24/7 LiveSan FranciscoEast BaySouth BayPeninsulaNorth Bay

Bill Rasmussen, sports TV visionary and founder of ESPN, dies at 93

KGO logo
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 2:47AM
Bill Rasmussen, sports TV visionary and founder of ESPN, dies at 93
Bill Rasmussen, whose vision and ambition fueled the 1979 launch of ESPN as the world's first 24-hour television network, died Tuesday. He was 93.
John Woike/Tribune News Service via Getty Images via Getty Images
Copyright © 2026 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Live Streams
ON NOW