Ted Turner, the trailblazing entrepreneur who revolutionised television news and built one of the most influential media empires of the 20th century, has died at the age of 87.
Turner passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at his home near Tallahassee, surrounded by family, according to a statement from Turner Enterprises. While a specific cause of death was not immediately disclosed, he had been living with Lewy body dementia since at least 2018.
Turner’s most enduring contribution came in 1980 when he launched CNN, the world’s first 24-hour television news channel.
At the time, the concept was widely dismissed as impractical. News broadcasts were traditionally limited to fixed time slots, and the idea of round-the-clock coverage seemed commercially unviable.
With CNN, he fundamentally altered how people consumed information.
The network’s ability to deliver live updates as events unfolded reshaped journalism, influencing everything from breaking news culture to the rise of digital media.
Today’s always-on news cycle (from television to smartphones) can be traced back to Turner’s original vision.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1938, Turner’s path to media dominance began in the billboard business. At just 24, he took over his father’s struggling company, Turner Outdoor Advertising, following his father’s death.
Through aggressive expansion and sharp business instincts, he turned it into a profitable regional powerhouse.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, he began acquiring radio stations across the American South, marking his entry into broadcasting. His breakthrough came in 1970 when he purchased a failing Atlanta television station, WJRJ-TV.
He rebranded it as WTCG—short for Turner Communications Group, and filled its schedule with low-cost programming, including old films and syndicated reruns.
In 1976, Turner used satellite technology to beam WTCG’s signal to cable systems across the United States, effectively creating the first national “superstation.”
The channel, later renamed TBS, allowed viewers far beyond Atlanta to access its programming.
This innovation broke geographical barriers in broadcasting and laid the groundwork for the cable television boom. It also demonstrated Turner’s core strategy: combine technological innovation with content accessibility to reach mass audiences.
Turner understood early that controlling content was just as important as distribution.
In 1986, he made a bold and highly leveraged acquisition of the MGM film library, securing rights to more than 2,000 classic films.
These included cinematic landmarks such as Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, and Casablanca.
The library became a cornerstone of his networks and later powered the creation of Turner Classic Movies.
In 1991, Turner acquired Hanna-Barbera, bringing beloved animated properties like The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo under his control.
This acquisition enabled the launch of Cartoon Network in 1992, the first channel dedicated entirely to animation.
By the early 1990s, Turner Broadcasting had evolved into a major entertainment force, further strengthened by acquisitions of New Line Cinema and Castle Rock Entertainment.
In 1976, he purchased the Atlanta Braves, followed by the Atlanta Hawks in 1977. These acquisitions provided a steady stream of live sports content for his television network, boosting viewership and national relevance.
By broadcasting Braves games nationwide, Turner transformed the team into a household name, famously branding them “America’s Team.”
Outside broadcasting, Turner was also an accomplished yachtsman, winning the America’s Cup in 1977, an achievement that highlighted his competitive spirit beyond business.
Turner’s influence extended well beyond media and sports. In 1997, he pledged $1 billion to support the United Nations, one of the largest philanthropic donations ever made at the time.
This commitment led to the establishment of the United Nations Foundation, which continues to support global humanitarian initiatives.
He was also a dedicated environmentalist and one of the largest private landowners in the United States.
Turner played a significant role in conservation efforts, including the reintroduction of bison to the American West. His environmental advocacy reflected a long-standing commitment to sustainability and land preservation.
In 1996, Turner merged his media empire with Time Warner in a deal valued at $7.5 billion, becoming the company’s largest individual shareholder. The merger marked the peak of his corporate influence.
However, his power waned following the controversial merger between Time Warner and AOL in 2001, widely regarded as one of the most unsuccessful deals in corporate history. Turner eventually stepped away from the company in 2003.
In his later years, he remained active in philanthropy and environmental work, even as his health declined.
Turner was married three times, most notably to actress and activist Jane Fonda from 1991 to 2001. He is survived by five children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
CNN Worldwide Chairman and CEO Mark Thompson paid tribute to Turner as the “presiding spirit of CNN” and “the giant on whose shoulders we stand.”
