MAY 1978 • HARTFORD, CT
Fired by the Hartford Whalers
Communications director Bill Rasmussen and son Scott are laid off after the WHA team misses playoffs, forcing them to find a new sports venture.
AUG 1978 • PLAINVILLE, CT TRAFFIC JAM
The 24/7 Breakthrough Concept
Stuck on I-84, Bill & Scott discover RCA's Satcom-1 satellite. Leased 24 hours cost less than 5 hours of piecemeal regional AT&T landlines.
FEB 1979 • BRISTOL, CT
Acquiring the Bristol Meadowland
Bristol had no local zoning bans against giant satellite dishes. Rasmussen buys a cheap dirt lot for ESPN headquarters.
MAY 1979 • ST. LOUIS, MO
Historic $1.38M Anheuser-Busch Deal
Largest advertising commitment in cable history provides critical runway to secure NCAA tournament and collegiate agreements.
SEPT 7, 1979 • 7:00 PM EST
ESPN Goes Live on the Air
First SportsCenter telecast anchored by Chris Berman & Bob Ley beams across North America to 1.4 million homes.
Rasmussen's revolutionary discovery: Cable satellite distribution had a flat continental cost, while AT&T charged steep per-mile hourly tariffs.
| Option | Coverage | 1979 Monthly Cost |
|---|
| AT&T Terrestrial Long Lines |
5 hrs/day regional |
~$85,000 / mo |
| RCA Satcom I Transponder 7 |
24 hrs/day continental |
~$35,000 / mo (Flat) |
Rasmussen's Insight: "If we buy 24 hours on the satellite, we can televise whatever sports we want, anytime, anywhere in the country."