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ESPN Inc.



ESPN Inc. is owned by Walt Disney Company.

George W. Bodenheimer is the CEO of ESPN Inc..

ESPN, originally known as the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American cable television network dedicated to broadcasting sports-related programming 24 hours a day. It was founded by Bill Rasmussen and his son Scott Rasmussen, and launched on September 7, 1979. Its signature telecast, SportsCenter, debuted with the network and aired its 25,000th episode on August 25, 2002.

ESPN broadcasts primarily out of its studios in Bristol, Connecticut and is available in over 77 million homes in the United States. The name of the company was shortened to "ESPN Inc." in February 1985.

ESPN started as an alternative to the short sports segments in standard television news broadcasts and the information found in sports sections of newspapers. Early on, ESPN often had to broadcast unorthodox sporting events, such as tractor pulls; international sport relatively unknown in the US such as Australian Rules Football, as well as the short-lived United States Football League (USFL), to attract viewers. In 1987, ESPN landed a contract to show National Football League games on Sunday evenings, an event which marked a turning point in turning ESPN from a small cable TV network into a marketing empire.

ESPN was originally owned by a joint venture between Getty Oil Company (which was purchased by Texaco) and Nabisco. Today the entire family of ESPN networks and franchises is majority owned by the ABC Television Network (80%), which is a part of The Walt Disney Company. Hearst Corporation holds a minority interest (20%).

Contact Information

Telephone:860.585.2000
Address:935 Middle Street
Bristol CT 06011
USA

National Media Properties

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In California:

KSPN AM 710 (ESPN affiliate)

In Illinois:

WMVP AM 1000 (ESPN affiliate)

In New York:

WEPN AM 1050 (ESPN affiliate)

In Pennsylvania:

WEAE AM 1250 (ESPN affiliate)

In Texas:

KESN FM 103.3 (ESPN affiliate)

Comments about ESPN Inc.

Comments to date: 9. The most recent comments are below.

Carol Thompson    Annapolils, MD USA

Posted at 7:41pm on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

I was shocked t0night to see the promos of the UNC/Duke game with bloody images of all team players, Violent confrontations of fans and coaches. I have been watching, and attending UND/DUKE games since 1960 I hav NEVER SEEN that. ESPN films are so old in one instance that they are brown and white. SHAME ON YOU ESPN. WHERE IS PUSHING SPORTSMANSHIP? WAIT 'TIL COACH K SEES THAT PROMO. OF ALL THE TEAMS TO PICK UNC/DUKE ARE THE EPITOMY OF GOOD CONDUCT YOU OWE THEM AND YOUR VIEWING PUBLIC AN APOLOGY.


duane scrod jr    texas,usa

Posted at 7:55am on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

u know yall ESPN should show more dem foot ball i like te kick dem cans to when ma dad dont let me use dem shotgun ma stoopid neighboours dont let mah use dem shotgun yall have sex in ma trailor dem hookers know how to get dems $ big time they get dem cox for like $500


mike waltmon    houston tx usa

Posted at 2:49pm on Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

Mr Craig James a sports tv broadcaster needs to be held responsible for the destruction of an entire top ranked texas college football program by using his position with ESPN to lobby for playing time for his son Adam who is a 3rd string receiver with the Texas Tech Red Raiders.By meddleing and complaining to school administrators about getting more playing time for his son ,he caused the head coach Mike Leach to be fired.Coach Leaches football program has just recently brought in over 13 million dollars to the school because of his success.Craig James and his son Adam single handedly put and end to a football dynasty that helped the school and studens.ESPN needs to terminate the employment of Mr.Craig James and hold him responsible for his actions.. Mike Waltmon -Houston TX now X-Red Raider


ESPN longtime fan    anywhere USA

Posted at 7:12pm on Monday, November 9th, 2009

please fire Matt Millen or I will have to turn you off


Micah Watts    Duluth, USA

Posted at 3:29pm on Monday, May 18th, 2009

Our company Universal Wrestling Archives, Inc. has the exclusive rights to Mid-South Wrestling, Power Pro Wrestling & Universal Wrestling Federation from the "Cowboy" Bill Watts territories. We would like to see if ESPN Classic is interested in airing our shows? We have over 275 1-hour format shows ready for air. wwww.universalwrestling.com look forward to hearing from you soon.


Judy Justice    Aiken, South Carolina

Posted at 8:50pm on Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

Dear Mr. Bodenheimer:

I can't put into words how irrate that your company decided to blackout on the eastcoast the broadcast of the Duke/NC basketball game--only ESPN360 customers had access to the broadcast. Then to add insult to injury, the tape running across the botton of the ESPND screen continued to adverise the game as being broadcast. I am not sure how many KState/Texas Tech fans there are in NC/SC, but this is one fan that will not be watching ESPN or supporting your sponsors who adverise their products on your network. I paid to view this game through my cable and feel that I was ripped off by both companies. Shame on you for not feeling you had a commitment to your customers to offer the best service possible.


Mary Van Horn    Cranford, new Jersey

Posted at 8:28am on Friday, November 21st, 2008

I feel that including poker as part of your
programs and including tournaments as part of your broadcasting has undermined the reputation of your company. This has been a terrible example to the teens of America and I urge you to take this off the air. I feel there will be a significant increase in gambling addictions in young people with the addition of poker as part of ESPN. This should not be able to made available for viewing with the regular ESPN station and should be a separate purchase at best.


Ron Baker    Los Angeles, USA

Posted at 5:12pm on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008

I am really enjoying broadcast of UWF classic wrestling on ESPN Classic. Many of us are sick of the acrobatic soap opera that has become pro wrestling today. I imagine you think of the UWF as filler but I hope you will continue to broadcast the old school type work from the 70's, 80's & early 90's. I can only wish it aired a little earlier.


Frank M. Harris, Jr.    3001 N. Declaration Cour

Posted at 8:39am on Monday, June 4th, 2007

Please change my address, effective immediately. OLD ADDRESS: PSC 303 BOX 26, ATTN: PA RSC-K, APO AP 96204; NEW ADDRESS: 3001 N. Declaration Court, Waldorf, MD 20603.
Thank you.


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