Media mogul Ted Turner, the man who changed revolutionized television news, has died.
He was 87.
The media maverick, who founded CNN, the pioneering 24-hour network, died peacefully Wednesday, surrounded by his family, according to a news release from Turner Enterprises.
Turner was labeled “The Mouth of the South” for his outspoken nature.
His media empire included cable’s first superstation and popular channels for movies and cartoons.
He also owned professional sports teams like the Atlanta Braves.
Turner founded the United Nations Foundation.
He was an activist who sought the worldwide elimination of nuclear weapons as well as a conservationist who became one of the foremost landowners in the United States.
In 1991, Turner was named Time magazine’s Man of the Year for “influencing the dynamic of events and turning viewers in 150 countries into instant witnesses of history.”
Turner called CNN, the “greatest achievement” of his life.
“Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement,” Mark Thompson, Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, said in a statement. “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 is survived by his five children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
