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ESPN Sets April 6 Premiere for ‘Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN

The film shows how financing, NCAA rights, satellite links turned a risky idea into a national channel.

Overview

  • ESPN, which announced Tuesday, set the premiere for April 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET on the flagship network.
  • Sports Heaven follows founder Bill Rasmussen, his son Scott, and early partners as they build a 24/7 sports network from Bristol, Connecticut in 1979.
  • The documentary features interviews with pioneers including Chuck Pagano, George Bodenheimer, Chris Berman, Bob Ley, and current chairman Jimmy Pitaro.
  • Director Greg DeHart leads the project with Tenero Productions, with Garrett Sutton as executive producer and ESPN historian Mike Soltys as a producer.
  • The rollout comes as ESPN leans into digital distribution with its all-in-one ESPN app launched August 21, 2025 at $29.99 per month, reflecting the brand’s shift beyond cable.