CNN Founder Ted Turner Dies at 87

Ted Turner, the founder of CNN and creator of the 24-hour news network, died on Wednesday. He was 87.

According to The New York Times, a family spokesperson confirmed the news. In 2018, Turner announced that he had Lewy body dementia.

Turner, known as the “Mouth of the South,” was born on Nov. 19, 1938, and has a legendary resume, including inventing the “superstation” in 1975, which used satellite to broadcast TV. That went on to become the Turner Broadcasting System. Further expanding his media empire, he bought the Atlanta Braves in 1976 to broadcast the games on his stations.

In 1980, he launched CNN as the first 24-hour news network, fundamentally changing the news industry. Following that success, Turner later added more brands to his portfolio, including CNN International, TNT, Cartoon Network, and Turner Classic Movies.

Beyond being a media mogul, Turner was a committed philanthropist who founded the United Nations Foundation. In 1997, he pledged $1 billion to fund United Nations causes.

In response to the news, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav sent a message to the company, calling Turner a “visionary, a trailblazer, and a foundational force behind many of the brands that are central to Warner Bros. Discovery today.”

“Ted’s influence is woven throughout Warner Bros. Discovery. The brands he built and championed remain central to who we are, and they continue to reflect his belief in creative risk, cultural impact, and global reach. Through CNN, TCM, Turner Sports, and across our portfolio, his vision remains present in the work our teams do every day,” Zaslav said.

In addition, Mark Thompson, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, released a statement praising Turner as an “intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless.”

“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,” Thompson said.