Bill Rasmussen, the visionary founder of ESPN who revolutionized sports media by creating the first 24-hour television sports network, has died at 93 years old from complications of Parkinson’s disease, the network announced Tuesday.
Rasmussen launched the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network with his son, Scott, in 1979. At the time, the idea of a cable channel dedicated entirely to sports was considered a wild gamble, but Rasmussen’s persistence and entrepreneurial spirit turned it into a cultural institution. He served as the network’s inaugural president and CEO, forging relationships with sports leagues, investors, and cable operators that set the network up for decades of success.
ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro remembered Rasmussen as a “remarkable man” and a “visionary and an innovator.” He said, “Quite simply, 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, key aspects of our company culture that still carry on to this day.”
ESPN legend Chris Berman, who joined the network weeks after it launched, also shared a tribute, calling Rasmussen “our George Washington.” Berman added, “He was such a grateful person and every sports fan can be grateful for Bill. He wasn’t a glass half-full guy; his glass was always overflowing with optimism. He greeted everyone with a smile and we can all smile knowing Bill’s legacy.”
Rasmussen’s creation not only changed how fans consume sports but also launched the careers of countless broadcasters and created a multibillion-dollar industry. His legacy lives on in the network that became the worldwide leader in sports.
