October 9, 2014 – NESN continues its year-long 30th anniversary celebration with a one-hour documentary on the history of the network that will debut Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, at 8 pm. NESN’s 30th Anniversary Special presented by the New England Honda Dealers will look back at the network’s launch in March of 1984 as a fledgling startup with only a few viewers, to today as the highest-rated cable network in New England and the preeminent regional sports network in the country.
“NESN was founded 30 years ago from very humble beginnings and during that time has helped to define a new genre of cable television programming,” Sean McGrail, NESN’s president and CEO said. “I don’t believe anyone would have anticipated the dramatic impact and value sports programming has had on the cable television industry. Now, 30 years later, we continue to innovate using the latest technology to deliver an unparalleled viewing experience to all New England sports fans,” McGrail added.
Hosted by Tom Caron, the documentary looks back at NESN’s birth and growth from the perspective of the people that were instrumental in getting the network off the ground, including long-time NESN employees, current and former NESN, Red Sox and Bruins executives, and Red Sox and Bruins legends such as Roger Clemens, Ray Bourque and Cam Neely, who all helped promote the network in its formative years. NESN’s 30th Anniversary Special includes exclusive interviews with over 30 people who influenced NESN’s growth and development. These behind-the-scenes stories help to bring into perspective the challenges that NESN overcame to eventually be recognized as the 8th most valuable sports business brand in the world in 2013 and 2014 according to Forbes.com.
The documentary also looks at how NESN covered some of the most memorable events in the past 30 years and how these events helped shape NESN, including Clemens’ first 20 strikeout game in 1986 and the landmark seasons of both the Bruins and Red Sox in 1988. NESN’s 30th Anniversary Special also looks at the network’s development and event coverage during the most recent decade of excellence that included the 2004, 2007 and 2013 Red Sox World Series championships and the 2011 Bruins Stanley Cup championship.
NESN’s 30th Anniversary Special will re-air throughout the rest of 2014. Visit www.NESN.com/NESN30 for upcoming air dates and times.
About NESN
NESN has consistently been one of the top-rated regional sports networks in the country with award-winning Red Sox and Bruins coverage. Celebrating 30 years in 2014, the network is delivered to over 4 million homes throughout the six-state New England region and an additional 5 million homes nationally as NESN National. Forbes Magazine recently ranked NESN as the 8th Most Valuable Sports Business Brand in the world. NESN.com, the network’s online sports news service, is the most visited regional sports network website in the country. NESN also produces a number of distinctive programs under its umbrella Original NESN Entertainment (ONE). NESN’s social responsibility program, NESN Connects, is proud to support and connect its employees with charitable organizations in our communities (NESN.com/Connects). NESN is owned by Fenway Sports Group (owners of the Boston Red Sox) and Delaware North (owners of the Boston Bruins).
