ESPN Co-Founder Bill Rasmussen Dies at 93

Bill Rasmussen, the co-founder of ESPN, has died at the age of 93 due to complications from Parkinson's disease. He founded the network in 1978 with his son Scott and Ed Eagan, and it launched in September 1979. Rasmussen was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in July 2019.

Rasmussen's vision for a 24-hour sports network was initially met with skepticism by investors, but he persevered and eventually secured funding, including a $9,000 credit card advance and a $15 million investment from Getty Oil. Anheuser-Busch also signed an exclusive advertising contract with ESPN for nearly $1.4 million.

ESPN launched on September 7, 1979, at 7 p.m. EDT, and Rasmussen served as the network's first president and CEO. He left an active role at ESPN in October 1980, but his legacy continued to shape the network. Rasmussen was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2025.

## Why it matters Rasmussen's death marks the end of an era for ESPN, which has become a global sports media powerhouse. His vision and entrepreneurial spirit helped to revolutionize the way people consume sports, and his legacy will continue to be felt by sports fans around the world. As ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said, 'None of us would be here today if it wasn’t for Bill’s passion and all the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit he put into building ESPN in the late 1970s.'

Rasmussen's impact on the sports media landscape cannot be overstated. He is widely regarded as the 'Father of sports television,' and his influence can be seen in the many sports networks and media outlets that have followed in ESPN's footsteps. His death is a reminder of the importance of innovation and risk-taking in the media industry, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of sports media professionals.