Date of Birth: July 8, 1931
Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Date of Death: December 5, 2002
Biography
Roone Arledge was an influential American television executive and sports and news broadcaster who revolutionized sports broadcasting. Born on July 8, 1931, in Forest Hills, New York, he made significant contributions to both ABC Sports and ABC News. Arledge is credited with transforming sports broadcasting through the creation of shows like “Monday Night Football,” “Wide World of Sports,” and “Nightline.” His innovative approach to sports coverage included the use of instant replay, slow-motion technology, and multiple cameras, which are now standard in sports broadcasting. Arledge started his career at NBC but moved to ABC in 1960, where he quickly ascended the ranks. He became the president of ABC Sports in 1968 and later took charge of ABC News in 1977. Under his leadership, ABC News launched “World News Tonight” and expanded “20/20”. Arledge’s visionary work earned him numerous awards, including multiple Emmys and the George Polk Award. He passed away on December 5, 2002, but left behind a legacy that continues to influence the world of sports and news broadcasting.
5 Interesting Facts about Roone Arledge
1. Roone Arledge was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1989.
2. He won 37 Emmy Awards over his career, a testament to his groundbreaking work in television.
3. Arledge was named one of the “100 most important Americans of the 20th century” by Life magazine.
4. He was the driving force behind the creation of “Nightline,” a late-night news program that gained prominence during the Iran hostage crisis.
5. Arledge was instrumental in bringing the Olympic Games to a global television audience, starting with the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Roone Arledge
1. “Sports is human life in microcosm.”
2. “We don’t go into journalism to be popular. It is our job to seek the truth and put constant pressure on our leaders until we get answers.”
3. “The best way to make a spectacular show is to take a spectacular event and put it on television.”
4. “Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.”
5. “When you’re in the news business, you always expect the unexpected.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Roone Arledge’s net worth was estimated to be around $20 million.
Children
Roone Arledge had two children: a son named Roone Pinckney Arledge Jr. and a daughter named Elizabeth Arledge.
Relevant Links
1. [Roone Arledge – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roone_Arledge
2. [Roone Arledge Biography – ABC News](https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=131834
3. [Television Hall of Fame – Roone Arledge](https://www.emmys.com/bios/roone-arledge
