Sports Junkies Rejoice: The Birth of ESPN
About this book
Sports Junkies Rejoice is the fast-paced account of an incredible 14 month journey that led to the September 7, 1979 launch of ESPN. Bill Rasmussen introduces you to all the players that made it possible and shares with you the frustrations, tensions, emotions and excitement from concept to launch! When ESPN debuted on September 7th at 7:00 PM, there were no 24 hour networks. The "Big Three" ABC, CBS, NBC did not broadcast from 1:00 - 7:00 AM. HBO was live only five hours nightly. CNN and FNC hadn't yet begun to blanket us with news 24/7. As for MTV, The Weather Channel, The Discovery Channel, The History Channel and many others - they all came later. Over 90% of all cable systems in America had only 12 channels available and with over 50 new channels proposed ESPN led the way and became America's first 24 / 7 cable network. In 1979, Sports Illustrated opined, "ESPN may become the biggest thing in TV Sports since Monday Night Football and nighttime World Series Games." How prophetic!