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.'
USA Today1w+ESPN founder, 'father of sports television,' Bill Rasmussen dead at 93
Deadline1w+Bill Rasmussen Dies: ESPN Co-Founder Was 93PenPennLive1w+ESPN founder dies at 93: ‘Changed forever the landscape of sports media’
Associated Press1w+ESPN co-founder Bill Rasmussen dies at 93 from the effects of Parkinson’s diseaseCNCTV News1w+ESPN co-founder Bill Rasmussen dies at 93 from the effects of Parkinson’s disease
ESPN1w+Bill Rasmussen, founder of ESPN, dies at 93
Newsweek1w+ESPN founder dies after battle with Parkinson's disease
PBS NewsHour1w+ESPN co-founder Bill Rasmussen dies at 93
Reuters1w+ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen dies at 93
The Hill1w+Bill Rasmussen, ESPN co-founder, dead at 93
TMZ1w+ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen Dead At 93WDWDTN Dayton1w+ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen dies at 93Left coverage, 7 sources: The left focuses on Rasmussen's scrappy origin story and the human details behind ESPN's founding.
Hollywood Reporter1w+Bill Rasmussen Founded ESPN and Left a Year Later. It Was Long Enough to Change TV ForeverCleCleveland.com1w+ESPN founder dies at 93: ‘Changed forever the landscape of sports media’
The Independent1w+Bill Rasmussen, ESPN co-founder and sports TV pioneer, dies at 93
ABC News1w+ESPN co-founder Bill Rasmussen dies at 93 from the effects of Parkinson’s disease
Los Angeles Times1w+ESPN founder and sports media mogul Bill Rasmussen dies at 93TBGThe Boston Globe1w+ESPN cofounder Bill Rasmussen dead at age 93
Variety1w+Bill Rasmussen, ESPN's Founder, Dead at 93Right coverage, 11 sources: The right leads with ESPN's own tribute language, centering the network's institutional praise for Rasmussen.
Daily Mail1w+ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen dead at 93 as network hails 'game-changer for the ages'
Citizen Free Press1w+ESPN founder and visionary Bill Rasmussen dies at 93.
Fox News1w+Bill Rasmussen, ESPN founder who conceived a cable network devoted to sports, dead at 93
Just the News1w+ESPN co-founder BIll Rasmussen dies at 93 from Parkinson's disease
New York Post1w+ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen dead at 93: 'Visionary and an innovator'
Newsmax1w+ESPN Co-Founder Bill Rasmussen Dies at 93
The Daily Wire1w+Bill Rasmussen, ESPN Founder And Sports Media Innovator, Dies At 93
The Sun1w+ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen dead at 93 after Parkinson’s disease battle as tributes to TV pioneer pour in
The Washington Times1w+ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen dies at 93
The Western Journal1w+Watch: ESPN Botches On-Air Tribute to Network's Founder on the Day of His Death
Washington Examiner1w+Bill Rasmussen, founder of ESPN in 1979, dies at 93What’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.