The network went on-air with Somos ESPN Deportes, a show that previewed key programming and featured an array of Latino sports stars. It was followed by the inaugural Spanish edition of SportsCenter and a live telecast of the NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and the Dallas Mavericks.
During its first year, ESPN Deportes showcased more than 200 live events and a handful of studio programming.
Since its launch, ESPN Deportes has expanded its reach as a multimedia Spanish-language sports brand, offering content across all platforms, including television, online, radio, mobile, print and social, and reaching 11 million sports fans every week.
Prior to launching as a network, ESPN Deportes first debuted in July of 2000 as a Spanish-language TV block that featured select Sunday Night Baseball games and the telecast of the Home Run Derby, offered free of charge to affiliates nationwide that distributed it on system channels.
Kate del Castillo and Pavel Pardo during the 10 year anniversary celebration in Miami.
Here’s a timeline of key dates in the evolution of the network:
July 2000 – ESPN Deportes debuts as a Spanish-language programming block offered to affiliates for free
Sept. 2000 – ESPNdeportes.com launches in the U.S and Latin America
April 2001 – The ESPN Deportes brand expands as a 52-week block of exclusive Spanish-language Sunday night sports featuring Sunday Night Baseball, NFL games and exclusive boxing bouts. The programming was offered free of charge to affiliates nationwide that distributed it on system channels.
Jan 7, 2004 – ESPN Deportes Television officially launches at 7:00 p.m. ET
2005 – ESPN Deportes Mobile is introduced
Aug. 2005 – ESPN Deportes La Revista launches with distribution nationwide. The first cover the magazine featured NBA’s Argentine star Manú Ginobili
Oct. 2005 – ESPN Deportes Radio Launches as the first and only 24-hour Spanish-language sports radio network.
May 2008 – ESPN Deportes begins to be measured by Nielsen
Aug. 2009 – Sportscaster Jorge Ramos joins ESPN Deportes television and “Jorge Ramos y su Banda” starts its simulcast on television and radio.
Feb. 2011 – Launch of Nación ESPN, the first ESPN Deportes studio show to be produced out of ESPN’s studios in Los Angeles.
May 2011 – ESPN Deportes and Time Warner launch ESPNDeportesLosAngeles.com
April 2012 – ESPN Deportes expands in Miami with the debut of new, state-of-the-art studios.
Sept. 2012 – ESPN Deportes Radio launched in New York as ESPN Deportes Radio 1050AM- when ESPN Radio’s New York station switched to 98.7 FM