Media Pioneer Ted Turner, CNN Founder, Dies at 87 in Atlanta
Ted Turner, the media mogul who created 24-hour TV news with CNN’s 1980 launch, has died at 87 after building an empire that transformed American culture.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Media mogul Ted Turner, who revolutionized television news by founding CNN more than four decades ago, died Wednesday at the age of 87, according to Turner Enterprises.
Turner, who was born in Ohio but grew up in Savannah, built a media empire that transformed American culture and earned him the nickname “The Mouth of the South” through his outspoken persona. He launched the Cable News Network in 1980 as the world’s first 24-hour all-news network, changing how Americans consumed news.
In his later years, Turner dedicated himself to conservation and philanthropic efforts, preserving more than two million acres of land according to Turner Enterprises, which announced his death Wednesday.
Political Leaders Pay Tribute
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp praised Turner’s impact on media and sports. “Ted Turner led a life as big as the American Dream he lived,” Kemp said in a statement. “Through his varied contributions to the world of business and civic leadership, he helped drive Atlanta, our state and the nation to new achievements.”
The Republican governor noted Turner’s influence extended beyond news. “His media empire reimagined the American news cycle and broadcast TV as we know it, ultimately making his beloved Atlanta Braves ‘America’s Team’ for decades,” Kemp added, referencing Turner’s ownership of the Atlanta Braves baseball team.
Kemp acknowledged that “even those who at times strongly disagreed” with Turner still respected the media pioneer.
Legacy of Innovation
Todd Groce, president and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society, described Turner’s death as marking the end of an era. “Ted Turner’s shadow looms large over the 20th and 21st centuries, not only in Georgia but across the globe,” Groce said.
“Historians will be writing about Ted Turner, his impact, and the revolution he wrought in television news and sports broadcasting for generations to come,” Groce added.
The Georgia Historical Society recognized Turner’s groundbreaking achievement in 2018 by erecting a marker in downtown Atlanta commemorating his launch of CNN in 1980.
Media Empire Builder
Turner’s expansive media portfolio extended far beyond CNN, including Headline News, CNN International and entertainment cable channels such as Turner Network Television. His innovations in broadcasting helped establish Atlanta as a major media hub.
The media magnate’s influence reached into sports as well, with his ownership of the Atlanta Braves helping to elevate the team’s national profile during his tenure. His various business ventures and outspoken public statements made him one of the most recognizable figures in American media for decades.
Turner’s death marks the passing of a key figure who helped shape modern television news and established many of the 24-hour news formats that continue to dominate cable television today.
