(Photo by Rich Arden / ESPN Images)
William F. Rasmussen, the sports fan-turned broadcaster and entrepreneur whose out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the landscape of sports media, passed away today, August 18, 2026, at the age of 93 from the effects of Parkinson’s Disease.
“Bill was a remarkable man – a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports,” said ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro. “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.”
Pitaro added: “One of my greatest thrills since joining ESPN was getting to know Bill on a personal level. I will always cherish the memory of catching the ceremonial first pitch that he threw at Fenway Park in Boston in celebration of our 40th anniversary. His legacy will always be a part of ESPN.”
(Photo by Joe Faraoni / ESPN Images)
Rasmussen was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Lois, in 2011 and is survived by two sons – Scott Rasmussen and his wife Laura and Glenn Rasmussen – his daughter Lynn Van Hollebeke and her husband Louie, seven grandchildren, Andy, P.J., Wil, MaryAnn, Donna, Jessica and Sarah, one great grandson, Otto, and one great granddaughter, Adelaide. In addition to his wife, Bill was predeceased by his brothers Robert and Donald Rasmussen, sister Vivien and grandson Justin Van Hollebeke.
The Birth of ESPN
In 1978, Rasmussen, a former sports broadcaster and public relations executive, and his son Scott started investigating the just-emerging technology of satellite delivery of television. On a Friday afternoon in August 1978, Rasmussen and Scott were stuck in traffic on Connecticut’s Interstate 84 while travelling to the New Jersey shore. They were discussing possible programming for their newly acquired satellite transponder from RCA. On a lark, Rasmussen blurted out the idea to create a network devoted only to sports. Sports fans both, father and son instantly thought they had a great idea.
In time, their idea grew from a service showing Connecticut sports to state residents to a 24-hour national sports network. Bolstered by financial backing from the Getty Oil Co., a contract for programming with the NCAA and an advertising agreement with Anheuser-Busch – then the largest sponsorship deal in cable history – the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (changed to ESPN, Inc. in 1984) launched in 1.4 million homes at 7 p.m. ET on September 7, 1979. A short introduction was followed by the opening show, SportsCenter hosted by Lee Leonard and George Grande.
From Day One to today, more than four decades later, SportsCenter – the program that has aired the most episodes in television history – has been the backbone of the network and its signature show, redefining the genre of sports news on television.
Impact at ESPN
As ESPN’s founder and first president, Rasmussen shaped the early successes of the company and laid the foundation for its strong future. His passion for sports and love of innovation through both technology and creative programming remain ESPN hallmarks. In July 1979, Rasmussen was named ESPN Chairman, succeeded as President by Chet Simmons, formerly President of NBC Sports. In addition to SportsCenter, under Rasmussen’s leadership the network introduced around the clock sports programming and groundbreaking coverage of the early rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in the spring of 1980, which drew national attention for the fledgling outfit.
“Bill was our George Washington and a good friend,” said veteran anchor Chris Berman, who joined ESPN three weeks after the original network launch in 1979. “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.”
In 1994, Rasmussen made Sports Illustrated’s “Forty for the Ages,” a listing of sports figures who significantly altered and elevated the world of sports in the second half of the 20th century. Also that year, USA Today called him “The Father of Sports Television.”
From its humble beginnings in Bristol, Conn. – about 80 employees at launch in one, unfinished building on less than an acre (bought sight unseen) – ESPN has grown to comprise more than 5,900 employees around the world, eight U.S. television networks plus the sports programming on ABC, the leading sports app and direct-to-consumer service for sports, ESPN Audio, leading social and digital platforms, and more, including endeavors on virtually every continent.
Before ESPN
Born October 15, 1932, in Chicago and raised in nearby Columbus Manor, Ill., Rasmussen was an avid athlete as a youth, earning an invitation to a minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. He chose, however, to attend DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., where he received a bachelor’s degree in economics. After graduation in 1954, he served in the United States Air Force and later earned an MBA from Rutgers University.
After a successful entrepreneurial venture in the advertising business, Rasmussen’s career in the media began at WTTT radio in Amherst, Mass., in 1962. In 1965, he moved to WWLP-TV, Springfield, Mass., where he spent eight years as sports director and two years as news director. During these years, he handled numerous football, basketball, baseball and hockey play-by-play assignments on both radio and television. In 1974, he joined the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association as communications director, serving until the conclusion of the 1977-78 season.
After ESPN
Rasmussen left an active role at ESPN in October 1980. He then served as a consultant to sports rights holders and media companies. He also remained active with his own start-up ventures in sports, often involving media.
After publicly disclosing his Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis in 2019, Rasmussen became an ambassador for Parkinson’s patients through both the American Parkinson Disease Association and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Rasmussen was active in numerous charity events, including nine years with the acclaimed Winged Foot Scholarship Program, and five years with a Senior PGA TOUR event, and was a frequent participant in celebrity charity golf events throughout the country.
(Photo by Nick Caito / ESPN Images)
Among his other honors and awards, Rasmussen was named to the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2025, Rutgers University’s Wall of Fame in 2002, DePauw University’s Media Wall of Fame in 2012, and in 2001 received the prestigious Order of Achievement from Lambda Chi Alpha. In 1997, he was inducted into the Connecticut Sports Museum and Hall of Fame. Rasmussen was named to The Sports 100, honoring the 100 most important people in American Sports History.
In 2019, Rasmussen had the honor of throwing the ceremonial first pitch with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro making the catch at a New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox Major League Baseball game at Fenway Park in celebration of ESPN’s 40-year anniversary.
Rasmussen was a popular guest on the speaking circuit relating his entrepreneurial adventures and was a frequent guest on business and sports radio talk shows to discuss his entrepreneurial career. Rasmussen also authored two books, “Sports Junkies Rejoice! The Birth of ESPN” and most recently “ESPN: One Giant Leap for Fankind,” published in 2023. Rasmussen collaborated with Tenero Productions for a documentary and book project “Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN” on his life and the launch of ESPN that was released in 2026.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to https://www.apdaparkinson.org.
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