ESPN was originally intended to focus on sports in Connecticut, but chose to broadcast nationally when it debuted in 1979 when it was discovered by the network's founders that it would be less expensive to broadcast nationwide on satellite as opposed to regionally through microwave transmission. ESPN formerly served as a college sports syndicator via ESPN Regional Television—formerly branded on-air as "ESPN Plus", but later using conference-oriented brands such as "SEC Network" (not to be confused with the SEC Network cable channel which served as its "de facto" replacement), and "Big East Network".