Khaberni - Official sources announced the death of media pioneer Ted Turner at the age of 87, after a career in which he founded the first 24-hour news channel.
Ted Turner, the prominent media figure who founded CNN, a leading news network that operates 24 hours a day and transformed the field of television news, died on Wednesday, according to a statement from Turner Enterprises. He was 87 years old.
Who is the prominent media figure Ted Turner?
Turner was born in Ohio, became a prominent businessman in Atlanta, and was known as the "Mouth of the South” for his frankness. He established a media empire that included the first superstation on cable, as well as popular movie and cartoon channels, and owned professional sports teams like the Atlanta Braves.
Turner was also known globally as a skilled sailor, and philanthropist who founded the United Nations Foundation. He was an activist who sought to eliminate nuclear weapons globally, an environmental advocate who became one of the largest landowners in the United States. He played a significant role in reintroducing bison to the American West and created the animated series "Captain Planet" to educate children about environmental issues.
However, his vision to present news from around the world live and around the clock was the most significant factor in his fame, after his idea succeeded and spread globally.
In 1991, Time magazine named him "Man of the Year" in recognition of his role in influencing events and turning viewers in 150 countries into direct witnesses of history.
Later, Turner sold his networks to Time Warner and stepped away from business management, but he continued to express his pride in CNN, describing it as "the greatest achievement" of his life.
Mark Thompson, Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, said in a statement: "Ted was a deeply committed and engaged leader, bold and fearless, always ready to back his intuition and trust his judgment. He was, and will continue to be, the enduring spirit of CNN. We are standing on the shoulders of a giant, and today we will all take a moment to appreciate his impact on our lives and the world."
Just short of his eightieth birthday in 2018, Turner announced his diagnosis with Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder. In early 2025, he was hospitalized due to a mild pneumonia before recovering in a rehabilitation center.
Turner left behind five children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
