CNN founder Ted Turner, a pioneer of cable TV news, dies at 87

In 1991, Turner was named Time magazine’s Man of the Year for “influencing the dynamic of events and turning viewers in 150 countries into instant witnesses of history.”

by e4m Staff
Published: Jun 16, 2026 11:48 AM | 1 min read

Ted Turner, the founder of CNN and a prominent media figure, passed away at the age of 87, surrounded by family.
He was known for creating the first 24-hour news network, significantly transforming television news.
In addition to his media ventures, Turner was a philanthropist, conservationist, and activist, notably founding the United Nations Foundation and advocating for nuclear disarmament.
Turner also contributed to environmental education through initiatives like the Captain Planet cartoon and played a key role in bison reintroduction efforts in the American West.

Ted Turner, the media maverick and philanthropist who founded CNN, a pioneering 24-hour network that revolutionized television news, died peacefully Wednesday, surrounded by his family, according to a news release from Turner Enterprises. He was 87.

The Ohio-born Atlanta businessman, nicknamed “The Mouth of the South” for his outspoken nature, built a media empire that encompassed cable’s first superstation and popular channels for movies and cartoons, plus professional sports teams like the Atlanta Braves.

Turner was also an internationally known yachtsman; a philanthropist who founded the United Nations Foundation; an activist who sought the worldwide elimination of nuclear weapons; and a conservationist who became one of the foremost landowners in the United States. He played a crucial role in reintroducing bison to the American west. He even created the Captain Planet cartoon to educate kids about the environment.

But it was his audacious vision to deliver news from around the world in real time, at all hours, that really made him famous – once his idea finally took off.