Milestones in the 16 years of ESPN:
- Sept. 7, 1979, first broadcast.- Oct. 1, 1983, ESPN becomes the largest cable network, reaching 28.5 million homes.
- June 18, 1984, ABC Video Enterprises finalizes acquisition of ESPN.
- January, 1987, ESPN televises America's Cup competiton from Frementle, Australia.
- March 15, 1987, NFL awards ESPN the league's first cable television contract.
- Jan. 5, 1989, ESPN and major league baseball agree to a four-year, $400 million contract beginning in 1990.
- Jan. 1, 1992, ESPN Radio Network is launched.
- Sept. 2, 1992, ESPN and NHL agree to five-year deal beginning in 1992-93 for both domestic and international rights.
- Jan. 13, 1993, Sony and ESPN Enterprises announce new line of sports video games.
- March 31, 1993, ESPN announces plans to begin distributing pay-per-view programming.
- Oct. 1, 1993, ESPN2 launches to about 10 million homes.
- March 30, 1994, ESPN and Prodigy announce alliance to develop ESPNET.
- April 19, 1994, ESPN wins 10 Emmy Awards, for the first time the most of any network.
- July 31, 1995, Disney announces $19 billion merger with ABC-Capital Cities, Inc., ESPN's parent company.
- Sept. 6, 1995, ESPN televises Cal Ripken Jr.'s 2,131st consecutive game, breaking Lou Gehrig's record.
- Nov. 6 1995, ESPN announces five-year contract extension with major league baseball that will put up to 12 divisional playoff games a year on the network, marking the first time baseball's postseason goes to cable.