Ted Turner, Founder of CNN, Has Passed Away At The Age Of 87
Image Source: CBS
Ted Turner, the media mogul behind Turner Broadcasting, passed away on May 6th at age 87 due to complications from Lewy body dementia. Turner Enterprises said that he died surrounded by his family.
Born on November 19th, 1938, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Florence and Billboard magnate Robert Edward Turner III, Ted's family moved to Savannah, Georgia, when he was nine. Turner attended The McCallie School, a private boys’ preparatory school in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
His Alma Mater was Brown University, where he was vice-president of the Brown Debating Union, captain of the sailing team, and a member of Kappa Sigma. He initially majored in classics but switched to economics at the urging of his father. However, he was expelled before earning his degree (though he would later receive an honorary B.A. in 1989). Turner served in the United States Coast Guard Reserve before being drafted. He was honored by the United States Navy Memorial with its “Lone Sailor Award.”
Though he began his media career by taking over his father's billboard business, he would find true success in the world of television. His empire would truly begin when he acquired Atlanta station WJRJ-TV in 1969, changing the call letters to WTCG and promoting it as “Watch this Channel Grow.” The channel's programming was initially a mix of old movies from prior decades, theatrical cartoons, and bygone sitcoms and dramas. However, it soon expanded to other programming, including sports and its own original programs such as the sketch comedy program Tush, hosted by satirist Bill Tush, and the game show Starcade. The station became the first national superstation on December 17th, 1976, and its call letters changed to WTBS in 1979, representing Turner Broadcasting System.
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Turner would continue to grow his media empire with the founding of the Cable News Network (CNN), which was the first 24-hour news channel.
In 1986, Turner acquired MGM's pre-1986 film and television library, and he syndicated its 2,200 films to stations nationwide. Its library also formed the foundation of Turner Network Television, which launched in 1988.
Image Source: Medium
His companies purchased Hanna-Barbera Productions in 1991, and with the pre-1986 MGM library and the pre-1949 Warner Brothers properties, including early Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies, Turner launched Cartoon Network on October 1st, 1992, with these libraries at its core. This would not be Turner's first foray into the world of animation, however, as he previously produced the environmentally conscious series Captain Planet and the Planeteers. Cartoon Network would expand beyond its classic cartoon roots and create its own original programming, including various classic “Cartoon Cartoons.” The network would also serve an important role in the mid 90s to late 2000s anime boom through its Toonami block and later its late-night block [adult swim] (which is considered its own channel entirely).
Turner's ventures expanded beyond television. He bought the baseball team, the Atlanta Braves, in 1976, and the hockey team, the Atlanta Hawks, both primarily for programming on WTBS. He purchased Jim Crockett Promotions in 1988, renaming it to World Championship Wrestling. In 1990, he founded the Turner Foundation, which focuses on providing philanthropic grants concerning environmental issues. He also owned several ranches, managed through Turner Enterprises, and was the second-largest landowner in North America.
Image Source: YouTube
Turner was also known for his outrageous comments, earning him the nicknames “The Mouth of the South” and “Mr. Outrageous.” In 1999, he made a joke about polish mine detectors when asked about Pope John Paul II, though he later apologized. Turner was very outspoken regarding his political beliefs, commenting on various issues including global warming, abortion, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He also had a rather public feud with News Corporation founder Rupert Murdoch, though the two became friends in 2019.
In 1991, Time Magazine named him their Man of the Year for his work in “influencing the dynamic of events and turning viewers in 150 countries into instant witnesses of history.” Turner Broadcasting eventually merged with Time Warner, and he exited the industry. He continued showing pride in CNN, calling it his “greatest achievement.”
Several people in the telecommunications industry released statements regarding Turner's death, including the CEO and chairman of CNN Worldwide, Mark Thompson:
“Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement…He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN. 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.”
Turner's stations also paid tribute to him on social media, including Cartoon Network, which thanked the mogul for “believing in cartoons.”
Turner was married three times, with his third and most famous marriage being to actress Jane Fonda, lasting from 1991 to 2001. He is survived by his five children, 19 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
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