Ted Turner, the man who founded CNN and at one point owned the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks, has passed away. He was 87 years old.
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According to CNN, Turner died peacefully on Wednesday surrounded by his family. He is survived by five children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
An Ohio native, he took over the billboard company, Turner Outdoor Advertising, in 1963 after the death of his father. He first began buying radio stations before moving into the world of television. He created the first "SuperStation" when he beamed Channel 17's signal to a satellite in 1976.
He purchased the rights to air Atlanta Braves games during the 1970s, and then he purchased the team outright. He also bought the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA.
We'll miss you, Ted ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ZvQoG6lwh7
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 6, 2026
The Braves enjoyed significant success during Turner's decades owning the team. The MLB franchise won the division numerous times, and it reached the World Series in 1991, 1992, and 1995. The team lost in the first two trips to the World Series under Turner, but it celebrated the championship in 1995.
"Our good friend and former owner, Ted Turner, was one of a kind — a brilliant businessman, consummate showman and passionate fan of his beloved Braves," the team said in a statement.
"Ted's visionary leadership and innovative approach to broadcast television transformed the Braves into 'America's Team.' Under his stewardship, the ballclub experienced one of the greatest runs of sustained success in Major League Baseball history and brought a World Series championship to Atlanta in 1995."
While Turner continued to run the MLB franchise, he also turned his attention to the news industry. He sought to provide news to people like him who went home after the 6:30 p.m. edition aired.
Turner partnered with Reese Schonfeld and officially launched CNN on June 1, 1980. This 24-hour news station has been on the air ever since. It also expanded with CNN2 — now HLN — in 1982 and CNN International in 1985.
"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."
