Made obscure and international sports appointment TV and minted sports-TV poetry.
Why it matters
Episode guide
2 episodes across 1 seasons — titles, air dates, and synopses.
At a glance
A weekly anthology brings Olympics disciplines, odd contests, and global events into American living rooms. Storytelling elevates results. Sports television learns showmanship.
Network & studio
- ABC — broadcast network
Why watch now
Watch for the cultural DNA of the 1960s — and the star power that made living rooms feel like red carpets.
Cultural impact
Made obscure and international sports appointment TV and minted sports-TV poetry.
Creators
Roone Arledge
Key cast
- Jim McKay as Host
- Howard Cosell as Commentator
Flash facts
- ABC sports anthology premiered April 29, 1961.
- Hosted for decades by Jim McKay; produced under Roone Arledge's innovating eye.
- Opening line 'the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat' entered American vernacular.
FAQ
What network aired ABC's Wide World of Sports?
ABC's Wide World of Sports is associated with ABC (1961–1998).
Why is ABC's Wide World of Sports in the TV Flash top 100 for the 1960s?
Made obscure and international sports appointment TV and minted sports-TV poetry.
Who are the key names behind ABC's Wide World of Sports?
Creators and principals include Roone Arledge.
Official & further reading
External sites for further reading — TV Flash is not affiliated with these networks or studios.
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