Ted Turner, the groundbreaking media executive who launched CNN and helped redefine 24-hour television news, has died aged 87.
The news was announced Wednesday by Turner Enterprises and later confirmed by a family spokesperson to The New York Times. CNN also reported the death.
In a tribute released following Turner’s passing, CNN Worldwide chairman and chief executive Mark Thompson described him as a bold and deeply engaged leader whose instincts changed the direction of broadcast journalism.
“He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN,” Thompson said, praising Turner’s willingness to take risks and trust unconventional ideas.
Turner revolutionised the media landscape when he launched CNN, creating the world’s first 24-hour television news network.
The channel fundamentally altered how audiences consumed breaking news, turning global events into real-time shared experiences for viewers across continents.
Beyond broadcasting, Turner became known for his extensive philanthropic work and support for international cooperation. In 1998, he established the United Nations Foundation after donating a then-unprecedented $1 billion to the United Nations.
The foundation said Turner hoped the initiative would strengthen support for the UN, encourage partnerships and reinforce American leadership within the international body.
Turner also founded the Nuclear Threat Initiative, an organisation focused on reducing dangers posed by nuclear, biological and emerging technological threats.
His influence on international media and politics earned him widespread recognition. In 1991, Time magazine named him Person of the Year, citing his role in transforming viewers around the world into “instant witnesses of history.”
During the 1990s, Turner sold Turner Broadcasting System — which included CNN and other media assets — to Time Warner Inc., a move that reshaped the American media industry.
In later years, Turner spoke publicly about his health challenges. In 2018, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a progressive neurological disorder. He was also briefly hospitalised in 2025 after developing a mild case of pneumonia.
According to CNN, Turner is survived by five children, 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
His death marks the passing of one of the most influential figures in modern media history, whose innovations permanently changed how news is delivered around the world.
