Ted Turner, CNN founder, passes away at the age of 87

Ted Turner, Media Mogul, Dies at 87

Ted Turner, a prominent figure in US media and entertainment, has passed away at the age of 87. According to a statement released by Turner Enterprises, no cause of death was disclosed.

Turner’s career spanned multiple industries, including sports, television, film, and philanthropy. He founded the Cable News Network (CNN) in 1980, which became a pioneering 24-hour cable news network. The launch of CNN marked a significant shift in the way people consumed news, as viewers began to switch from traditional broadcast TV to cable.

In addition to CNN, Turner’s media empire included various television networks such as TBS and TNT for sports and entertainment, Turner Classic Movies, and the Cartoon Network. He also acquired the MGM/UA movie studio and merged it with his own company, Turner Broadcasting System, in 1996.

Turner was born on November 19, 1938, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Before turning to media, he took over a family advertising business after his father’s death by suicide. Turner attended Brown University but was expelled before graduating. He went on to buy several radio stations and eventually launched CNN with the profits from his nationwide Turner Broadcasting System.

Turner’s personal life included high-profile marriages, such as to actress Jane Fonda, and involvement in various charitable and environmental causes. In 2018, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a degenerative nerve disease.

The news of Turner’s passing was confirmed by CNN, which reported on his death without disclosing the cause.

Source: Al Jazeera