Ted Turner, the pioneering media entrepreneur who revolutionized global news broadcasting by creating the first 24-hour television news channel, has died at the age of 87.
A statement released on Wednesday by Turner Enterprises confirmed his passing.
Ted Turner founded CNN in 1980, introducing continuous, real-time news coverage that permanently changed how global audiences followed breaking events.
“Turner’s vision changed journalism forever by making news immediate, global, and constant,” the statement said.
Over time, CNN grew into one of the most influential news organisations in the world. Turner also built a wide-ranging media empire that included entertainment and sports assets such as Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies.
He was also the owner of the Atlanta Braves baseball team, a period during which the franchise’s national visibility increased significantly.
Beyond media, Turner became widely known for his philanthropic and environmental work. He established the United Nations Foundation after committing $1 billion to support UN initiatives and became a major supporter of wildlife conservation and environmental projects. He also backed the creation of the animated series Captain Planet and the Planeteers, which promoted environmental awareness.
In 1991, Time magazine named him Man of the Year in recognition of his impact on media and global communication.
Turner later stepped back from active business leadership after selling much of his media holdings to Time Warner, though he remained closely associated with CNN, which he often described as his proudest achievement.
In 2018, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia and had been experiencing declining health in his later years.
“Ted was fearless in his ideas and relentless in pursuing them,” a longtime associate said, adding that he trusted his instincts even when others doubted him.
His death marks the end of an era for modern broadcasting, closing the chapter on one of the most influential figures in television news history.
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