Ted Turner, the larger-than-life media mogul who founded CNN and forever changed the way Americans consume news, died Wednesday at age 87, according to a statement from Turner Enterprises.
Turner revolutionized television journalism when he launched CNN in 1980, creating the world’s first 24-hour cable news network and ushering in a new era of nonstop live coverage that reshaped politics, culture and media worldwide.
The outspoken businessman became one of the most recognizable figures in American media, earning the nickname “The Mouth of the South” for his brash style, public feuds and willingness to challenge industry norms.
Born in Ohio and based for decades in Atlanta, Turner built a sprawling media empire that helped define cable television. Beyond CNN, his holdings included the pioneering superstation WTBS, movie channels, cartoon programming and sports franchises that turned Atlanta into a national media hub.
Turner owned the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks during the height of his media expansion, helping elevate the Braves into one of baseball’s most recognizable brands through nationwide cable broadcasts.
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Ted Turner, the billionaire media entrepreneur and philanthropist who launched the 24-hour cable TV news revolution when he founded CNN in 1980, has died. He was 87. https://t.co/CboJPpPBiC pic.twitter.com/DOKk9QM120
— CNN (@CNN) May 6, 2026
