A new documentary and accompanying audiobook explore the founding of ESPN by Bill Rasmussen and his son Scott Rasmussen in 1979, and chronicles the early days of the network in the 1980s. Mike Soltys, ESPN historian and longtime ESPN employee, and director Greg DeHart discuss the history. “Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN” premieres on April 6 at 8:30 pm on ESPN, and the audiobook version is set to release on April 7.

Image courtesy of ESPN.  First SportsCenter 9/7/1979. George Grande (L) and Lee Leonard on set, Bill Shanahan, foreground and Mary Walton on camera