Ted Turner, the billionaire entrepreneur who founded CNN and built Turner Broadcasting into a major force in television, has died at 87. Turner Enterprises announced that he died on Wednesday, May 6, according to People Magazine. His impact stretched far beyond cable news, reaching sports, animation, film libraries and environmental programming. In TV and film circles, his name remained tied to channels and brands that shaped viewing habits for decades, including TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies.
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Ted Turner Built CNN Into a Global TV Force
Born Robert Edward Turner III in Cincinnati in 1938, Turner entered broadcasting after taking over his family’s advertising company and buying an Atlanta UHF station in 1970. He later created the “superstation” model, using satellite distribution to expand reach nationwide. That move helped lay the groundwork for TBS and a new era in cable television. In 1980, he launched CNN, the first 24-hour news network, changing the pace and structure of televised news and influencing how live events would be covered across the industry.
Mark Thompson Honors CNN Founder’s Influence
Turner’s death prompted a statement from CNN chief executive Mark Thompson, who pointed to the scale of his influence on the network and the wider media business. “Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement,” said Mark Thompson according to People Magazine. Turner later sold Turner Broadcasting to Time Warner in 1996 for $7.3 billion in stock, but his role in shaping cable television had already been cemented through a mix of risk-taking, expansion and instinct.
Captain Planet and Turner Classic Movies Extended His Reach
His footprint in entertainment went well beyond news. Turner expanded his company into CNN Headline News, CNN International, TNT, Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies, helping define cable viewing for multiple generations. In 1990, he also helped launch Captain Planet and the Planeteers, linking animation with environmental activism aimed at younger audiences. Turner’s business decisions connected television, film preservation and original programming in ways that kept his brands active across different corners of the entertainment world, from classic cinema to children’s animation.
Jane Fonda Marriage and Late Health Battle Drew Attention
Outside business, Turner’s personal life often drew public interest. He was married three times, including a decade-long marriage to actor Jane Fonda from 1991 to 2001. In later years, he spoke publicly about his health. In a 2018 interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Turner said, “It’s a mild case of what people have as Alzheimer’s. It’s similar to that. But not nearly as bad. Alzheimer’s is fatal.” He is survived by five children, 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, leaving behind a family as well as a towering media legacy.
