Ken Owen '82 Visits Inside Indiana Business to Discuss Visit by Bill Rasmussen '54 & Future of Cable Sports

November 11, 2017

ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen, a 1954 graduate of DePauw University, stressed to students at his alma mater this week that there is "still great power in ideas," Ken Owen '82, special adviser to the president, told Bill Benner on Inside Indiana Business.  

Owen is appearing on the statewide television program this weekend to discuss Rasmussen's week-long visit to DePauw and what the maverick entrepreneur sees ahead as cable and satellite television providers struggle with cord-cutting, declining revenues, and expensive contracts to televise events.

At this point in our civilization, Owen said, there's a tendency to "think the ground's been plowed and there's nothing left there, but the pace of change continues to accelerate.  The world we grew up in where there were three local stations and a public and maybe an independent -- that was television -- was changed in 1979 when (Rasmussen) launched ESPN, the first 24-hour sports network, and people thought he was crazy."

Owen, who spent nearly 20 years in professional broadcasting and oversees DePauw's media relations efforts, noted, "Today, ESPN is like Apple or Coca-Cola, a major American brand."

But with the internet and streaming, "The world has changed rapidly and I think ESPN, in Bill's eyes, is well positioned, obviously they're the monster out there.  But, you know, the monster is always the one people are chasing."

Going forward, Owen says, ESPN and other cable outlets "are going to have to be lithe and they're gonna have to see the future, which is more streaming, more viewer choice and getting through this maze of really expensive programming."

Access the segment here; it's also embedded below.

Rasmussen has been at his alma mater for a residency that began Monday and continues through the weekend.  The pioneering broadcast entrepreneur spent time with DePauw students individually and in groups, including sessions with Media Fellows, Management Fellows, and Rector Scholars. 

Wednesday night he presented an Ubben Lecture, "Finding Your Passion, Realizing Your Dream." 

Rasmussen was also interviewed by 2010 DePauw graduate John Herrick for Indianapolis news-talk radio station WIBC.

Source: Inside Indiana Business

Back