ABC Sports is the brand used for sports broadcasts on the ABC television network. As of September 2, 2006, the division will be fully integrated into ESPN – which, like ABC, is controlled by The Walt Disney Company – and will henceforth be known as ESPN on ABC. [1]
Prior to the name change announcement, ABC Sports' operations had already been very tightly integrated with those of ESPN, but the division remained nominally separate from the cable network. For example, ESPN pays the NBA for its television rights and bought time on ABC to air select games. This is noted in copyright beds at the conclusion of the telecasts, i.e. "The Preceding Program has been paid for ESPN, Inc."
Between 2000-2002, many ABC Sports programs utilized graphics almost identical to those of ESPN. One notable exception was Monday Night Football. From 2002 to 2005, ABC changed graphics each fall. With the integration into ESPN, ABC will henceforth use ESPN graphics. The brand integration will not directly affect whether ESPN (the cable channel) or ABC carries a particular event, as in most cases this is governed by contracts with the applicable league or organization.
The last sporting event televised by ABC Sports will be the Little League World Series on Sunday, August 27.
George Bodenheimer is president of both ABC Sports and ESPN, Inc.
Trivia
When ABC was airing the Saturday morning cartoon series Laff-A-Lympics between 1976 and 1979, commentators Snagglepuss and Mildew Wolf were drawn to be wearing the then-traditional yellow jackets of ABC Sports commentators.
Programs over the years
- Monday Night Football (1970-2005, now on ESPN)
- Monday Night Baseball (1976-1988, telecasts moved to Thursday for 1989)
- Baseball Night in America (1994 and 1995)
- The NBA on ABC (1965-1973; 2002-present)
- The NHL on ABC (1992-1994, 1999-2004)
- College football (1961-present, former home of exclusive NCAA package, currently first pick of ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-10 matchups, Rose Bowl from 1989-2014, Saturday nights beginning in 2006)
- Summer Olympic Games (1968, 1972, 1976, 1984)
- Winter Olympic Games (1964, 1968, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988)
- World Cup Soccer (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
- British Open, Women's British Open and Senior British Open golf (through 2009)
- U.S. Open golf (early 1960s-1994, now on NBC)
- PGA Championship
- LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship (1991-2005)
- PGA Tour golf (through 1978, 1999-2006)
- Indianapolis 500 (since 1964)
- Allstate 400 at the Brickyard (1994-2000; will return in 2007)
- Wide World of Sports (1961-1996 as a series, a blanket title since)
- Pro Bowlers Tour (1962-1989)
- WNBA (2002-2008)
- Major League Soccer (2002-2014)
- Belmont Stakes (1986-2000, 2006-2007)
- Little League World Series (since 1967)
- X Games (since 1997, began on ESPN and ESPN2 in 1995)
- NASCAR (starting in 2007)
Main Competitors
Logos
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ABC Sports logo from 1981 to 1985
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ABC Sports logo from 1985 to 1989
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ABC Sports logo from 1989 to 1992
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ABC Sports logo from 1992 to 1997
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ABC Sports logo from 1997 to 1998
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ABC Sports logo from 1998 to 1999
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The Present ABC Sports logo, used since 1999-2001
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The Alternate ABC Sports logo, used from 2001-2006
External link
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