Ted Turner, Visionary Founder of CNN and Pioneer of 24-Hour News, Dies at 87

Ted Turner, the outspoken entrepreneur who revolutionized television news with the launch of CNN

Has died at the age of 87. Turner’s death was confirmed on May 6, 2026, marking the end of a remarkable career that changed how the world consumes breaking news.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern broadcasting, Turner founded CNN in 1980, creating the world’s first 24-hour news network. At the time, many critics doubted viewers would watch news around the clock, but Turner’s bold gamble transformed journalism forever. CNN became a global force, covering major world events live and setting the standard for continuous news coverage.

Born Robert Edward Turner III in Cincinnati in 1938, Turner began his career by taking over his father’s billboard business before expanding into television broadcasting. He later built a media empire that included networks such as TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, and Turner Classic Movies.

With help from Fred Flintstone and Yogi Bear, Turner launches the Cartoon Network in 1992.

Turner was known as much for his larger-than-life personality as for his business success. Nicknamed “Captain Outrageous,” he became famous for his fearless style, controversial remarks, and ambitious ideas. Beyond media, he was also a passionate philanthropist and environmentalist, donating $1 billion to establish the United Nations Foundation in 1998.

Turner, right, talks on the set of an early CNN broadcast.

In 2018, Turner publicly revealed he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a progressive neurological disorder. Reports said he had faced ongoing health challenges in recent years, including a hospitalization for pneumonia in 2025.

Tributes poured in from across the media world following news of his death. CNN executives praised Turner as a visionary leader whose influence shaped modern journalism. Actress Jane Fonda, Turner’s former wife, remembered him as a “deeply romantic” and brilliant man who transformed both television and her own life.

Though controversial at times, Turner’s legacy remains undeniable. His creation of CNN changed the pace of global reporting and forever altered the relationship between audiences and live news. More than four decades after its launch, the network he founded continues to shape conversations around the world.