ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen Dies at 93
Bill Rasmussen, co-founder of ESPN, died Tuesday at 93 at his Florida home, ESPN announced, citing effects of Parkinson’s disease. Rasmussen and his son Scott developed the idea for a 24-hour sports network in 1978, and ESPN launched from Bristol, Connecticut, on Sept. 7, 1979. The network initially reached about 1.4 million homes and became a major sports-media operation. ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro called Rasmussen a visionary and innovator, crediting his passion and entrepreneurial spirit with helping create the company. Associated Press reporting said the Rasmussens secured backing from Getty Oil and a rights agreement with the NCAA before launch; Anheuser-Busch also became a major advertiser. Rasmussen was forced out of ESPN in 1980 after Getty acquired majority ownership, but the company honored his founding role. He was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2025. His death closes life of a figure who helped reshape sports television.
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On August 18, 2026 ESPN announced Rasmussen died from Parkinson’s effects. https://espnpressroom.com/press-release/espn-founder-bill-rasmussen-dies-at-93/
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