Ted Turner, Founder of CNN and Television News Pioneer, Dies Aged 87
Ted Turner, the man who transformed television news by founding CNN as the first 24-hour cable news channel, has died at age 87.
His death was confirmed in a news release from Turner Enterprises, which said he passed away surrounded by his family. “He charmed people he met with his warmth and general lack of conceit, despite his many successes and celebrity,” the statement read.
“Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgment,” said CNN CEO Mark Thompson on Wednesday. “He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN.”
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President Donald Trump described the CNN founder as “one of the greats of all time” in a post on Truth Social following the announcement.
The President called Turner “a friend of mine. Whenever I needed him, he was there, always willing to fight for a good cause.”
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1938, Turner moved with his family to Georgia, where he would later found CNN in Atlanta.
During a period of global change, CNN broadcast major events including the collapse of the Soviet Union and the First Gulf War, earning Turner TIME’s Man of the Year in 1991 for “influencing the dynamic of events and turning viewers in 150 countries into instant witnesses of history.”
Turner founded the network in 1980 and expanded with more channels, including CNN Headline News, CNN International, and Cartoon Network, in the years that followed.
The media giant also founded TBS and TNT, which still have international audiences today.
Turner suffered from Lewy body dementia
In 2018, Turner revealed in an interview with CBS that he was battling Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder that affects memory and other cognitive functions, and which impacts over 1 million Americans. In January of last year, Turner was hospitalized with a mild case of pneumonia.
Outside of his contributions to the media world, the philanthropist also founded the Turner Foundation, dedicated to environmental conservation and described by Turner Enterprises as being focused on “safeguarding habitats, bettering communities, sustainable living, and environmental protection.”
Building on his commitment to conservation, Turner owned about 2 million acres of land, making him one of the largest landowners in North America. Throughout ranches across the U.S., Turner practiced sustainable water and timber management, as well as fishing, hunting, and the reintroduction of native species.
In 1998, the media mogul also founded the United Nations Foundation, an independent charity that works alongside the U.N. on global projects. The year prior, he had pledged $1 billion to the U.N. to assist its programs.
Tributes pour in for Ted Turner
CNN Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpour wrote on social media Wednesday that “Ted Turner created an unstoppable media revolution for the benefit of all humankind,” in a post on social media. “Throughout nearly 43 years at CNN, working for Ted and his vision has been the proudest achievement of my lifetime.”
Piers Morgan also paid tribute, calling himTurner an “incredible man” in a post on X. “Loved lunching with him, and interviewing him, when I worked at CNN. He was such a great character,” said Morgan.
The Atlanta Braves baseball team, which Turner bought in 1976, described him as “one of a kind.”
In a tribute, the Braves said: “Ted’s visionary leadership and innovative approach to broadcast television transformed the Braves into 'America’s team,' in a statement. “You helped make us who we are today, and the Atlanta Braves are forever grateful for the impact you made on our organization and in our community.”
Governor of Georgia Brian Kemp said that “through his varied contributions to the world of business and civic leadership, [Turner] helped drive Atlanta, our state, and the nation to new achievements,” in a post on X.
Kemp described Turner as a “bold man,” adding that he will be “remembered by Georgians, Americans and others around the world for many years to come.”
Republican Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia, who referred to Turner by his nickname, the “Mouth of the South,” in his tribute, said the media mogul “was an American legend and a true Georgia icon.”
Collins continued: “Ted amassed a fortune and used it to focus on conservation work. Through his Atlanta-based Turner Foundation, he protected millions of acres and restored wildlife habitats across the nation.”
Democrat Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico described the philanthropist as “a media visionary and a dedicated conservationist” in a post dedicated to Turner.
“I will miss his leadership, and my thoughts are with his family and friends,” said Heinrich.