ATLANTA, Ga. (Diya TV) — Ted Turner, the outspoken media entrepreneur who founded CNN and transformed television journalism with the world’s first 24-hour news channel, died peacefully Wednesday, surrounded by family, according to Turner Enterprises. He was 87.
Turner changed the media industry with his bold vision for around-the-clock news coverage. His launch of CNN in 1980 reshaped how audiences consumed breaking news and global events. The network later became one of the most influential news organizations in the world. Known as “The Mouth of the South” for his outspoken personality, Turner built a vast media empire that included cable television superstations, movie and cartoon channels, and professional sports franchises such as the Atlanta Braves.
Turner’s biggest achievement came with the creation of CNN. At a time when many critics doubted viewers would watch news all day, Turner pushed forward with the idea of a 24-hour cable news network. The gamble paid off. CNN became a trusted source for live global coverage and changed the pace of modern journalism. The network gained worldwide attention during major historical events and breaking news moments.
In 1991, Time named Turner its “Man of the Year.” The magazine praised him for “influencing the dynamic of events and turning viewers in 150 countries into instant witnesses of history.” Turner later sold his media properties to Time Warner but continued to speak proudly about CNN. He often described the network as the greatest accomplishment of his career.
“Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless, and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement,” CNN Chairman and CEO Mark Thompson said in a statement. Veteran CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer remembered Turner on air Wednesday, calling him “a legend” who revolutionized television by creating the first 24-hour news channel.
“He was the original,” CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour said. “He made us all proud, he made us all hopeful, and he made us all strive for his vision of a better world.”
Turner began his business career at age 24 after taking over his father’s billboard company, Turner Outdoor Advertising, following his father’s suicide. He threw himself into work and quickly expanded the company’s reach.
He bought radio stations before moving into television. In 1970, Turner acquired a struggling Atlanta television station known as Channel 17. He boosted ratings by airing old sitcoms, classic movies, and sports programming. After renaming the company Turner Communications Group, he purchased television stations in Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina. He named them WTCG and WRET.
WTCG later became WTBS, cable television’s first “superstation.” In 1976, Turner used satellite technology to beam the station’s signal nationwide. The move helped expand cable television across the United States and made Turner a major force in broadcasting. Sports also played a key role in Turner’s success. He secured rights to Braves baseball games and turned the team into a nationally recognized brand through cable television broadcasts.
Beyond media, Turner earned recognition for philanthropy, conservation, and activism. He founded the United Nations Foundation and supported global efforts to reduce nuclear weapons.
Turner also became one of the nation’s largest private landowners and worked to restore bison populations in the American West. His environmental advocacy reached younger audiences through the animated television series Captain Planet and the Planeteers. Turner was also an accomplished yachtsman with international fame in competitive sailing.
In 2018, shortly before his 80th birthday, Turner revealed that he had Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder that affects thinking, movement, and behavior. Earlier in 2025, Turner recovered after a hospitalization for a mild case of pneumonia. He is survived by his five children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
