Ted Turner, the American media pioneer who reshaped global television news with the launch of CNN, has died at the age of 87.
CNN confirmed his death on Wednesday, noting that the businessman had been battling Lewy Body Dementia.
Turner, known for his bold ideas and larger-than-life personality, revolutionised broadcasting in 1980 when he introduced a 24-hour news channel, a concept that changed how people consumed information worldwide.
The network quickly rose to global prominence, especially during its live coverage of the Gulf War, which established CNN as a trusted source of breaking news.
Its reporters delivered real-time updates from major global events, including the collapse of the Soviet Union and the crackdown at Tiananmen Square in China. The decision to keep correspondents in Baghdad during heavy bombing further strengthened the network’s reputation.
Reacting to his death, CNN Worldwide Chairman and CEO, Mark Thompson, described Turner as a towering figure in journalism.
“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.
“He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN.”
Born Robert Edward Turner III in Cincinnati, Ohio, in November 1938, he attended a military school in Tennessee and later enrolled at Brown University, where he did not complete his studies.
Turner’s business journey began after he took over his family’s struggling advertising company following the death of his father.
He later expanded into media, acquiring several radio stations before buying a failing television station in Atlanta in 1970. That move marked his entry into the TV industry and laid the foundation for what later became the Turner Broadcasting System.
Over the years, his media empire grew to include major channels such as TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies.
CNN’s success also inspired the rise of other 24-hour news platforms, including Fox News, launched by Rupert Murdoch, as well as MSNBC and similar networks across the world.
Beyond media, Turner was also known for his work in sports, business and philanthropy.
His death marks the end of an era for global journalism, with many crediting him for transforming how news is reported and consumed across the world.
