Bill Rasmussen, founder of ESPN, dies at 93

Bill Rasmussen, who launched ESPN in 1979 as the world's first 24-hour sports network, died Tuesday at his Florida home from Parkinson's disease. He was 93.

Few believed a round-the-clock cable sports channel could work. Rasmussen, just fired as communications director of the New England Whalers, maxed out his credit card and used a $9,000 advance to secure satellite space, then pitched leagues, cable operators and investors door to door. He and son Scott co-founded the network, which launched Sept. 7, 1979, with Rasmussen as first president and CEO.

He left after a few years, but an early NFL meeting opened the door to what became "Monday Night Football" on ESPN.

ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro called him a visionary without whom the network would not exist. Anchor Chris Berman, who joined three weeks after launch, called him "our George Washington."

Rasmussen later wrote a book on ESPN's founding and spoke on college campuses. He is survived by three children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.