Ted Turner, a legendary television mogul who launched CNN, passed away on Wednesday, May 6, at the age of 87, Turner Enterprises announced in a statement.
And with that, many tributes have poured in for the television visionary, including from the Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, Mark Thompson.
“Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement,â Thompson said in a statement. âHe was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN. Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all take a moment today to recognize him and his impact on our lives and the world.â
Beloved CNN journalist Wolf Blitzer also shared some kind words about Turner during his time on-air on Wednesday morning, remembering him as “a legend, he revolutionized the television business by creating the first 24-hour news channel right here at CNN.â
âWeâre all here doing this because of Ted,â co-anchor Pamela Brown shared.
Atlanta Braves & Hawks Pay Tribute To Their Former Owner
Among Turner’s numerous business ventures, he was a former owner of the Atlanta Braves and Hawks.
Specifically, he purchased the Braves in January 1976, wanting to help turn the club around. They went on to win the World Series under his ownership in 1995.
“Our good friend and former owner, Ted Turner, was one of a kind — a brilliant businessman, consummate showman and passionate fan of his beloved Braves,” the team said in a statement. “Ted’s visionary leadership and innovative approach to broadcast television transformed the Braves into ‘America’s Team.’ Under his stewardship, the ballclub experienced one of the greatest runs of sustained excellence in Major League Baseball history and brought a World Series championship to Atlanta in 1995.”
“Ted was also a legendary philanthropist whose compassion and generosity extended across the globe,” the team continued. “We will miss you, Ted. You helped make us who we are today, and the Atlanta Braves are forever grateful for the impact you made on our organization and in our community.”
As for the Hawks, he bought a majority stake in the organization in 1977, expressing at the time that he did so to help keep the team in Atlanta. During his time as an owner, the Hawks made the playoffs 15 times and even retired a jersey in honor of him in 2004.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Ted Turner — a true original, a visionary, and a force of nature whose impact will be felt for generations,” Hawks principal owner Tony Ressler said in a statement. “… For me personally, owning the Atlanta Hawks and following in his footsteps — even in a small way — has been one of the great honors of my life.”
“What set Ted apart was not only his ambition and creativity, but his belief in people and his instinct to empower those around him to think bigger and move faster,” Hawks CEO Steve Koonin added. “We all strived to find our ‘Inner Ted’, his unconventional leadership and deep commitments to philanthropy will continue to inspire for generations.”
Ric Flair Remembers Ted Turner As A Man Who ‘Wasn’t Afraid Of Taking Risks’
In an emotional post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Ric Flair remembered the media mogul.
“So Sorry To Hear About The Passing Of The Great Ted Turner! The Man That Created Cable Before Cable Was Cool! He Created CNN And Look At It Now! He Rolled The Dice And Wasnât Afraid Of Taking Risks. He Won The Americaâs Cup For Sailing! His Office Looked Like The Hall Of Fame Which Included A Picture Of Him And Khrushchev. On Top Of All Of That, He Created So Many Opportunities For So Many Wrestlers Because Of His Love For Wrestling. Rest In Peace My Friend! Thank You For The Memorable Personal Times That We Spent Together,” he wrote.
The post Tributes Pour In For TV Visionary Ted Turner Following His Passing At 87 appeared first on EntertainmentNow.