Ted Turner, CNN founder who changed television forever, dies at 87

Media mogul and CNN founder Ted Turner has died at the age of 87, according to reports from Reuters and other international media outlets. Turner, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern cable television, transformed global journalism with the launch of the Cable News Network (CNN) in 1980 — the world’s first 24-hour news channel.

Reuters reported that Turner’s death was announced through a statement issued by Turner Enterprises. No official cause of death was immediately disclosed, although Turner had publicly revealed in 2018 that he was suffering from Lewy body dementia, a progressive neurological disorder.

Known for his outspoken personality and fearless business decisions, Turner earned nicknames such as “Captain Outrageous” and “The Mouth of the South.” He rose from managing his father’s billboard business to building one of the largest media empires in the United States.

In 1970, he purchased a struggling Atlanta television station and gradually expanded it into Turner Broadcasting System, which later included CNN, TNT, TBS, and other influential television networks.

Turner’s launch of CNN revolutionized how the world consumed news. The network gained global prominence during major historical events such as the Gulf War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the Tiananmen Square protests. His vision established continuous live news coverage as a standard in international broadcasting.

In 1996, Turner sold Turner Broadcasting to Time Warner in a landmark merger valued at about $7.5 billion, creating what was then the world’s largest media and communications company. However, reports say Turner later struggled within the corporate structure following the AOL-Time Warner merger and gradually lost influence over the networks he created.

Beyond media, Turner was also recognized for his philanthropy and environmental activism. He donated $1 billion to establish the United Nations Foundation, one of the largest charitable gifts ever made at the time. He also co-founded the Nuclear Threat Initiative to promote global security and reduce nuclear threats.

Tributes poured in following news of his death. Former CNN chairman Walter Isaacson described Turner as “the most fearless journalist,” while CNN CEO Mark Thompson called him “the presiding spirit of CNN.” Veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour praised Turner as a giant who changed journalism forever.

Turner was also famous for his ownership of sports teams including the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks. In addition, he founded the Goodwill Games in 1986 as a way of promoting international unity during the Cold War era.

Reflecting his larger-than-life personality, Turner once famously remarked, “If I only had a little humility, I’d be perfect.”