A Heartbreaking Farewell to Media Mogul Ted Turner at 87

A profoundly impactful media titan, who spent a decade married to Hollywood superstar Jane Fonda, has passed away.

Ted Turner, the visionary founder of CNN who completely transformed television journalism by launching the very first 24-hour cable news channel, died on Wednesday at the age of 87. This news was confirmed in a statement from Turner Enterprises and reported by CNN.

Shortly prior to turning 80, Turner disclosed his battle with Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive neurological condition leading to cognitive decline and physical weakness. Furthermore, he was reportedly receiving care at a rehabilitation facility in early 2025 following a severe case of pneumonia.

His monumental career achievements included establishing the Turner Broadcasting System, the parent company of beloved cable networks like TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network, and Turner Classic Movies. Additionally, he was the former owner of the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise and shared a ten-year marriage with Academy Award-winning actress Jane Fonda.

Famed for his bold, unfiltered demeanor and his signature thin mustache, Turner was a multifaceted individual. He was a dedicated philanthropist who created the United Nations Foundation, a passionate bison rancher and environmental conservationist, an avid yacht enthusiast, and a vocal political advocate.

United States President Donald Trump acknowledged Turner’s death through a post on Truth Social today, labeling the CNN pioneer as “one of the Greats of All Time.” He affectionately referred to him as “a friend of mine” who was “always willing to fight for a good cause.”

Mark Thompson, the chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, released a statement to The Post on Wednesday, saying, “Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own Judgement. He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN.”

Thompson further added, “Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all take a moment today to recognise him and his impact on our lives and the world.”

Rupert Murdoch, the Chairman Emeritus of News Corp and Fox Corporation, similarly honored his long-time friend and industry peer.

“Ted Turner’s vision for 24-hour cable news transformed the media industry and gave viewers everywhere a front seat to witness history unfold. His impact as a trailblazer has left an indelible mark on our cultural landscape,” Mr. Murdoch expressed. “He was a great American and friend.”

The Ohio-born entrepreneur officially launched the Cable News Network on June 1, 1980, operating out of a repurposed Jewish country club in Atlanta. He eventually expanded the endeavor into an unstoppable, international news powerhouse equipped with numerous global bureaus.

In the beginning, skepticism loomed over whether CNN could successfully claim a spot in the competitive broadcast news arena. Some detractors mockingly referred to it as “Chicken Noodle News,” making fun of the channel’s modest budget and early broadcasting hiccups.

However, Turner’s creation undeniably validated its worth during the Persian Gulf War in 1991. It stood as the only American network capable of broadcasting a live, unfiltered feed straight from Baghdad while bombs lit up the night sky.

CNN’s live, on-the-ground reporting of monumental events—like the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the student demonstrations in China’s Tiananmen Square, and the tragic Space Shuttle Challenger disaster—cemented its position as the premier source of international news for the American public.

Affectionately dubbed “The Mouth of the South” due to his audacious personality, Turner engaged in a legendary professional rivalry with Murdoch (the owner of Fox News and The New York Post) and maintained a highly unanticipated friendship with Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

Throughout his life, he underwent three marriages and three divorces. His third union, with Hollywood actress Jane Fonda in 1991, endured for almost ten years.

When competing media pioneers rushed in to establish their own 24-hour news channels, Turner accumulated massive debt while embarking on an aggressive acquisition spree in a desperate bid to preserve his corporate empire.

Ultimately, he was pressured into selling both CNN and the Turner Broadcasting System to Time Warner for approximately $7.34 billion in 1996. He later expressed profound regret over the transaction, describing it as the “worst day of my life.”

By 2000, Time Warner was acquired by AOL—a move that is largely regarded as one of the most disastrous media mergers in American history. Turner himself referred to the buyout as “one of the biggest disasters that have occurred to our country.”

In his Wednesday social media update, Trump stated: “He [Turner] founded CNN, sold it, and was personally devastated by the Deal because the new ownership took CNN, his ‘baby,’ and destroyed it.”

“It became woke, and everything that he is not all about. Maybe the new buyers, wonderful people, will be able to bring it back to its former credibility and glory,” Trump continued.

Warner Bros. Discovery, the current parent corporation of CNN, is presently undergoing an acquisition by Paramount Skydance—a company spearheaded by the billionaire Ellison family—in a monumental $111 billion agreement.

“Ted was a visionary, a trailblazer, and a foundational force behind many of the brands that are central to Warner Bros. Discovery today,” WBD CEO David Zaslav wrote in a memo addressed to employees on Wednesday.

“On behalf of our entire company, we extend our deepest condolences to Ted’s family and to the many colleagues and partners whose lives and careers were shaped by his vision. It is our responsibility to honour and carry forward the legacy he built.”