Ted Turner, the founder of the 24-hour news channel CNN, has died at the age of 87, with the cause of death not yet disclosed, CNN reports citing Turner Enterprises.
Turner launched CNN in 1980, making it the world’s first 24-hour cable news network.
Before that, he built Turner Broadcasting System, betting early on the rise of cable television.
His name later became associated with channels including TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, and Turner Classic Movies.
CNN remained his flagship project.
Beyond media, Turner owned sports teams including the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks, and was active in philanthropy and environmental initiatives, donating $1 billion to help establish a UN foundation.
In later years, he made fewer public appearances.
In 2018, Turner revealed he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a condition affecting memory and cognitive function.
In early 2025, he was treated for pneumonia and later underwent rehabilitation.
He is survived by five children, fourteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
By Bakhtiyar Abbasov
