 million cable subscribers.
1979: ESPN Founded
In 1979, Bill Rasmussen, Scott Rasmussen, and Ed Eagan founded ESPN, initially known as the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.
March 1980: ESPN Broadcasts NCAA Tournament
In March 1980, ESPN began broadcasting the early rounds of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, helping popularize March Madness.
1984: ABC Acquires 100% of ESPN
In 1984, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) purchased 100% of ESPN from the Rasmussens and Getty Oil.
1984: Supreme Court Ruling on NCAA Broadcast Rights
In 1984, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in NCAA v. Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma that the NCAA could no longer monopolize the rights to negotiate contracts for college football games, allowing individual schools to negotiate broadcast deals independently.
1985: Capital Cities Acquires ABC and ESPN
In 1985, Capital Cities Communications acquired ABC, gaining control of ESPN.
1987: ESPN Secures NFL Contract
In 1987, ESPN secured a contract with the NFL to broadcast eight Sunday night games, marking the first broadcasts of Sunday NFL primetime games.
1992: ESPN Radio Launched
In 1992, ESPN launched ESPN Radio, a national sports talk radio network.
October 1, 1993: ESPN2 Launched
ESPN2 was launched on October 1, 1993. It carried a broad mix of event coverage from conventional sports—including auto racing, college basketball and NHL hockey—to extreme sports—such as BMX, skateboarding and motocross.
October 10, 1993: ESPN2 Launches
On October 10, 1993, ESPN2 launched, reaching 10 million subscribers.
1995: Classic Sports Network Launch
In 1995, Classic Sports Network was launched by Brian Bedol and Steve Greenberg.
1995: ESPN BottomLine Originated on ESPN2
In 1995, The "ESPN BottomLine", a ticker displaying sports news and scores during all programming that is now used by all of ESPN's networks, originated on ESPN2.
November 1, 1996: ESPNews Launch
On November 1, 1996, ESPNews, a subscription television network, was launched. Initially, it focused solely on sports news, highlights, and press conferences.
1996: Disney Acquires Capital Cities/ABC
In 1996, The Walt Disney Company acquired Capital Cities/ABC Inc., which included ESPN.
1997: ESPN Purchases Classic Sports Network
In 1997, ESPN Inc. purchased Classic Sports Network for $175 million.
1998: ESPN Classic Rebranding
In 1998, Classic Sports Network was rebranded as "ESPN Classic".
July 2001: ESPN Deportes Launch
In July 2001, ESPN Deportes, a subscription television network, was originally launched to provide Spanish simulcasts of certain Major League Baseball telecasts from ESPN.
2001: ESPN Original Entertainment Formed
In 2001, ESPN Original Entertainment, a programming division, was formed, later restructured into ESPN Films.
March 30, 2003: ESPNHD Launch
On March 30, 2003, ESPN launched its high definition simulcast feed, originally branded as ESPNHD, with an Opening Day broadcast of the Texas Rangers and Anaheim Angels.
January 2004: ESPN Deportes Becomes 24-Hour Channel
In January 2004, ESPN Deportes transitioned into a 24-hour sports channel.
2004: ESPN Last Carried National-Televised NHL Games
In 2004, ESPN last carried national-televised NHL games until they regained the rights in 2021.
March 4, 2005: ESPNU Launch
On March 4, 2005, ESPNU, a subscription television network, was launched, focusing on college athletics including basketball, football, baseball, college swimming, and ice hockey.
2005: Mobile ESPN Launch
In 2005, ESPN MVP (initially known as Mobile ESPN) was an attempt at operating a mobile virtual network operator with exclusive mobile content, first as a phone feature, then after its termination into a Verizon Wireless paid service.
September 2, 2006: ESPN Integrated with ABC Sports Division
Since September 2, 2006, ESPN has been integrated with the sports division of sister broadcast network ABC, with sports events televised on that network airing under the banner ESPN on ABC.
March 2008: ESPN Films Created
In March 2008, ESPN Films was created as a restructuring of ESPN Original Entertainment.
2009: 30 for 30 Starts Airing
In 2009, 30 for 30 started airing and continues to air to this day.
August 2010: ESPNews Incorporates ESPN Shows
In August 2010, ESPNews began to incorporate encores of ESPN's various sports debate and entertainment shows, video simulcasts of ESPN Radio shows, and sports news programming.
September 27, 2010: HD Broadcasts Begin
On September 27, 2010, "Pardon the Interruption" and Around the Horn began airing in HD. The relocation of the production of both shows into the facility housing the Washington, D.C., bureau for ABC News, happened at the same time.
October 25, 2010: ESPN Networks Launch
On October 25, 2010, ESPN Networks, a streaming service that provided a live stream of ESPN exclusive to Time Warner Cable subscribers, originally launched.
August 26, 2011: Longhorn Network Launch
On August 26, 2011, the Longhorn Network, a subscription television network focusing on events from the Texas Longhorns varsity sports teams, was launched.
August 31, 2011: ESPN3 Incorporated into WatchESPN
On August 31, 2011, ESPN3, an online streaming service, was incorporated into the WatchESPN platform.
2011: ESPN Peak Household Reach
In 2011, ESPN reached its peak of 100 million households in the United States.
2011: ESPNHD Downplays Logo
In 2011, ESPNHD began to downplay its distinct promotional logo in preparation for the conversion of its standard definition feed from a 4:3 full-screen to a letterboxed format, which occurred on June 1 of that year.
2013: Highlight Express Cancellation
In 2013, Highlight Express was cancelled, and programming on ESPNews began to consist mainly of rebroadcasts of SportsCenter.
August 14, 2014: SEC Network Launch
On August 14, 2014, the SEC Network, a subscription television network focusing on the coverage of sporting events sanctioned by the Southeastern Conference, was launched. This network is a joint venture between the conference and ESPN Inc.
April 26, 2017: ESPN Lays Off Employees
On April 26, 2017, ESPN laid off approximately 100 employees, including athletes-turned-analysts and journalists.
December 18, 2017: John Skipper Resigns
On December 18, 2017, John Skipper resigned from his position as chairman of ESPN.
2017: O.J.: Made in America Wins Oscar
In 2017, the 30 for 30 film O.J.: Made in America won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, the first such Oscar for ESPN.
March 5, 2018: James Pitaro Appointed Chairman
On March 5, 2018, James Pitaro became the chairman of ESPN, succeeding John Skipper.
April 12, 2018: ESPN+ Launches
On April 12, 2018, ESPN launched ESPN+, a supplemental over-the-top streaming service.
April 2018: ESPN+ Launched
In April 2018, ESPN+ was launched as an add-on subscription for $4.99 per month.
March 2019: ESPN Announces Daily Wager
In March 2019, ESPN announced Daily Wager, a new betting-themed daily program.
June 1, 2019: WatchESPN Discontinued
On June 1, 2019, WatchESPN was discontinued, with the service's full merger into the ESPN app.
August 22, 2019: ACC Network Launch
On August 22, 2019, the ACC Network, a subscription television network that focuses on the sporting events of the Atlantic Coast Conference, was launched as a joint venture of network operator ESPN Inc. and the ACC.
October 8, 2019: Political Discussion Ban
On October 8, 2019, Deadspin reported that an internal memo was sent to ESPN employees instructing them to avoid any political discussions regarding the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong following a tweet by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey.
2019: UFC Signs Contract with ESPN
In 2019, the Ultimate Fighting Championship signed a five-year contract with ESPN, including events on ESPN and ESPN+.
March 2021: ESPN and ABC Secure NHL Broadcast Contract
In March 2021, ESPN and ABC agreed to a seven-year contract to televise NHL games, with games also airing on ESPN+ and Hulu.
2021: Disney to Increase Online Sports Betting Presence
In 2021, Walt Disney CEO Bob Chapek indicated the company would increase its presence in online sports betting, including in partnership with third parties, to offset the impact of COVID-19.
December 31, 2021: ESPN Classic Discontinued
ESPN Classic was discontinued on December 31, 2021.
August 8, 2023: ESPN and Penn Entertainment Announce Sportsbook Deal
On August 8, 2023, ESPN and Penn Entertainment announced a deal to rebrand Penn's Barstool Sportsbook as ESPN Bet.
November 2023: ESPN Enters Sports Betting
In November 2023, ESPN moved into the sports betting scene with plans to launch their sportsbook app "ESPN Bet" on November 14, in partnership with Penn Entertainment, beginning in 17 states. Once live, ESPN featured betting odds from their own sportsbook on their content.
December 2023: ESPN Household Reach Decreases
As of December 2023, ESPN was available in approximately 70 million pay television households in the United States.
2023: The Pat McAfee Show Moves to ESPN
In 2023, The Pat McAfee Show moved to ESPN as part of a five-year, $85 million deal.
February 6, 2024: ESPN Announces Joint Venture Venu Sports with Fox and TNT
On February 6, 2024, ESPN announced a joint venture with Fox Sports and TNT Sports known as Venu Sports.
June 30, 2024: Longhorn Network Discontinued
The Longhorn Network was discontinued on June 30, 2024, a day before the Longhorns' move to the Southeastern Conference.
2024: Sports Emmy Awards Controversy
In 2024, ESPN apologized for submitting fake names for Sports Emmy award consideration over many years, and returned 37 trophies that had been awarded to ineligible recipients to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
May 2025: ESPN Announces ESPN-Branded Direct-to-Consumer Product Launch
In May 2025, ESPN announced that it would officially launch an ESPN-branded direct-to-consumer product later that year, which will incorporate ESPN's main channels and content from ESPN+, and become the main streaming offering for all ESPN subscribers.
August 5, 2025: ESPN to Acquire NFL Media Division
On August 5, 2025, ESPN announced an agreement to acquire the NFL's NFL Media division, pending regulatory approval, giving them control of NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and the league's official fantasy football service.
August 6, 2025: ESPN and WWE Announce Streaming Deal
On August 6, 2025, ESPN announced a five-year deal with WWE to stream WWE live premium events on the forthcoming ESPN streaming service, beginning with Wrestlepalooza in September 2025.
September 2025: ESPN and WWE Streaming Deal Begins
In September 2025, ESPN and WWE Streaming deal begins, starting with Wrestlepalooza
2026: Potential Implementation of NFL Media Changes
Most of the changes related to ESPN's acquisition of NFL Media division might not take effect until at least the 2026 NFL season, even if the deal receives regulatory approval.
2036: Agreement Extension
In 2036, the Atlantic Coast Conference agreement is extended.
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