Bill Rasmussen
American · 93 years old · Died 18 August 2026
Founder of ESPN
Cause of death
Effects of Parkinson's disease
Bill Rasmussen came up with the idea for a sports-only television network in August 1978 while stuck in traffic on Connecticut's Interstate 84 with his son Scott. The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network launched in 1.4 million homes on September 7, 1979, opening with the first edition of SportsCenter. Backed by Getty Oil, an NCAA programming contract and what was then the largest advertising deal in cable history, ESPN grew into a global sports media giant. ESPN announced that he died on August 18, 2026, at the age of 93, from the effects of Parkinson's disease.
Since Bill Rasmussen died
Live count since 18 August 2026
Total deaths worldwide since then
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