Ted Turner, the founder of CNN and one of the most influential figures in modern television, has died at the age of 87. A bold entrepreneur, controversial public figure and passionate philanthropist, Turner transformed the global media landscape by launching the world’s first 24-hour television news channel.
Turner changed the way television reported news. When he launched CNN in 1980, critics dismissed the idea of a round-the-clock news network as unrealistic. At the time, American television was dominated by traditional networks that aired news only at fixed hours. Turner believed viewers would eventually want instant access to live news from anywhere in the world. CNN proved him right.
The network became globally recognised for its live coverage of wars, political crises and major world events. During conflicts such as the Gulf War, CNN established itself as the primary source of real-time television reporting. The success of CNN later inspired several 24-hour news channels across the world.
Before CNN, Turner had already reshaped cable television. He pioneered the idea of the “superstation” by using satellites to broadcast his Atlanta television station nationally through cable networks. The station mainly aired old films, sports and entertainment programmes, but it attracted viewers across the US and created a new business model for cable television.
Turner also built a major sports and entertainment empire. He owned the Atlanta Braves baseball team and the Atlanta Hawks basketball franchise. He later expanded his media empire with channels such as TNT, Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies. His acquisition of the MGM film library gave Turner Broadcasting a vast catalogue of movie content that helped strengthen its television business.
Known for his aggressive style and larger-than-life personality, Turner often courted controversy. Nicknamed the “mouth of the south”, he made headlines with provocative remarks, public feuds and unpredictable behaviour. He had a long rivalry with media mogul Rupert Murdoch, both in broadcasting and competitive yacht racing.
Away from business, Turner was an accomplished sailor. In 1977, he skippered the yacht Courageous to victory in the America's Cup, one of the world’s most prestigious sailing events.
Born in Cincinnati in 1938, Turner joined his father’s billboard advertising business in the early 1960s. After his father’s death in 1963, he took control of the company at the age of 24 and rapidly expanded it into radio and television broadcasting.
Turner’s personal life also remained in public focus. He was married three times, including to actor Jane Fonda from 1991 to 2001.
In later years, Turner increasingly devoted himself to philanthropy and environmental causes. In 1998, he donated $1 billion to establish the United Nations Foundation, one of the largest charitable contributions ever made by an individual at the time. Through the Turner Foundation, he supported environmental conservation, nuclear disarmament and sustainable development initiatives.
Turner revealed in 2018 that he had Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder.
Despite controversies and setbacks, Turner remained one of the defining figures of modern media. His vision reshaped television journalism, global broadcasting and cable entertainment, leaving an enduring impact on how the world consumes news.