Ted Turner, a media pioneer and philanthropist, passed away at the age of 87, leaving behind a legacy that transformed television news and conservation efforts. He founded CNN, the first 24-hour news channel, which went live on June 1, 1980. Turner’s work in cable TV news changed how audiences consumed information.
Turner was born on November 19, 1938, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He began his media career at the age of 24 when he took over his father’s billboard company after his father’s suicide. In 1991, he was named Time magazine’s Man of the Year for his contributions to media.
He sold his networks to Time Warner in 1996 for nearly $7.5 billion. This sale marked a significant moment in the evolution of his media empire. Turner was also known for his philanthropy, pledging $1 billion to the United Nations and supporting various causes through organizations like the United Nations Foundation and Captain Planet Foundation.
Turner was an advocate for bison conservation. He reintroduced bison to the American west, owning around 51,000 head of bison across 2 million acres of land. His conservation efforts have had lasting impacts on wildlife preservation.
Mark Thompson, Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, stated, “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.” Terry McGuirk, former CEO of Turner Broadcasting, remarked that what Turner achieved was just as important as the Internet revolution.
Turner suffered from Lewy body dementia and was hospitalized with pneumonia in early 2025 before recovering. He was married to actress Jane Fonda from 1991 to 2001 and had five children. He was known as ‘The Mouth of the South’ for his outspoken nature.
The next steps regarding Turner’s legacy will involve ongoing discussions about his contributions to both media and conservation efforts.
