About
"It's a very competitive business we're in... but our culture at ESPN is something we can control. I like to think of it as-- always operate with integrity, respect for your co-workers, and passion about what we're doing here."
In his nearly three-hour interview, George Bodenheimer describes his early interest in sports. He talks of attending Denison University and getting a job in the mailroom at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, CT. He outlines his early years at the burgeoning cable network, moving up through the ranks from the mailroom to working in Sales and Marketing in several affiliate markets, then becoming vice president of National Affiliate Sales, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing, and finally becoming president of the network. Bodenheimer chronicles the growth of ESPN, discussing the launch of ESPN2, ESPN.com, ESPN-HD, ESPNW, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN-3D. He explains the culture at the network and explores how ESPN has changed both sports and the cable industry. He speaks of seminal programs SportsCenter and Monday Night Football, the latter of which came to ESPN when Disney acquired the network, and talks of important deals with the NBA, NFL, NHL, and NCAA. Chris LaPlaca conducted the interview on November 1, 2010 in New York, NY.
Highlights
George Bodenheimer on the culture of ESPN
George Bodenheimer on televising the NFL draft on ESPN
George Bodenheimer on ESPN televising the America's Cup sailing event for the first time in 1987
George Bodenheimer on the importance of ESPN's flagship program, SportsCenter
George Bodenheimer on Monday Night Football and its legacy for ESPN since moving there from ABC
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his early interest in sports; on attending Denison University
On his interest in sports and entertainment and first hearing about ESPN; on getting a job in the mailroom and being a driver at ESPN; on memories of ESPN's original headquarters in Bristol, CT
On the early years of cable television; on the growth of ESPN and the network being mistaken for a Spanish network
On ESPN's business model; on televising the NCAA Basketball Tournament; on ESPN's first executives; on Getty Oil's investment in the company; on the culture of ESPN
On televising the NFL draft on ESPN; on working in sales and marketing in the affiliate market in Dallas; on people's passion for sports
On the launch of ESPN2; on working in several major affiliate markets; on Saturday Night Live spoofs of ESPN
Chapter 2
On ABC and other corporate owners of ESPN; on televising live college football; on ESPN televising the America's Cup sailing event; on the technology used to record events
On ESPN acquiring a contract with the NFL; on ESPN in the late '80s and early '90s and becoming VP of National Affiliate Sales; on the reasoning behind launching ESPN2
On the ESPY Awards and the V Foundation; on ESPN's philanthropy; on changes to the ESPY Awards over the years
On the ESPN brand; on becoming Senior VP of Sales and Marketing at ESPN; on extending the ESPN brand with the radio network and ESPN.com; on the launch of the X-Games
On Disney acquiring ABC and the effect on ESPN; on becoming President of ESPN
Chapter 3
On his time as President of the network; on launching ESPN-HD and ESPN-3D; on his strategy as President of ESPN
On ESPN's short-lived fictional series Playmakers; on SportsCenter; on ESPN's NBA deal and agreements with the NFL and NHL; on international agreements
On televising women's sports and the creation of ESPNW; on ESPN Deportes; on the documentary "ESPN: 30 for 30"; on overseeing ABC Sports
On Monday Night Football and its legacy on ESPN; on multiple platforms and ESPN commentators; on ratings
On how ESPN changed sports; on the network's international impact; on World Cup; on career highlights
Shows
Monday Night Football
George Bodenheimer on Monday Night Football and its legacy for ESPN since moving there from ABC
Saturday Night Live
George Bodenheimer on Saturday Night Live spoofs of ESPN
George Bodenheimer on Saturday Night Live head writer Seth Meyers hosting The ESPY Awards
SportsCenter
George Bodenheimer on ESPN's flagship program, SportsCenter
Topics
Coverage
George Bodenheimer on Chet Simmons' televising the NFL draft on ESPN
George Bodenheimer on televising the NCAA Basketball Tournament
George Bodenheimer on ESPN televising the America's Cup sailing event for the first time in 1987
George Bodenheimer on ESPN acquiring a contract with the NFL
Memorable Moments on Television
George Bodenheimer on ESPN televising the America's Cup sailing event for the first time in 1987
Network Creation
George Bodenheimer on ESPN's business model
George Bodenheimer on the culture of ESPN
George Bodenheimer on the reasoning behind launching ESPN2
George Bodenheimer on extending the ESPN brand with the radio network and ESPN.com
Representation on Television
George Bodenheimer on the importance of female sports fans
George Bodenheimer on televising women's sports and ESPNW
George Bodenheimer on ESPN Deportes
Sports
George Bodenheimer on Chet Simmons' televising the NFL draft on ESPN
George Bodenheimer on televising the NCAA Basketball Tournament
George Bodenheimer on ESPN acquiring a contract with the NFL
George Bodenheimer on Monday Night Football and its legacy for ESPN since moving there from ABC
George Bodenheimer on ESPN's flagship program, SportsCenter
Technological Innovation
George Bodenheimer on launching ESPN-HD
George Bodenheimer on announcing ESPN-3D and a conversation with Disney's Bob Iger
Television Industry
George Bodenheimer on ESPN's business model
George Bodenheimer on the culture of ESPN
George Bodenheimer on the reasoning behind launching ESPN2
George Bodenheimer on extending the ESPN brand with the radio network and ESPN.com
George Bodenheimer on how the TV industry has changed over the years
Underrepresented Voices
George Bodenheimer on ESPN Deportes
We Celebrated
George Bodenheimer on ESPN televising the America's Cup sailing event for the first time in 1987
Women
George Bodenheimer on the importance of female sports fans
George Bodenheimer on televising women's sports and ESPNW
Professions
Cable Executive
George Bodenheimer on cable TV during its early years
George Bodenheimer on ESPN's business model
George Bodenheimer on the culture of ESPN
George Bodenheimer on becoming VP of National Affiliate Sales at ESPN
George Bodenheimer on becoming Senior VP of Sales and Marketing at ESPN
George Bodenheimer on becoming President of ESPN
George Bodenheimer on his time as President of ESPN (since 1998)
George Bodenheimer on his strategy as President of ESPN
George Bodenheimer on advice to aspiring sports executives
Genres
Sports
George Bodenheimer on ESPN's business model
George Bodenheimer on the culture of ESPN
George Bodenheimer on Chet Simmons' televising the NFL draft on ESPN
George Bodenheimer on televising the NCAA Basketball Tournament
George Bodenheimer on ESPN televising the America's Cup sailing event for the first time in 1987
George Bodenheimer on the reasoning behind launching ESPN2
George Bodenheimer on the launch of the ESPY Awards
George Bodenheimer on Monday Night Football and its legacy for ESPN since moving there from ABC
George Bodenheimer on ESPN's flagship program, SportsCenter
People
Michael Eisner
George Bodenheimer on Disney acquiring ABC and the effect on ESPN
Bob Iger
George Bodenheimer on Disney acquiring ABC and the effect on ESPN
George Bodenheimer on announcing ESPN-3D and a conversation with Disney's Bob Iger
Seth Meyers
George Bodenheimer on Saturday Night Live head writer Seth Meyers hosting The ESPY Awards
Bill Rasmussen
George Bodenheimer on ESPN's founder Bill Rasmussen and the company's first executives
Chet Simmons
George Bodenheimer on ESPN's founder Bill Rasmussen and the company's first executives
George Bodenheimer on Chet Simmons' televising the NFL draft on ESPN