ESPN co-founder Bill Rasmussen dies at 93
Bill Rasmussen, co-founder of ESPN, has died at the age of 93.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Bill Rasmussen, the man who conceived the idea for ESPN and turned it into a global sports media empire, has died at the age of 93. His death was confirmed by his family, and tributes have poured in from across the sports world.
Rasmussen came up with the concept of a 24-hour cable sports network with his son, Scott, in the 1970s. At the time, sports were only shown on the three major broadcast networks, mostly on weekend afternoons. Rasmussen, a sports fan, wanted more. He had just been fired from his job with the New England Whalers hockey team when he began to develop the idea.
Along with Ed Egan, Rasmussen launched ESPN in 1979. The network was a gamble. Many people doubted that viewers would want sports available around the clock. But Rasmussen believed in the idea with what he called "intentional optimism." He spent every penny he had, borrowed on his credit cards, and took money from his father, sister, and brother to keep the project alive.
In 1980, Rasmussen hired his first intern, Mike Soltis, who would go on to spend 43 years at ESPN, including 20 years as vice president of corporate communications. Speaking after Rasmussen's death, Soltis recalled his mentor's relentless belief in the project. "He just believed in the idea," Soltis said. "If you told him it was a bad idea, he'd think in his head he's wrong. I know I'm right onto the next guy."
ESPN quickly became a cultural and economic force. It launched SportsCenter on day one, and the show remains the network's backbone nearly 50 years later. The network expanded into ESPN2, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, and streaming services. Its success also transformed the economics of sport. As Soltis noted, the money that flowed into sports from television rights can be traced back to ESPN's launch. "The whole economic boom of the sports industry can be traced back the starting point to the launch of ESPN and Bill Rasmussen's crazy idea," he said.
Rasmussen's legacy is not just a network, but a fundamental shift in how fans consume sport. His vision made sports available at any hour, and his optimism carried the project through its early struggles. He is survived by his son Scott and other family members.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News |
|---|---|
| Bill Rasmussen and his son Scott conceived the idea for a 24-hour sports network in the 1970s. | |
| Bill Rasmussen used personal credit cards and family loans to fund early ESPN. | |
| ESPN launched in 1979. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The BBC focused on Rasmussen's origin story, his personal financial sacrifices, and his lasting impact on sports media. The interview with Mike Soltis, the first intern, gave a personal and reflective tone, highlighting Rasmussen's optimism and the scale of his achievement.
- “He spent every penny he had, then borrowed off his credit card, borrowed money from his father and his sister and his brother burned through it all.”
- “He just believed in the idea and was this he was an unbelievable optimist.”
- “The whole economic boom of the sports industry can be traced back the starting point to the launch of ESPN and Bill Rasmussen's crazy idea.”
Broadcast Timeline
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