Espn Buys Classic Sports Network

ESPN reached beyond telecasting live sports and news Wednesday to acquire Classic Sports Network, which in two years has carved a nostalgic cable television niche by repackaging old sports events.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the purchase price is believed to be between $175 million and $200 million. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that the price was about $175 million.

Classic, with 10 million subscribers, will join ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNews as the fourth cable network owned by ESPN Inc.

The acquisition will provide Classic with access to the libraries of ESPN and ABC Sports, which includes “Wide World of Sports,” “The American Sportsman,” Olympics and college sports; a place on ESPN Sports Zone, the popular Internet site, and cross-promotion on the ESPN services and ABC.

ESPN president Steven M. Bornstein said distribution of Classic would be enhanced by packaging it to cable systems with the other three ESPN services.