Travis Vogan is Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the Department of American Studies at the University of Iowa. He is the author of ESPN: The Making of a Sports Media Empire.

• List of IllustrationsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: ABC Sports and Network Sports Television1. The “Almost Broadcasting Company” and the Birth of ABC Sports2. ABC’s Wide World of Sports: “The Seedbed of Modern Sports Television” and the Cold War3. “Th e Network of the Olympics”: Starring Muhammad Ali and Howard Cosell4. Monday Night Football, Brian’s Song, and the Roots of the Prime-Time TV Event5. Th e News from Munich on the “Arledge Broadcasting Company”6. “What in the Wide, Wide World of Sports Is Going On Here?”: Trash Sports and Scandal7. “No More Sacred Cows”: The End of ABC Sports’ Golden AgeConclusion: From Wide World of Sports to the Worldwide Leader in SportsAppendix 1: Wide World of Sports Inaugural Season Schedule, 1961Appendix 2: ABC’s Wide World of Sports Athlete of the YearAppendix 3: Top Fifteen Television Audiences of All Time as of Roots’ PremiereAppendix 4: Top Ten Most-Watched Wide World of Sports EpisodesAbbreviationsNotesIndex

"This is a book that has much to commend it and little to criticize. It is built on meticulous research and a strong overall conception of the significance of the subject. For the specialist in history or media it is essential."

Travis Vogan is Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the Department of American Studies at the University of Iowa. He is the author of ESPN: The Making of a Sports Media Empire.

• List of IllustrationsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: ABC Sports and Network Sports Television1. The “Almost Broadcasting Company” and the Birth of ABC Sports2. ABC’s Wide World of Sports: “The Seedbed of Modern Sports Television” and the Cold War3. “Th e Network of the Olympics”: Starring Muhammad Ali and Howard Cosell4. Monday Night Football, Brian’s Song, and the Roots of the Prime-Time TV Event5. Th e News from Munich on the “Arledge Broadcasting Company”6. “What in the Wide, Wide World of Sports Is Going On Here?”: Trash Sports and Scandal7. “No More Sacred Cows”: The End of ABC Sports’ Golden AgeConclusion: From Wide World of Sports to the Worldwide Leader in SportsAppendix 1: Wide World of Sports Inaugural Season Schedule, 1961Appendix 2: ABC’s Wide World of Sports Athlete of the YearAppendix 3: Top Fifteen Television Audiences of All Time as of Roots’ PremiereAppendix 4: Top Ten Most-Watched Wide World of Sports EpisodesAbbreviationsNotesIndex

"This is a book that has much to commend it and little to criticize. It is built on meticulous research and a strong overall conception of the significance of the subject. For the specialist in history or media it is essential."

Travis Vogan is Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the Department of American Studies at the University of Iowa. He is the author of ESPN: The Making of a Sports Media Empire.

• List of IllustrationsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: ABC Sports and Network Sports Television1. The “Almost Broadcasting Company” and the Birth of ABC Sports2. ABC’s Wide World of Sports: “The Seedbed of Modern Sports Television” and the Cold War3. “Th e Network of the Olympics”: Starring Muhammad Ali and Howard Cosell4. Monday Night Football, Brian’s Song, and the Roots of the Prime-Time TV Event5. Th e News from Munich on the “Arledge Broadcasting Company”6. “What in the Wide, Wide World of Sports Is Going On Here?”: Trash Sports and Scandal7. “No More Sacred Cows”: The End of ABC Sports’ Golden AgeConclusion: From Wide World of Sports to the Worldwide Leader in SportsAppendix 1: Wide World of Sports Inaugural Season Schedule, 1961Appendix 2: ABC’s Wide World of Sports Athlete of the YearAppendix 3: Top Fifteen Television Audiences of All Time as of Roots’ PremiereAppendix 4: Top Ten Most-Watched Wide World of Sports EpisodesAbbreviationsNotesIndex

"This is a book that has much to commend it and little to criticize. It is built on meticulous research and a strong overall conception of the significance of the subject. For the specialist in history or media it is essential."