# Bill Rasmussen, ESPN Founder, Dies at 93

Bill Rasmussen, who founded ESPN in 1979, has died at age 93. He launched the first 24-hour sports cable network, transforming how sports are broadcast and consumed worldwide. His creation helped turn sports media into a multi-billion-dollar industry.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Entertainment
- [Variety](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/bill-rasmussen-espn-founder-dead-1236837219/) — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:26:13 +0000