Enterprise Radio Network was an all-sports radio network which operated briefly in 1981. It featured sports newscasts twice an hour, and sports talk during the evening and overnight.
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Enterprise Radio was created by Scott Rasmussen, the son of Bill Rasmussen, who was the founder of ESPN. 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. 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.
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.
Two Enterprise Radio interns, Kevin Harlan and Sean McDonough 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).