Today, ESPN is one of the world’s most recognized cable sports networks and takes on the slogan, “The Worldwide Leader in Sports.”  The station has become so successful that it has spawned 8 sister channels, magazine publications and an award show.  The station’s accomplishments have all come a mere three decades after the station was founded.

On this day, September 7th, in 1979, the cable sports network, ESPN, debut for the first time.  The network, which stands for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, was founded by Bill rasmussen and his son Scott.  It is estimated that 30,000 viewers watched the launch of ESPN and the first-ever SportsCenter segment.  SportsCenter anchor, Lee Leonard, informed audiences that they will, “think they have died and gone to sports heaven.”

Today, SportsCenter has had more than 30,000 episodes and ESPN is watched by millions of Americans on a daily basis. Other successful ESPN programming includes: Baseball tonight, Monday Night Countdown, College Gameday and SportsNation.