Knowledge@wharton

When Bill Rasmussen launched ESPN on September 7 1979 he gave the world its first 24-hour television network and changed the way people viewed both television and sports. His innovations include the creation of ”Sports Center ” wall-to-wall coverage of NCAA regular-season and March Madness college basketball and coverage of the College World Series baseball tournament. Rasmussen who wrote a book titled Sports Junkies Rejoice! The Birth of ESPN talked with Knowledge at Wharton about the challenges of founding a 24/7 sports network in the face of nearly universal skepticism what entrepreneurs need to succeed and why he doesn’t ever plan to retire. (Video with transcript) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.