Ted Turner, Founder of CNN, Dies at 87

Ted Turner, the American businessman who founded CNN, died on May 6, 2026, at the age of 87. Turner launched the Cable News Network in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1980, making it the world's first 24-hour television news channel. His bold idea completely changed how people receive news every day.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1938, Turner grew up in the American South and took over his father's outdoor advertising business at a young age. He later invested in television and became one of the most powerful media leaders in the United States. His company owned several TV networks and sports teams, including the Atlanta Braves baseball team.

Many people doubted CNN when it first launched, calling it the "Chicken Noodle Network." However, the channel gained worldwide attention for its live coverage of major events, including the Gulf War in 1991. By the 1990s, CNN had become one of the most trusted news sources on the planet.

Turner was also well known for his generous support of important causes. In 1997, he donated one billion dollars to the United Nations, which was one of the largest charitable gifts in history at the time. He also worked to protect wildlife and natural land across North America.

His influence on modern media is difficult to overstate. News channels in nearly every country have followed the 24-hour broadcasting model he created in 1980. Journalists and media experts around the world are remembering Turner as a man who truly shaped how humanity stays informed.