Bill Rasmussen

Founder of ESPN, Innovator in Sports Broadcasting, Advocate for Parkinson's Research

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Florida, USA
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Bill Rasmussen Biography

A life-long entrepreneur and sports fan, Bill Rasmussen’s innovations in advertising, sports, and broadcasting are extensive. Notably, he founded ESPN in the summer of 1978, creating the world's first 24-hour, 7-days-a-week sports television network. This network is home to "SportsCenter," the program he also conceptualized, which has become a staple in sports broadcasting. His initiatives include pioneering wall-to-wall coverage of NCAA men’s and women’s regular-season and tournament college basketball, as well as coverage of the College World Series.

A United States Air Force veteran, Rasmussen received his bachelor’s degree in Economics from DePauw University and his MBA from Rutgers University. His entrepreneurial spirit and innovative concepts have earned him accolades such as being named "The Father of Cable Sports" by USA Today and being listed as one of the "40 for the Ages" by Sports Illustrated in 1994. In 2016, he was also inducted into the Cynopsis Sports Hall of Fame, further cementing his legacy in sports broadcasting.

Rasmussen continues to be a popular guest on the speaking circuit, discussing American entrepreneurship, innovation, and the founding of ESPN. He has made recent media appearances on radio shows like Sports Byline USA with Ron Barr and The Dennis Miller Show, as well as television appearances on FOX News Channel’s Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. A captivating speaker, he connects with audiences through presentations enriched with wisdom, excitement, and humorous anecdotes at various events. Additionally, Rasmussen is bringing awareness to Parkinson's Disease, encouraging those affected by it and advocating for research towards a cure.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 08/17/2024.

Bill Rasmussen Speaking Topics

  • The ESPN Story: From Humble Beginnings to Sports History

    What turned out to be one of the greatest success stories in the history of sports television started with a little money and one huge dream. Now as the founder of ESPN, a multi-billion dollar company, Bill Rasmussen is one of the most successful businessmen in America. In this inspiring talk, Bill reveals how even the largest accomplishments begin with small steps and personal dreams. By encouraging even the youngest of entrepreneurs to think outside the box and take meaningful risks, Bill captivates audiences by taking them back in time to the beginnings of the 24-hour sports network that changed the history of television as we know it.

  • Leadership from Adversity: Opportunities for Reinvention in the Modern Age

    ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen got fired from his job working for a Hartford, Connecticut-based professional hockey team and famously turned his struggles around when he took a $9,000 credit card cash advance to create a television network that is currently valued at $66 billion. “This is a guy whose idea gave birth to, arguably, the most successful media story of our time,” said author Jim Miller. Adversity—the loss of his job resulted in one of the greatest entrepreneurial success stories in television history. What can we learn from adversity? How do we react when adversity strikes? What traits do great leaders possess, and how do they handle it? Most of us will face adversity, failure, and possibly even bankruptcy in our lifetime. Will you bow to the circumstance or will you use the experience to find the leadership qualities within you to achieve rather than give up? Whether looking at your career as an individual or more broadly on the path of a company or nonprofit, Bill shares tangible leadership advice as only he can—gripping, insightful, and sure to affect the bottom line in every sense of the term.

  • The Impact of Evolving Media: Past, Present, and Future

    In this thought-provoking presentation, legendary ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen walks us through the history of media innovation—from early days of radio to the three network radio/TV system, then into the advent of cable TV, color television, 24 hour programming. Bill discusses the evolution of media all the way to the internet-age of digital content. Bill also discusses the potential future of self-selected content and programming, pointing out both the advantages and ramifications for consumers and companies. How is media defined in the digital age? What can history teach us about what's to come? And, perhaps most important, how can we use this information to future-forecast the best strategies and innovations for our own endeavors and benefit? Bill deftly takes each audience on an historical journey, using vibrant stories from ESPN and other globally recognized platforms as a foundation to show us not only where we've been, but also where we are going next.

Bill Rasmussen Videos

  • Bill Rasmussen - Founder of ESPN
    A walk through sports history with the man who changed it. "Bill Rasmussen delivers with a creative, smart and unique approach, combining his...
  • ESPN Co-Founder Bill Rasmussen — Fear{less} with Tim Ferriss
    Fear{less} features in-depth, long-form conversations with top performers, focusing on how they’ve overcome fears and made hard decisions,...

Bill Rasmussen Books

  • Espn: One Giant Leap For Fankind
    Espn: One Giant Leap For Fankind
  • Sports Junkies Rejoice: The Birth of ESPN
    Sports Junkies Rejoice: The Birth of ESPN

FAQs on booking Bill Rasmussen

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    Speaking fees for Bill Rasmussen, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Bill Rasmussen are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Bill Rasmussen, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Bill Rasmussen speak about?

    Bill Rasmussen is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Athlete, Broadcasting, Business, Entertainment, Futurism, Medicine, Neuroscience, Sports, Technology.
  • Where does Bill Rasmussen travel from?

    Bill Rasmussen generally travels from Florida, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Bill Rasmussen for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Bill Rasmussen for your next private or corporate function.
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Bill Rasmussen is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as The ESPN Story: From Humble Beginnings to Sports History, Leadership from Adversity: Opportunities for Reinvention in the Modern Age and The Impact of Evolving Media: Past, Present, and Future. The estimated speaking fee range to book Bill Rasmussen for your event is available upon request. Bill Rasmussen generally travels from FL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Chris Berman, Mark Cuban, Cris Collinsworth and Andy Bowers. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Bill Rasmussen for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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