The sports and media world is mourning the loss of a true pioneer. Ted Turner, the visionary founder of CNN and a transformative figure in sports ownership, passed away at the age of 87. His impact on how we consume news, sports, and entertainment is immeasurable.
Turner didn't just change television—he reshaped the sports landscape. As owner of the Atlanta Braves, he turned a regional team into "America's Team" by broadcasting games nationally on his superstation WTBS. That 1995 World Series title? That was his. He also owned the Atlanta Hawks and helped elevate the NBA's profile during cable's early days. And let's not forget his ownership of World Championship Wrestling (WCW), which gave the WWE a run for its money and turned pro wrestling into a global phenomenon.
President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to offer his condolences, calling Turner "one of the Greats of All Time" and a personal friend. But in typical Trump fashion, he didn't stop there. He spent much of his message criticizing the current state of CNN, the network Turner founded and later sold.
"Ted Turner, one of the Greats of All Time, just died. He founded CNN, sold it, and was personally devastated by the Deal because the new ownership took CNN, his 'baby,' and destroyed it. It became woke, and everything that he is not all about. Maybe the new buyers, wonderful people, will be able to bring it back to its former credibility and glory. Regardless, however, one of the Greats of Broadcast History, and a friend of mine. Whenever I needed him, he was there, always willing to fight for a good cause!" Trump wrote.
Turner's legacy goes far beyond news. He was a sports mogul who understood the power of television. By launching TNT and securing major sports rights, including the NBA, he helped cable become a dominant force in sports broadcasting. His influence is still felt today in every nationally televised game.
The tributes are pouring in from across the sports world. For more on the reaction to Turner's passing, check out the flood of tributes from athletes and executives. The wrestling community, in particular, remembers his role in the Monday Night Wars, a period that transformed the industry. For more on that era, see how the wrestling world mourns the loss of another icon.
Turner's passing marks the end of an era. He was a man who saw the future of media and sports, and he built it. His vision turned Atlanta into a sports and media hub, and his legacy will live on in every game broadcast on cable, every wrestling match that pushed boundaries, and every news story that shaped our world.
