1979: ESPN Launches First All Sports Network

ESPN’s Launch — A Game-Changer for Sports Media

On September 7, 1979, at 7:00 PM Eastern, ESPN (Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) officially premiered, drawing around 30,000 viewers to its inaugural broadcast. The debut featured the first-ever SportsCenter, anchored by Lee Leonard and George Grande, delivering its famous opening line: "If you're a fan... you may have gone to sports heaven." The channel then aired a men’s professional slow-pitch softball game, marking the start of ESPN's journey toward becoming a global sports media powerhouse