Bill Rasmussen, the entrepreneur who helped create ESPN, has died at the age of 93.
ESPN confirmed that Rasmussen died on Tuesday, August 18, from the effects of Parkinson’s disease. He had publicly shared his diagnosis in 2019.
Rasmussen is best known for helping launch ESPN, the 24-hour sports television network that changed how fans watch sports.
Rasmussen helped launch ESPN
The idea for ESPN began in 1978 after Rasmussen left his job as communications director for the New England Whalers.
At first, he explored ways to broadcast local sports events in Connecticut. However, the idea soon grew into something much bigger.
While studying satellite television technology with his son, Scott Rasmussen, he began planning a national network focused entirely on sports.
The project gained support from Getty Oil. ESPN also secured programming rights from the NCAA and a major advertising deal with Anheuser-Busch.
As a result, ESPN officially launched on September 7, 1979.
At the time, the network reached about 1.4 million homes.
SportsCenter became a major program
SportsCenter was among the first shows to air on ESPN.
Over time, it became one of the network’s best-known programs and helped shape ESPN’s identity.
Rasmussen served as ESPN’s first president. He later became chairman before leaving an active role at the company in 1980.
Even so, his original idea remained at the heart of ESPN’s growth.
ESPN pays tribute to Rasmussen
ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro described Rasmussen as a visionary and innovator.
Veteran broadcaster Chris Berman also paid tribute to him and praised his lasting influence on sports broadcasting.
Before starting ESPN, Rasmussen worked in both radio and television. He served as a sports director, news director and play-by-play broadcaster.
His career later earned him several major honors.
In 2025, Rasmussen was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Sports Illustrated had also recognized him as one of the people who helped change sports during the second half of the 20th century.
Earlier in 2026, ESPN released a documentary about the network’s early years and Rasmussen’s role in its creation.
Rasmussen leaves behind a major legacy in sports media.
His belief that fans would watch sports programming around the clock helped reshape television and laid the foundation for today’s global sports media industry.
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