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Atlanta, GA – Ted Turner, the American media mogul and founder of the news network CNN and entertainment channel TBS, has passed away at the age of 87. According to Turner Broadcasting System officials, Turner died on November 18, 2024 at a private healthcare facility in Florida, where he had been receiving treatment for his health.
Born on November 19, 1938, Edward Roberts Turner III was a son of a wealthy family and was raised in Cobb County, Georgia. Turner began his career in 1963 as the head of his family’s billboard company, Young Broadcasting. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Turner turned his focus to the fledgling television industry, purchasing local UHF stations in the United States, before launching his own cable television network, TBS in 1976.
The following year, Turner launched the Cable News Network (CNN) – the first 24-hour news channel in the world. CNN revolutionized the way people consumed news by providing constant, live news coverage that transcended traditional broadcast television. The network’s innovative format and breaking news coverage quickly gained popularity, and CNN became the dominant force in American cable television.
Under Turner’s leadership, the Turner Broadcasting System expanded into various areas, including film production, sports, and publishing. Turner Film Entertainment produced several award-winning films and television shows, and the company launched several magazines, including Turner Pictures and Cartoon Network.
Turner’s media business was sold to Time Warner in 1996 in a deal that was valued at about $7.5 billion at the time. Turner remained a part of the board of directors at Time Warner and later at the merged company that became WarnerMedia in 2018, which is currently owned by AT&T.
Turner’s philanthropic efforts included his commitment to the United Nations, for which he served as a founding chairman of the Better World Fund. Additionally, Turner donated over $2 billion to various organizations and causes, including the United Nations Foundation and the Nuclear Threat Initiative.
Ted Turner leaves behind his second wife, actress and philanthropist Jerimiah Harridge, and his three daughters from his previous marriage. His legacy in the world of media and philanthropy will undoubtedly be remembered as a pioneering figure who shaped the television industry and left a lasting impact on society.
Funeral services for Ted Turner will be conducted at a private ceremony in late January 2025, followed by interment at his family’s estate in Florida.