Kamal Ghorui
Ted Turner, the media entrepreneur who created CNN, the world’s first 24-hour news network, has died at the age of 87.Turner passed away on Wednesday, surrounded by his family, according to a statement from Turner Enterprises.The Ohio-born businessman was often called “The Mouth of the South” for his outspoken style and built one of America’s most influential media empires and helped reshape how the world consumes news.He was best known for founding Cable News Network (CNN) in 1980, a move that broke with traditional broadcast schedules and introduced round-the-clock reporting for the first time. The idea was initially dismissed by many as unrealistic but went on to redefine global journalism.Turner’s creation of CNN earned him recognition as Time magazine’s Man of the Year in 1991 for “influencing the dynamic of events and turning viewers in 150 countries into instant witnesses of history.”Tributes poured in following his death. Mark Thompson, Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, said in a statement: “Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement. He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN. Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all take a moment today to recognize him and his impact on our lives and the world.”Turner later sold his media empire to Time Warner in 1996 for about $7.5 billion, but continued to describe CNN as his proudest achievement, calling it the “greatest achievement” of his life.Robert Edward Turner III was born in Cincinnati in 1938. He entered the media industry through his father’s billboard business after his father’s suicide in 1963. He later expanded into radio and television, buying a struggling Atlanta TV station that became the foundation of his empire.In 1976, he revolutionised broadcasting by beaming his station’s signal via satellite, creating cable television’s first superstation. From there, he expanded into sports, owning the Atlanta Braves and Hawks, and later built a suite of cable channels including TNT, TCM and Cartoon Network.But it was CNN that defined his legacy. The newtwork was launched on June 1, 1980. It initially struggled, with critics dismissing it as “Chicken Noodle News” due to early technical issues and its unconventional 24-hour format. But, Turner remained committed to the concept.“I worked until 7 o’clock, and when I got home the news was over,” he once said.He added: “So I missed television news completely. And I figured there were lots of people like me.”CNN’s global influence became undeniable during the 1990–91 Gulf War, when it provided continuous live coverage of a conflict for the first time in history. Turner’s vision of real-time global reporting had become reality.Beyond media, Turner was a prominent philanthropist and environmentalist. He founded the United Nations Foundation and pledged $1 billion to the UN. He also became one of the largest private landowners in US, using his vast ranches to support conservation efforts, including the reintroduction of bison to North America.His personal life often drew public attention. He was twice divorced before marrying actress Jane Fonda in 1991. The couple became one of America’s most high-profile pairs before separating a decade later.Turner also spoke openly about personal hardship, including family tragedy and business setbacks. In later years, he revealed he had Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain condition.Turner is survived by his five children, 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
