Ted Turner, the media entrepreneur who launched CNN and pioneered the 24-hour television news model, has died at the age of 87, according to a statement from Turner Enterprises.
Turner’s creation of CNN marked a turning point in how news was delivered and consumed, introducing a format that brought live, continuous coverage of global events into homes around the world. What began as a risky idea eventually became a defining feature of modern media.
Known for his outspoken style, Turner built a media empire that extended beyond news. His ventures included cable’s first superstation, as well as entertainment channels focused on films and cartoons. He also owned major sports franchises, including the Atlanta Braves.
His push for round-the-clock news coverage redefined journalism, allowing audiences to follow events as they unfolded in real time — a model that is now standard across global broadcasters. In 1991, Time magazine named Turner its Man of the Year, citing his role in “influencing the dynamic of events and turning viewers in 150 countries into instant witnesses of history.”
Turner later sold his media holdings to Time Warner and stepped back from day-to-day operations, but continued to describe CNN as the “greatest achievement” of his career. He is survived by his 5 children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Mark Thompson, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, paid tribute to Turner’s impact, saying: “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.”
Beyond his media ventures, Turner was active in philanthropy and advocacy. He founded the United Nations Foundation and campaigned for nuclear disarmament. A prominent conservationist, he became one of the largest private landowners in the US and played a role in reintroducing bison to parts of the American West, reported CNN.
He also sought to promote environmental awareness through popular culture, including the creation of the animated series Captain Planet.
Just weeks before his 80th birthday in 2018, Turner shared that he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder. In early 2025, he was hospitalised with a mild case of pneumonia and later recovered at a rehabilitation facility. The media mogul was married and divorced three times and had five children. His third marriage, to Fonda, which lasted 10 years, ended in 2001.
