ðə jˈuːs ʌvðə nˈeɪm ˌiːˌɛspˌiːˈɛn θɹˈiː wʌz dɪskˈʌst æz ˈɜːli æz nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks fɚðə tʃˈænəl ðæt wʊd ᵻvˈɛntʃuːəli bɪkˌʌm nˈoʊn æz ˌiːˌɛspˈiː nˈuːz.
The use of the name ESPN3 was discussed as early as 1996 for the channel that would eventually become known as ESPNews.