Ted Turner

Easton Press Ted Turner books

Call Me Ted - signed first edition - 2008

 

Ted Turner biography

Ted Turner, born Robert Edward Turner III on November 19, 1938, in Cincinnati, Ohio, was an American media mogul, entrepreneur, and philanthropist known for his groundbreaking contributions to the media industry and his extensive philanthropic endeavors. Turner's upbringing was marked by both privilege and adversity. His father, Robert Edward Turner Jr., owned an advertising company, while his mother, Florence Turner, suffered from severe depression and died by suicide when Turner was only 24. After his father's death in 1963, Turner took over the family's struggling billboard business. Through his visionary leadership and innovative strategies, he transformed the company, Turner Advertising, into Turner Broadcasting System (TBS), a pioneering media conglomerate that revolutionized the television industry.

In 1970, Turner purchased a failing Atlanta UHF station, WJRJ-TV, which he later renamed WTBS. This acquisition marked the beginning of Turner's foray into television broadcasting. He pioneered the concept of "superstations," distributing WTBS via satellite to cable providers across the United States, thereby reaching a national audience and laying the foundation for the cable television revolution. Turner's most significant achievement came with the launch of Cable News Network (CNN) in 1980, the world's first 24-hour cable news channel. CNN revolutionized the way news was delivered and consumed, establishing Turner as a trailblazer in the media landscape. He later expanded his media empire to include other cable networks such as Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), and TNT. In addition to his business ventures, Turner was also an avid sports enthusiast. He acquired the Atlanta Braves baseball team in 1976 and the Atlanta Hawks basketball team in 1977, elevating their profiles and leading the Braves to unprecedented success in the 1990s.

Turner's entrepreneurial success was matched by his commitment to philanthropy and environmental conservation. He founded the Turner Foundation in 1990, dedicated to supporting environmental causes, wildlife conservation, and population control. Turner's philanthropic efforts extended to organizations such as the United Nations Foundation, which he founded in 1998 with a $1 billion donation to support UN causes.

Despite his achievements, Turner faced personal and professional challenges, including battles with depression and bipolar disorder, as well as financial setbacks. He experienced a significant loss when Time Warner merged with AOL in 2001, leading to his departure from the company he had built. Throughout his life, Ted Turner remained a larger-than-life figure, known for his bold vision, tenacity, and philanthropic spirit. His contributions to the media industry, environmental conservation, and humanitarian causes have left an indelible mark on the world. Turner's legacy as a visionary entrepreneur and dedicated philanthropist continues to inspire future generations.