Ted Turner, the brash media mogul who revolutionized television news by launching CNN as the world’s first 24-hour news network, died May 6. He was 87.
Turner Enterprises confirmed his death. He is survived by five children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Mr. Turner, an Ohio native who earned the nickname “The Mouth of the South” for his outspoken style, built a sprawling media empire from his father’s small advertising business in Atlanta. His creation of Turner Broadcasting System transformed cable television. For example, he introduced the “superstation” concept with WTBS. He later founded TNT, Cartoon Network, and Turner Classic Movies.
But it was CNN, launched in 1980, that cemented his legacy. The network fundamentally changed how Americans consumed news. It provided round-the-clock coverage of world events as they unfolded. This bold gamble earned him Time magazine’s Man of the Year award in 1991 and proved prescient. In fact, CNN’s success spawned competitors like Fox News and MSNBC.
“Ted was the presiding spirit of CNN,” said Mark Thompson, CEO of CNN Worldwide. “He was a fearless leader whose vision continues to define the network today.”
Beyond broadcasting, Mr. Turner owned the Atlanta Braves, branded “America’s Team,” and was a four-time Yachtsman of the Year. He parlayed his fortune into philanthropy. He pledged $1 billion to the United Nations Foundation. Additionally, he championed environmental causes, nuclear disarmament, and wildlife conservation through ventures like Ted’s Montana Grill.
In recent years, Mr. Turner battled Lewy body dementia and was hospitalized with pneumonia in 2025. Despite his health struggles, his imprint on media, sports, and global activism remains indelible.
