CNN/SI, the 24-hour, all sports network, debuted last
night. "CNN/Sports Illustrated," which simulcast on CNN at
11:00pm ET, opened with a montage of its various anchors
announcing: "Tonight we launch a new cable network, a
network dedicated to covering sports news. This is a
journalistic endeavor uniting CNN and Sports Illustrated,
two news organizations that share a common set of goals.
Each is dedicated to accuracy, fairness, clarity and
insight, qualities that have set them apart in their
respective fields. In CNN/SI you will find the spirit, the
excitement the drama of athletic competition. We will
capture the golden moments of sports wherever they occur,
whenever they occur. Of course we will bring you all of the
highlights and the scores, but we will also give you a
unique perspective on the events, and on the people who are
forever changing the world of sports. With that commitment,
we have gathered more than 200 of the very best sports
reporters, writers and editors here tonight. Our goal is
simple: to provide our viewers with unsurpassed coverage of
sports. Now on behalf of CNN and Sports Illustrated:
CNN/SI" ("CNN/Sports Illustrated," CNN, 12/12).
ROUND-UP: In Chicago, Michael Hirsley: "There's no more
waiting for the other show to drop. CNN/SI now has joined
ESPNEWS in the 24-hour sports show business so the battle of
round-the-clock sports-news programming giants finally is
engaged head-to-head" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/13). An AP
report in the K.C. STAR notes "speculation" in the industry
is that many cable systems were waiting until both ESPNEWS
and CNN/SI were available, "creating a more competitive
situation before adding them on" (AP/K.C. STAR, 12/13).
Time Warner Vice Chair Ted Turner, on the launch of CNN/SI:
"We're going to be the best video sports service that the
world has ever seen. ... We're the best; we're going to be
the best at this" (CNN, 12/12).
