ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen Dies at 93
Bill Rasmussen, co-founder of ESPN, died Tuesday at 93 from complications of Parkinson's disease. He died at his home in Florida.
- ESPN launched Sept. 7, 1979, as a Connecticut-based cable channel.
- $9,000 on a credit card helped Rasmussen incorporate ESPN on July 14, 1978.
- Getty Oil provided an initial $15 million for 85 percent of the venture.
- Rasmussen was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2025.
Why it matters: Rasmussen's bet on 24-hour sports television was widely doubted at the time. His network eventually became the dominant force in American sports media.
- ESPN secured NCAA Tournament rights NBC did not want, helping establish the network's foothold in the 1980s.
How 33 sources split on this story
Center coverage, 15 sources: The center frames Rasmussen as a broadcasting institution, citing USA TODAY's own 1994 description of him as 'Father of sports television.'
Left coverage, 7 sources: The left focuses on Rasmussen's scrappy origin story and the human details behind ESPN's founding.
Right coverage, 11 sources: The right leads with ESPN's own tribute language, centering the network's institutional praise for Rasmussen.
What’s next: ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro confirmed the death and issued a statement on Rasmussen's legacy.
- What public memorial, if any, ESPN or the Rasmussen family will hold has not been announced.
