ESPN

ESPN (an initialism of their original name, Entertainment and Sports Programming Network until 1985) is an American basic cable sports broadcasting network and the flagship property of ESPN, LLC, a joint venture of the Walt Disney Company (72% and operational control via indirect subsidiary ABC Inc.), Hearst Communications (18%) and the National Football League (10%). Founded on September 7, 1979, by Bill Rasmussen, Scott Rasmussen, and Ed Eagan, it is widely considered as the biggest sports network, with its title being the "Worldwide Leader in Sports", with a 20% share interest of sports as a rise from previous years. It rules through extended live rights for the NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA. With college sports, it has its own streaming service. ESPN broadcasts primarily from studio facilities located in Bristol, Connecticut, and it also operates offices and auxiliary studios in Miami, Orlando, New York City, Las Vegas, Seattle, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. James Pitaro has been president since March 5, 2018, following the resignation of John Skipper on December 18, 2017. As of December 2023, ESPN is available to approximately 70 million pay television households in the United States—down from its 2011 peak of 100 million households. Through ESPN International, it operates regional channels in Africa, Australia, Latin America, and the Netherlands. In Canada, it owns a 20% interest in The Sports Network (TSN) and its five sister networks. Despite the network's success, criticism of ESPN includes accusations of biased coverage.