Ted Turner, CNN Founder and Television News Pioneer, Dies at 87

(SeaPRwire) –   Ted Turner, who revolutionized television news by launching CNN as the world’s first 24-hour cable news network, passed away at the age of 87.

His death was confirmed through a statement issued by Turner Enterprises, which revealed that he died surrounded by his family. “He charmed people he met with his warmth and general lack of conceit, despite his many successes and celebrity,” the statement read. 

“Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgment,” said CNN CEO Mark Thompson on Wednesday. “He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN.”

President Donald Trump described the CNN founder as “one of the greats of all time” in a post on Truth Social following the announcement.

The President called Turner “a friend of mine. Whenever I needed him, he was there, always willing to fight for a good cause.”

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1938, Turner relocated with his family to Georgia, where he later established CNN in Atlanta. 

During a period of global change, CNN broadcast major events including the collapse of the Soviet Union and the First Gulf War, earning Turner TIME’s Man of the Year in 1991 for “influencing the dynamic of events and turning viewers in 150 countries into instant witnesses of history.”

Turner founded the network in 1980 and expanded with more channels, including CNN Headline News, CNN International, and Cartoon Network, in the years that followed. 

The media giant also launched TBS and TNT, which continue to have international audiences today. 

Turner suffered from Lewy body dementia

In 2018, Turner disclosed in an interview with CBS that he was battling Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder that affects memory and other cognitive functions, and which impacts over 1 million Americans. In January of last year, Turner was hospitalized with a mild case of pneumonia.

Beyond his contributions to the media industry, the philanthropist also established the Turner Foundation, dedicated to environmental conservation and described by Turner Enterprises as being focused on “safeguarding habitats, bettering communities, sustainable living, and environmental protection.”

Building on his dedication to conservation, Turner owned approximately 2 million acres of land, making him one of the largest landowners in North America. Across ranches throughout the U.S., Turner implemented sustainable water and timber management practices, as well as fishing, hunting, and the reintroduction of native species. 
In 1998, the media mogul founded the United Nations Foundation, an independent charity collaborating with the U.N. on global initiatives. The previous year, he had pledged $1 billion to the U.N. to support its programs.