CNN Founder Ted Turner Dies at 87

New York. Cable News Network (CNN) founder and media entrepreneur Ted Turner has died at the age of 87. 

Turner started the modern news culture of broadcasting news around the clock worldwide by establishing the CNN channel.

Turner launched CNN in 1980 as the world's first dedicated channel for continuous news broadcasting, which soon became an important and influential part of the media world.

CNN Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman Mark Thompson issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over Turner's death. Remembering Turner, Thompson said, 'Ted was an extremely active and dedicated pioneer. He was fearless and courageous, and always ready to listen to his inner voice and believe in his decisions.' 

He said that Turner was and always would be the guiding spirit of CNN, and that CNN has reached its current position standing on the shoulders of such a great personality.

In the early days, CNN faced great struggles to establish itself in the market. However, it proved its effectiveness and importance by intensely and continuously covering major events such as the assassination attempt on US President Ronald Reagan in 1981 and the Challenger space shuttle accident in 1986.

Especially during the Gulf War in 1990-1991, by broadcasting continuous live updates from the battlefield, this network established its unique and strong identity worldwide. It is because of Turner's visionary thinking that the culture of watching news 24 hours a day has developed worldwide.

BBC