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ESPN2 Turns 25 Today: Revisit The Beginning

Today is the 25th anniversary of ESPN2. The network launched on Oct. 1, 1993 at 7:30 p.m. ET and is one of eight U.S. television networks under the ESPN umbrella.

ESPN, Inc. is the leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment entity featuring the broadest portfolio of multimedia sports assets with over 50 business entities, including ESPN International, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, and more.

As the video excerpt above attests, the network launched with cameos made by various celebrities including comedians Bill Murray, Billy Crystal, and rapper MC Hammer. Keith Olbermann, Suzy Kolber and Mitch Albom anchored SportsNight on this edition, with an introduction by Chris Berman.

Not seen in this excerpt are Stuart Scott and Deb Kaufman, who were the reporters for SportsSmash, a five-minute rundown of sports news and scores which aired every 30 minutes.

Jon McLeod and Teri Couch produced the video excerpt, which has been edited.

In 2003, Stuart Scott and Suzy Kolber celebrated ESPN2’s 10th anniversary. (Rich Arden/ESPN Images)
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