Lowell “Bud” Paxson was a producer and media executive, perhaps best known for co-creating the Home Shopping Network (HSN).

Paxson was a giant in broadcasting. He got his start early, acquiring a small radio station, WACK, in upstate Newark, New York, soon after graduating from Syracuse University. It was a short and inspired journey from there which led him to HSN.

After purchasing another radio station, WWQT in Clearwater, Florida, an advertiser ran out of funds to purchase airtime, so they offered Paxson over 100 can openers as payment. Paxson accepted them and told his talk show host to attempt selling the can openers live on the air. They sold out within an hour. Seeing the potential in on-air sales, Paxson and business partner Roy Speer bought a local cable television channel selling products directly to Florida residents. Three years later they launched nationwide as the Home Shopping Club, later to become HSN.

After leaving HSN in the 1990s, Paxson began buying up television and radio stations, ultimately becoming one of the largest owners in the country. By 1998 he had amassed more than 80 television stations,  which he used to launch the Pax TV network, today known as Ion Media Networks.

Paxson died January 9, 2015, in Kalispell, Montana. He was 79.