Media mogul Ted Turner, the creator of CNN, has passed away at the age of 87

Ted Turner/Deposit Photos

Ted Turner, the creator of CNN and the 24-hour news cycle, has passed away at the age of 87. He reportedly died from Lewy body dementia.

Turner was a media mogul who owned the Turner Broadcasting System, which included TBS (the first "superstation"), TNT (Turner Network Television), Cartoon Network, and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). He also created the cartoon Captain Planet, which aimed to educate children about the environment and the planet, and acquired MGM's film library.

As an innovative force in media, Turner purchased WTCG in Atlanta, with the goal of developing it into CNN. In 1976, he made cable history by beaming his network’s signal up to a satellite, transforming it into cable TV’s first superstation and allowing it to reach subscribers nationwide.

In addition to his media ventures, Turner bought the Atlanta Braves baseball team in 1976. This proved to be a brilliant move, as he aired Braves content on his network every night. This marketing strategy led to impressive ratings and filled seats at games, helping the Braves cultivate a significant out-of-market fan base and establishing them as one of “America’s Teams” before they achieved widespread success.

Turner was also one of America's largest landowners at one point, owning 2 million acres of land. His motto was “Save Everything," and he believed that land is the only thing that lasts.

In addition to his extensive career in media, Ted Turner, often referred to as the "Mouth of the South," was known for being straightforward and vocal about his beliefs. He was a prominent advocate for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, considering them an existential threat to humanity.

Ted is survived by his five children. His brilliance and leadership in media will be remembered.

To subscribe to Volume 82, click the link. To follow our Instagram, click here; for TikTok, click here!