Discover the extraordinary life of Ted Turner, the visionary media titan who founded CNN, pioneered cable television, and left an indelible mark on broadcasting, sports, and philanthropy, despite a tumultuous personal life and epic business battles.
Ted Turner, who died at 87, is remembered as one of television's greatest innovators, a figure whose impact rivals that of William Randolph Hearst, though Turner's legacy is defined by his groundbreaking contributions to media. He first conceived the 'super-station' with WTBS, proving cable could support distinct networks, and then revolutionized news with CNN in 1980, the first 24-hour news channel that became a global benchmark. Turner's journey began with a difficult childhood, taking over his father's billboard business at 24 after his father's suicide. He expanded into radio, then television, turning around a struggling Atlanta UHF station into WTBS, broadcasting reruns, movies, and wrestling nationwide via satellite. He was also the first media mogul to integrate sports, owning the Atlanta Braves and Hawks. His creation of CNN, initially met with derision, quickly set new standards for breaking news coverage, especially international conflicts, and he famously banned the word 'foreign' to promote global understanding. Turner further expanded his empire with Turner Network Television (TNT), Turner Classic Movies (TCM) after acquiring the extensive MGM film library, and the Cartoon Network. Known as 'the mouth of the south' and 'Captain Outrageous,' Turner was a controversial and competitive figure. He found sporting success, winning the America's Cup in 1977 and the Fastnet race in 1979, and even briefly managed the Braves. His fierce rivalry with Rupert Murdoch was legendary. Despite his drive, Turner's later years were marked by personal and professional challenges; his three marriages, including to Jane Fonda, ended in divorce, and he suffered from depression. He lost control of his company after the 1996 merger with Time Warner and faced significant financial losses in the subsequent AOL merger. However, Turner channeled his competitive spirit into philanthropy, donating $1 billion to the United Nations and becoming a major advocate for environmental causes, maintaining the largest private landholdings in the US and the largest bison herd. Ted Turner, a mix of southern gentleman and rebel yell, was convinced he could make an impact on the world, and indeed he did, leaving a monumental legacy in media, sports, and global charity.
