Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN Audiobook
Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN is an unabridged English audiobook about the founding of ESPN, based on Bill Rasmussen’s diary from 1978–79. Its account focuses on the business and technical challenges behind the proposed 24/7 sports network, with contributed audio from people connected to ESPN.
At a glance
- Draws on Bill Rasmussen’s 1978–79 diary to recount the early business and technical challenges of founding ESPN.
- The listing says the audiobook includes contributed audio from people connected with ESPN.
- The account is framed around entrepreneurship, perseverance and the development of a 24/7 sports network.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The diary-based perspective offers a founder-led account of ESPN’s early history.
- At just over seven hours, the listening commitment is clear from the listing.
Technical specifications
8 specifications| Format | Audiobook |
|---|---|
| Edition | Unabridged |
| Listening length | 7 hours and 9 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Publication date | 7 April 2026 |
| Publisher | Hachette Original |
| Author | Bill Rasmussen, see all |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Chris Berman, see all |
What to know before buying
- The listing gives an average rating but only a very small rating sample, with the distribution split between five-star and two-star ratings. This offers limited guidance on how listeners generally respond.
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Listeners interested in ESPN’s founding and sports-media history.
- Those looking for an audiobook combining business history with a founder’s account.
Less suited to
- Listeners seeking a broad history of sport rather than the origin story of one media company.
- Buyers who prefer evidence from a larger body of customer feedback before choosing.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
51% 51% - 4 stars
0% 0% - 3 stars
0% 0% - 2 stars
49% 49% - 1 star
0% 0%
Customer feedback evidence is limited to aggregate ratings, with the small sample divided between five-star and two-star ratings. That split does not establish why listeners responded differently, so it offers little basis for judging the storytelling or narration. The listed founder-led account may suit readers drawn to ESPN’s origins, but the ratings provide limited reassurance either way.
Frequently asked questions
What is Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN about?
It recounts ESPN’s founding, focusing on Bill Rasmussen’s account of the business and technical challenges behind the network’s early development.
Who wrote and narrates the audiobook?
The listing names Bill Rasmussen as the author and Chris Berman as the narrator.
How long is the audiobook?
The listed listening length is 7 hours and 9 minutes.
Is it an abridged edition?
No. The listing identifies the version as unabridged.
Alternative options
All She Wants for Christmas: A simmering story of obsession
£10.24
Exoplanet
£14.06
Bram Stoker's Dracula
£11.03
Bad in Bed
£12.56
The Single Father
£12.64
Her Stepmother's House
£13.23
Lovers & Liars
£13.27
