Media entrepreneur and CNN founder Ted Turner, whose influence reshaped cable television and 24-hour news, died Wednesday at the age of 87.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Ted Turner, the outspoken media mogul who founded CNN and helped pioneer the modern cable television industry, died Wednesday at the age of 87, according to a statement from Turner Enterprises.

Born in Ohio before building his business empire in Atlanta, Turner became one of the most recognizable figures in American media. Known for his blunt style and larger-than-life personality, he earned the nickname “The Mouth of the South” while transforming cable television through an aggressive expansion strategy that reshaped the broadcasting industry.

A release from Turner Enterprises, first reported by , confirmed his death Wednesday.

Turner founded CNN in 1980, launching the world’s first 24-hour cable news network. The network revolutionized television journalism by delivering around-the-clock news coverage and became one of the defining media organizations of the late 20th century.

Beyond CNN, Turner built an extensive media portfolio that included WTBS, cable movie networks, cartoon programming, and ownership stakes in professional sports franchises including the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks.

Mark Thompson, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, released a statement honoring Turner’s legacy.

“Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement,” Thompson said in a statement published by .

“He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN. Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all take a moment today to recognize him and his impact on our lives and the world.”

Turner also became known internationally for his philanthropy and environmental activism. Over the years, he donated billions of dollars to charitable causes and global initiatives, including major support for the United Nations and environmental conservation efforts.

According to , Turner disclosed in 2018 that he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a progressive neurological disorder. He was hospitalized with pneumonia early last year before later recovering at a rehabilitation facility.

Turner is survived by five children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

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