Ted Turner, the founder of CNN and World Championship Wrestling (WCW), has died, according to CNN. He was 87.
His cause of death has not been confirmed, but the billionaire mogul had been battling Lewy body dementia since 2018.
His family said he passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, according to a statement read by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.
“Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement,” Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide Mark Thompson. “He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN. Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand. We will all take a moment today to recognize him and his impact on our lives and the world.”
Ted Turner Founded World Championship Wrestling
GettyTed Turner helped kick off the “Monday Night Wars”
In 1988, Turner founded World Championship Wrestling, which aired on his Superstation WTBS for nearly three decades.
During its prime, WCW blossomed into the most prominent rival to Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation, which later became the WWE.
Backed by Turner’s resources, wrestling icons Sting, Ric Flair, Booker T, Diamond Dallas Paige, and Goldberg all cut their teeth in WCW.
In 1995, Eric Bischoff, with Turner’s support, secured a primetime slot on TNT for WCW Monday Nitro, which initiated the heralded “Monday Night Wars” against the WWF’s Monday Night Raw.
During this time, the weekly wrestling shows competed for American viewership. It is regarded as one of the most creative and successful eras of pro wrestling.
Despite WWF being established earlier, WCW achieved dominance for 83 consecutive weeks. Nitro outperformed Raw in television ratings, a noteworthy achievement fueled by Turner’s relentless pursuit of greatness.
Although Turner ultimately sold WCW to his business rival Vince McMahon in 2001, his decade-long impact on the industry forever changed the landscape of American pro wrestling.
Ted Turner Revolutionized American Television
GettyTed Turner helped establish “superstations” in America
Just as he did in the wrestling industry, Turner made a massive imprint on American television.
The Ohio-born businessman founded CNN, the first 24-hour cable news channel.
Additionally, his Turner Broadcasting System helped establish the “superstation” concept and launched channels such as TBS, TNT and Cartoon Network.
Originating in the late 1970s, these stations (such as TBS and WGN) enabled local content to reach a national audience. They often feature movies, reruns, and sports.
Turner began his media career at the age of 24 when he took over his father’s billboard company, Turner Outdoor Advertising, in the wake of the elder Turner’s suicide.
Ted Turner Previously Owned the Atlanta Braves and Hawks
GettyTed Turner previously owned the Atlanta Braves and Hawks
A man of many interests, Turner ventured into sports ownership before establishing WCW.
Turner bought the Atlanta Braves in 1976 and later owned the Hawks. The CNN founder owned the Braves for 20 years and used his WTBS station to broadcast games nationally.
He purchased the team for $12 million to keep it in Atlanta and later presided over their 1995 World Series championship.
During his 19-year ownership of the Atlanta Hawks, the team made the playoffs 15 times. A commemorative banner was later hung in his honor.
WCW Founder Ted Turner Dies at 87