ESPN First Days on Air -- 1979
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- Опубликовано: 22 дек 2022
- Pure history this, with a fascinating look back at the first broadcast on ESPN (Entertainment Sports Programming Network) in 1979 with Jim Simpson in Bristol, Connecticut explaining the brand new sports network and how satellite/cable TV works. With little cable penetration at the time, ESPN was mostly seen in just hotels and bars.
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The brilliance of Jim Simpson on full display here.
Simpson did a great job on the usfl games he did. Him and Paul McGuire. Great memories.
Was this when TBS was on Briarcliff Rd or when it was in the Omni?
Wow! This is rare ESPN material. The ESPN promo music you hear at 8:33 was also used as the closing theme to a SportsCenter broadcast from around 1980-81. I know this, because I remember seeing that broadcast on ESPN Classic years ago when they featured old SportsCenter broadcasts to honor ESPN's anniversary.
WOW. This is ancient technology now but back then it was state of the art. This is an awesome look back. It's like unlocking a time capsule.
Do you have the launch of ESPN from September 7, 1979, with Lee Leonard and George Grande? The broadcast opens with SportsCenter anchor Lee Leonard saying: "If you're a fan, if you're a fan, what you see in the next minutes, hours, and days to follow; you may convince you you've gone to sports heaven. Beyond that blue horizon is a limitless world of sports, and right now you're standing on the edge of tomorrow; sports, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; with ESPN, the total sports cable network!", followed by the "ESPN, everything worth seeing" jingle, playing over a montage of clips. After the "ESPN, everything worth seeing" jingle, anchor Lee Leonard welcomes viewers to Bristol, Connecticut, which is 110 miles from New York City, and talks about the first sporting events on ESPN, such as the 1979 NCAA College Football Preview, and two slow-pitched softball games; Leonard introduces Bill and Scott Rasmussen, the father and son team who founded ESPN. Using charts and graphics, the two explain how a satellite works. Leonard introduces George Grande, who sits at a desk by explaining that he will appear to update sports news and scores, which is called "SportsCenter", delivering its first report: Chris Evert-Lloyd's defeat of Billie Jean King in the U.S. Open tennis tournament, and thanks Budweiser for serving as ESPN's sponsor. The next segment shows correspondent Adrian Metcalfe covering European sports from London, England, such as grand-prix auto racing.
The next segment shows Getty Oil vice president Stuart W. Evey talking about the Getty Oil Company's decision to invest the fledging network. This is followed by actor John Forsythe talking about touring the ESPN mobile television studio in a truck. The last segment shows Leonard interviewing president Bill Flynn of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), who talks about his excitement of something as important as ESPN. Leonard wraps up the broadcast where dusk drops over the Burcher mountains; and for sports fun and fans. He mentions the sky that Leonard talked about at the beginning of the broadcast, which is 23,000 miles away; and talks about the satellite dishes we mentioned earlier on the program, which is a good effort of athletes from around the world. He thanks all the men and women who work on their first broadcast. From football to soccer, to baseball to basketball, to tennis to track to golf, we will be with you covering on ESPN. This is followed by the "ESPN, everything worth seeing" jingle; Includes commercials for Budweiser.
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Not reading all of that chief
ruclips.net/video/v0ed1dkqHZY/видео.html
Wow, codym8897! It is so fantastic to be able to see a reminder/recreation of that opening broadcast. I have looked for years, trying to find footage of at least a part of it.
Your post really gives a terrific flavor of what was said and the tone of the day. I know it was a long time ago, but for true sports fans (and cable/broadcast history admirers) your post allows us to kind of jump into the Time Machine and quasi-experience that momentous opening broadcast.
Again many thanks…and let’s hope someone has the audio or (dare I dream) the full video broadcast from that opening hour and will be able to find someone who will upload it for all of us to enjoy.
Dude, you’re my Hero today!
ESPN Is still going strong after almost 45 years!
They’re certainly going, strong is a matter of opinion
@@spmanLOL yep they peaked at least 15 years ago
ESPN is not going strong.
ESPN is not going strong.
A chyron and vidifont in one room? That’s funny
8:18
And now, its's so Woke. Haven't watched in a decade.
Really? Define "Woke" I don't think you can...
What about the 30 for 30 documentaries? You’ve missed some good ones!
If you haven't watched in over a decade how the hell do you know it's woke
Yep and MTV couple years later 1981 and that’s trash now too
Yeah and that's really very sad