Ted Turner, the influential entrepreneur who revolutionized television news with the establishment of CNN, has died at the age of 87. CNN announced his passing on Wednesday.
Turner, known for his distinctive mustache and passion for yachting, had been suffering from Lewy Body Dementia.
He changed the landscape of broadcasting by launching CNN in 1980, dedicating the network to 24-hour news coverage. CNN gained international acclaim for its reporting during the Gulf War in the early 1990s.
As the first U.S. network to provide continuous news coverage, CNN quickly expanded its global reach, offering live reports from significant events like the fall of the Soviet Union and the Tiananmen Square protests.
Mark Thompson, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, remarked, 'Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all take a moment today to recognize him and his impact on our lives and the world.'
Born on November 19, 1938, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Turner faced personal challenges early on, including the suicide of his father. He eventually took over the family's struggling advertising business.
His foray into broadcasting began with the purchase of a failing Atlanta television station in 1970, which later became the cornerstone of his Turner Broadcasting System.
Turner's innovations led to the rise of other 24-hour news networks, including Fox News and MSNBC. His media empire eventually included TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies, and Cartoon Network.