Ted Turner, CNN Founder and Media Maverick, Dies at 87

Ted Turner’s Legacy in 24‑Hour News

Ted Turner, the outspoken television pioneer who reshaped news with CNN, died at 87 surrounded by family, Turner Enterprises announced. The founder of the Cable News Network launched the world’s first 24‑hour news channel in 1980, turning a modest UHF station into a global super‑station that later fed TNT and Turner Classic Movies.

Turner’s bold acquisition of the Atlanta Braves and the 1977 America’s Cup defense cemented his reputation as a sports‑savvy magnate. His philanthropic footprint includes a ↑ $1 billion pledge to United Nations charities and co‑founding the Nuclear Threat Initiative to curb nuclear proliferation.

“If only I had a little humility, I’d be perfect,” Turner once quipped, reflecting his self‑aware bravado.

By the time he sold Turner Broadcasting to Time Warner in 1996, he had built a conglomerate spanning seven cable networks, three professional sports teams, and two film studios. His net worth peaked at ↑ $2.5 billion, though he fell off Forbes’ 400 list in 2021.

President Donald Trump called him “one of the Greats of All Time,” while critics noted his later years were clouded by Lewy‑body dementia. For a full account, see Reuters and AP News.

Words by Julian Vance (Senior Global Security Correspondent).