CNN founder Ted Turner, a brash and outspoken television pioneer, has died at age 87
May 6, 2026, 7:36 AM | Updated: 3:16 pm
FILE - U.S. media mogul Ted Turner poses for the photographers as he arrives prior to a dinner at the US Ambassador's residence in Paris, Dec. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu, File)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — CNN is reporting that its founder Ted Turner, the outspoken and often outrageous television pioneer, has died at age 87.
The network says Turner died Wednesday, citing a news release from Turner Enterprises.
Turner transformed an obscure Atlanta television station into the first satellite-based “superstation” and founded Cable News Network, the first 24-hour, all news TV network.
The brash southerner owned sports teams, was a champion yacht racer and was married to actress Jane Fonda for 10 years. The onetime “Mouth of the South” once quipped: “If only I had a little humility, I’d be perfect.”
