ESPN is an American cable television network dedicated to broadcasting and producing sports-related programming and events 24/7. Founded by Scott Rasmussen, his father Bill and his close friend Jeremy Bircumshaw, it launched on September 7, 1979 under the direction of Chet Simmons, the network's first President and CEO (and later the United States Football League's first commissioner). Getty Oil Company provided the funding to begin the new venture. George Bodenheimer is ESPN's current president, a position he has held since November 19, 1998; since March 3, 2003, he has also headed ABC Sports, a separate legal entity now branded as ESPN on ABC. 

Official website  http://sports.espn.go.com