Mike Soltys – Vice President, Corporate Communications [10] In 1994, ESPN acquired Creative Sports[11] and from Dow Jones an 80 percent stake in SportsTicker. [7] However, with the backing of ABC, ESPN's ability to compete for major sports contracts greatly increased, and gave it credibility within the sports broadcasting industry. Payton discusses Saints setting up draft headquarters at brewery (1:11) Sean Payton says the Saints have utilized a local brewery for space as they prepare for the 2020 NFL draft. Bristol, CT 06010 Carol Stiff – Vice President, Women’s Sports Programming Connor Schell – Executive Vice President, Content As of September 2018, ESPN is available to approximately 86 million television households (93.2% of households with pay television) in the United States.[3]. [8], NBC Sports President Chet Simmons was hired to help run the cable channel. Anheuser-Busch became a major sponsor signing a $1.4 million ad contract, a record at the time. Since August 2010, the network has gradually incorporated encores of ESPN's various sports debate and entertainment shows and video simulcasts of ESPN Radio shows, in addition to sports news programming (which since the 2013 cancellation of Highlight Express,[34] consists mainly of additional runs of SportsCenter); ESPNews also serves as an overflow feed due to programming conflicts caused by sporting events on the other ESPN networks. Armando Benitez – Director Sénior de Producción – ESPN International Since September 2006, ESPN has been integrated with the sports division of sister broadcast network ABC, with sports events televised on that network airing under the banner ESPN on ABC;[29] much of ABC's sports coverage since the rebranding has become increasingly limited to secondary coverage of sporting events whose broadcast rights are held by ESPN (such as NBA games, and the X Games and its related qualifying events) as well as a limited array of event coverage not broadcast on ESPN (most notably, the NBA Finals). Alison Overholt – Senior Vice President, Multiplatform Storytelling and Journalism Pete Derzis – Senior Vice President, College Sports Programming and Events Archived non-HD programming is presented in 4:3 standard definition with stylized pillarboxing. Bristol, Connecticut. Kate Jackson – Coordinating Producer, Special Events [62] Chuck Salituro, the channel's senior news director, sent an internal memo to staff banning any discussion of political issues concerning China or Hong Kong when covering the controversy of Daryl Morey's tweet in support of Hong Kong protestors. [7] Full-time broadcasting began in September 1980. 30 for 30 started airing in 2009 and continues airing to this day. Bristol, CT 06010 Thomas Hennessy – Senior Vice President, Finance [1] While ESPN is one of the most successful sports networks, there has been much criticism of ESPN. [11] The layoffs came as ESPN continued to shed viewers, more than 10 million over a period of several years, while paying big money for the broadcast rights to such properties as the NFL, NBA and College Football Playoff. Fill out the form below to share an all heart story. Amory B. Schwartz – Chief Executive, NASN Limited, Dublin Judi Cordray – Vice President, ESPN West Coast Production Center ESPN Plaza Mike Morrison – Vice President, Business Development It first aired the NCAA tournament in March 1980, creating the modern day television event known as "March Madness."