Business Wars ESPN vs Fox Sports | First Down | 1
Jan 26, 2022
Dive into the late 1970s as Bill Rasmussen dreams of a cable sports network with no resources. Tensions soar when two ESPN salesmen gear up for a life-changing debate, battling nerves and a town's dark history. Discover how ESPN defied all odds to become a 24-hour sports channel amidst fierce competition, financial struggles, and strategic negotiations. Experience the chaos and ambition behind ESPN's groundbreaking launch that reshaped sports broadcasting forever.
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The Kansas Town Hall
- ESPN salesman Randy Brown and George Bodenheimer drove to a town hall meeting in rural Kansas.
- Bodenheimer was nervous about having to convince residents to pay for ESPN, a network on its knees.
A Half-Baked Idea
- Bill Rasmussen held a press conference for his new cable sports network, the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESP).
- Only a few journalists attended, and one of Rasmussen's partners left the project due to its lack of resources.
The Satellite Gamble
- Despite lacking funds, Rasmussen ordered a 24-hour satellite transponder.
- This bold move was based on the belief in the potential of 24/7 sports and used to secure interim funding.
