Bill Rasmussen, the founder of ESPN, died on Tuesday at the age of 93. The network announced his passing, hailing the entrepreneur as a "game-changer" and a visionary who conceived the concept of a 24-hour sports broadcasting channel.
Rasmussen passed away due to complications from Parkinson's disease, according to ESPN. He founded the sports broadcasting giant in the late 1970s, establishing a model that significantly influenced sports media.
ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro recognized Rasmussen's impact, stating, "Bill was a remarkable man – a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports." Pitaro added that the company's current existence and culture are a direct result of Rasmussen's "passion and all the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit he put into building ESPN."