CNN Founder Ted Turner Dies at 87

Ted Turner, the pioneering media entrepreneur who transformed global television news with the launch of CNN, has died at the age of 87.

Turner revolutionised broadcasting in 1980 by creating the world’s first 24-hour television news network, fundamentally changing how audiences consumed breaking news and establishing continuous news coverage as a global standard.

Tributes have poured in following news of his death. Donald Trump described Turner as “one of the greats of broadcast history,” while CNN Chairman and CEO Mark Thompson called him “the giant on whose shoulders we stand.”

Although CNN initially faced criticism and scepticism — earning the nickname “Chicken Noodle Network” — it quickly proved its value through extensive live coverage of major world events, including the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, the 1986 Challenger disaster, and the 1990–1991 Gulf War.

Turner’s influence extended well beyond CNN. He built the Turner Broadcasting System into a media powerhouse that included networks such as TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies, and Cartoon Network.

Known for his bold personality and unconventional style, Turner earned nicknames such as “Captain Outrageous” and “the Mouth of the South.” He was also a successful sports owner, philanthropist, and yachtsman, winning the America’s Cup in 1977.

Beyond media and sports, Turner donated billions to humanitarian and environmental causes, including a landmark US$1 billion pledge to the United Nations.

Turner was married to actress Jane Fonda from 1991 to 2001. In 2018, he publicly disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia.

Journalists and media figures around the world have described Turner as a visionary whose creation of CNN reshaped journalism and global communication forever.