The world lost one of the pioneers of 20th century media today as Ted Turner passed away. He was 87 years old.
The founder of CNN, TBS, TNT and the owner of a slew of other major entertainment properties, Turner transformed how we consume news, sports, television and many other forms of entertainment.
Tributes to Turner are pouring out from around the world this morning and even President Donald Trump has issued a statement.
Taking to Truth Social, the President called him "one of the greats of broadcast history" and a personal friend. Though he also spent most of his message trashing the current state of CNN.
"Ted Turner, one of the Greats of All Time, just died. He founded CNN, sold it, and was personally devastated by the Deal because the new ownership took CNN, his “baby,” and destroyed it. It became woke, and everything that he is not all about. Maybe the new buyers, wonderful people, will be able to bring it back to its former credibility and glory. Regardless, however, one of the Greats of Broadcast History, and a friend of mine. Whenever I needed him, he was there, always willing to fight for a good cause! President DONALD J. TRUMP," he wrote.
The Legacy of Ted Turner
Turner played a transformative role in both sports ownership and the growth of modern sports media. As the founder of Turner Broadcasting System, Turner used his Atlanta-based television stations to broadcast sports nationally, helping pioneer the concept of the “superstation” with WTBS. This gave wider exposure to teams like the Atlanta Braves, whom Turner purchased in 1976. Under his ownership, the Braves became “America’s Team” thanks to nationwide broadcasts, eventually winning the 1995 World Series. Turner also owned the Atlanta Hawks and was deeply involved in promoting their visibility during the early cable era.
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And, of course, his ownership of World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the wrestling promotion's ascension into an entity powerful enough to challenge WWE (then the World Wrestling Federation) helped transform pro wrestling into a global entertainment juggernaut.
Turner’s influence extended far beyond team ownership into shaping how sports are consumed on television. He launched Turner Network Television (TNT) and played a key role in bringing major sports rights to cable, including the NBA, which helped grow the league’s national and global popularity.
