Enterprise Radio Network was an all-sports radio network

Radio network

There are two types of radio networks currently in use around the world: the one-to-many broadcast type commonly used for public information and mass media entertainment; and the two-way type used more commonly for public safety and public services such as police, fire, taxicabs, and delivery...

 which operated briefly in 1981. It featured sports newscasts twice an hour, and sports talk during the evening and overnight.

Creation and programming

Enterprise Radio was created by Scott Rasmussen

Scott Rasmussen

Scott W. Rasmussen is the founder and president of Rasmussen Reports. He is an American political analyst, author, speaker, and public opinion pollster...

, the son of Bill Rasmussen

Bill Rasmussen

Bill Rasmussen is the co-founder and first president and CEO of ESPN.-Early career:After success in the advertising business, Rasmussen’s career in the media began at WTTT radio in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1962. In 1965, he moved to WWLP-TV, Springfield, where he spent eight years as Sports...

, who was the founder of ESPN

ESPN

Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....

. The all sports radio network went on the air in January 1981 and lasted until September 21, 1981. The network broadcast sports reports twice an hour and did live phone in sports talk from 6 pm to 8 am Eastern Time seven days a week. Weeknight hosts included John Sterling

John Sterling

John Sterling may refer to:*John Sterling , British author, subject of a life by Thomas Carlyle*John Sterling, character in Robert A...

. The network reached approximately 74 stations nationwide at its peak, with most local stations broadcasting the talk shows and the sports reports to supplement their local programming.

Struggling to keep afloat

Unfortunately, while the station had hired over 100 reporters, announcers and producers from across the country, they failed to secure enough advertising to keep the operation afloat. The final six weeks of existence saw the staff go without pay, hoping an investor would save the network. Sadly, it did not happen and the last broadcast was the overnight show with Greg Gilmartin that ended at 8 am the morning of the 21st.

Aftermath

Two Enterprise Radio interns, Kevin Harlan

Kevin Harlan

Kevin Harlan is an American television sports announcer. The son of former Green Bay Packers executive Bob Harlan, he currently broadcasts NFL and college basketball games on CBS. Harlan is also a play-by-play announcer for the NBA on TNT...

 and Sean McDonough

Sean McDonough

Sean McDonough is an American sportscaster, currently employed by ESPN.-Early life and career:The son of Boston Globe sportswriter Will McDonough, Sean graduated from Syracuse University in 1984. It was in Syracuse where McDonough began his broadcasting career in 1982 as the play-by-play announcer...

 became network play-by-play annnouncers.

The Rasmuusens failed to pay into State of Connecticut unemployment fund and were arrested in late 1981. (Hartford Courant) A settlement where employees received a small percentage of money owed was finalized in 1982 (Hartford Courant).