CNN Founder Ted Turner Dies at 87

Ted Turner, laminitis of CNN. Credit: Jean-Marc Ferré / UN Geneva / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Ted Turner, the CNN laminitis who changed tv quality by launching the world’s archetypal 24-hour cablegram quality channel, died Wednesday astatine his location adjacent Tallahassee, Florida. He was 87. Turner Enterprises confirmed the decease connected behalf of his family.

Turner had Lewy assemblage dementia, a progressive encephalon disease, diagnosed successful 2018. He was concisely hospitalized for pneumonia earlier this twelvemonth earlier spending clip astatine a rehabilitation facility. Turner near down 5 children, 14 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

CNN went connected the aerial June 1, 1980, giving Americans continuous entree to quality beyond little evening broadcasts. Early critics called it the “Chicken Noodle Network,” but the transmission gained credibility during the 1991 Persian Gulf War arsenic the lone broadcaster reporting unrecorded from Baghdad. Time mag named Turner its Man of the Year that year.

Mark Thompson, CNN’s president and main executive, said aft Turner’s decease that helium was a fearless person whose tone would permanently specify the network. Turner regarded CNN arsenic the top accomplishment of his life.

Ted Turner: CNN laminitis who started with billboards

Turner was calved successful Cincinnati connected Nov. 19, 1938. He took implicit his father’s billboard institution astatine 24 aft his begetter died by termination successful 1963.

He aboriginal acquired a struggling Atlanta tv presumption successful 1970, past utilized outer exertion successful 1976 to make cablegram television’s archetypal nationalist superstation, aboriginal branded arsenic TBS. He purchased the Atlanta Braves successful 1976 and the Atlanta Hawks successful 1977 to unafraid sports programming.

Ted Turner, laminitis of CNN, Cartoon Network, TNT and much has passed distant astatine the property of 87. pic.twitter.com/Ri9d52wNgR

— ToonHive (@ToonHive) May 6, 2026

He added CNN Headline News successful 1982 and CNN International successful 1985. He acquired MGM’s movie room successful 1985 for $1.5 billion, which aboriginal gave emergence to Turner Classic Movies. He bought the Hanna-Barbera cartoon catalog and launched the Cartoon Network successful 1992.

In 1996, Turner sold his broadcasting holdings to Time Warner for astir $7.5 billion. A consequent merger with AOL successful 2001 produced monolithic losses and is considered 1 of the worst firm deals successful history. Turner resigned arsenic vice-chairman successful 2003 and aboriginal announced helium would not question reelection to the committee of directors.

From the America’s Cup to conservation and planetary giving

Away from business, Turner won the America’s Cup sailing contention successful 1977. He became 1 of the largest backstage landowners successful the United States, holding astir 2 cardinal acres, and built the world’s largest backstage bison herd. He besides created the Captain Planet animated bid focused connected biology education.

As laminitis of CNN, Ted Turner reshaped not conscionable media but besides philanthropy and conservation. He donated $1 cardinal to the United Nations successful 1997 and founded the Nuclear Threat Initiative.

He joined histrion Jane Fonda successful 1991; the mates divorced successful 2001. Known arsenic the “Mouth of the South” for his nonstop nationalist style, Turner near a lasting people connected American culture.