Bill Rasmussen ESPN founder dies at 93 after Parkinson's battle
Bill Rasmussen, the man who dreamed up ESPN and changed sports forever, has died at 93 after a battle with Parkinson's disease.
Back in 1979, his idea for a nonstop sports channel launched ESPN and totally shifted how fans watch games.
ESPN called him a "game-changer for the ages" in its tribute.
ESPN launched in 1979; an early breakthrough came with its 1980 NCAA tournament broadcasts
Rasmussen's bold move came when cable TV was just starting out: he imagined a channel just for sports, and ESPN launched in 1979; an early breakthrough came with its 1980 NCAA tournament broadcasts.
Today, ESPN is everywhere: eight US channels and global digital platforms.
As current chairman Jimmy Pitaro put it, "ESPN would not exist without Rasmussen's 'passion,' hard work and entrepreneurial spirit."
He leaves behind a family and an epic legacy that lives on every time you tune into ESPN.