The Sports Network (wire service)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports media |
| Founder | Mickey Charles |
| Defunct | 2015 |
| Fate | Acquired by STATS LLC; office shut down |
| Headquarters | Hatboro, Pennsylvania , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Mickey Charles (founder) |
| Products | Sports news wire service; NCAA Football Championship Subdivision reporting; awards (Walter Payton Award, Buck Buchanan Award, Jerry Rice Award, Eddie Robinson Award) |
The Sports Network functioned as a U.S.-based wire service delivering immediate sports updates.
History
Located in Hatboro, Pennsylvania, The Sports Network was established by Mickey Charles and gained recognition for its extensive reporting on the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision within college football. It was responsible for awarding significant postseason honors such as the Walter Payton Award (best offensive player), Buck Buchanan Award (best defensive player), Jerry Rice Award (top freshman), and Eddie Robinson Award (best coach).
Its clientele featured prominent media corporations including Viacom, Yahoo, and the Canadian broadcaster The Sports Network. Additionally, it maintained a partnership with United Press International.
In May 2004, The Sports Network initiated legal action against Disney regarding ESPN’s unauthorized use of data related to Minor League Baseball. The matter was resolved by January 2005.
April 2008 saw a cyberattack originating from the People's Republic of China that disrupted The Sports Network’s online platforms.
On February 10, 2015, the company was purchased by STATS LLC, which resulted in the shutdown of its Hatboro office by July 2015.