Washington: Ted Turner, the visionary American businessman who revolutionised global television journalism by launching the world’s first 24-hour news channel, has died at the age of 87. His family confirmed that he passed away at his residence near Tallahassee, Florida.
Turner reshaped the media landscape in 1980 with the launch of CNN, introducing round-the-clock television news at a time when the concept was widely dismissed as commercially risky. The channel went on to redefine how audiences consumed breaking news and became a model for modern broadcast journalism worldwide.
Ted Turner, the brash sportsman and entrepreneur whose ambition and instincts led to a media empire that included the groundbreaking news network CNN, died at age 87, CNN reported, citing a press release from Turner Enterprises https://t.co/Jr03rMtnUf pic.twitter.com/GXpuNHss3Z
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Over the years, Turner expanded his media footprint by building a powerful cable television empire that included networks such as TBS and TNT, both of which remain influential in entertainment broadcasting.
Apart from media, Turner was deeply involved in sports ownership, environmental advocacy and philanthropic initiatives. He earned a reputation as a daring entrepreneur who invested aggressively in cable and satellite television long before the industry became mainstream.
Despite financial setbacks and criticism during the early years of his ventures, Turner persevered and transformed his businesses into a global media powerhouse spanning news, sports and entertainment.
In 2018, Turner publicly revealed that he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a progressive neurological disorder. His death marks the end of an era in television journalism, with industry observers crediting him for permanently changing the way news is produced and delivered across the world.
