ESPN By bcott1 Sep 7, 1979 Sept. 7, 1979 - ESPN launches at 7 p.m. ET. Apr 23, 1983 ESPN begins distributing programming internationally. Mar 15, 1987 ESPN awarded NFL's first cable contract; begins fall '87. Jan 5, 1989 ESPN and Major League Baseball reach a four-year agreement to begin in 1990. Jan 1, 1992 ESPN Radio launches. Apr 1, 1995 ESPNET SportsZone (now ESPN.com) launches. Mar 14, 2001 ESPN2 reaches 75 million homes faster than any other network - 89 months. Jan 22, 2002 ESPN reaches agreement for multimedia NBA coverage, becoming the first network to televise all four major professional sports-NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA. Mar 30, 2003 ESPN HD, a high-definition simulcast service of ESPN, launches. Jan 6, 2005 ESPN2 HD, a high-definition simulcast service of ESPN2, launches. Mar 4, 2005 ESPNU, a 24-hour network devoted to college sports, launches Apr 18, 2005 ESPN Acquires Monday Night Football for eight years, beginning in 2006 Nov 2, 2005 ESPN acquires rights for multiple Men's and Women's World Cups. Dec 7, 2005 ESPN announces eight-year agreement with NASCAR, 2007 - 2014 Apr 26, 2007 ESPN announces eight-year, multi-platform agreement with the Big 12. Sep 11, 2008 ESPN televises Wichita Falls Rider at Sulphur Springs, 8 p.m.
