The legacy of Ted Turner continues to be felt across multiple industries following news of his passing at the age of 87.
The passing was first reported by CNN, the pioneering network Turner launched as the first 24-hour cable news channel. Turner had been dealing with Lewy body dementia since revealing his diagnosis in 2018. Earlier in 2025, he was hospitalized with a mild case of pneumonia, though he later recovered during a stay at a rehabilitation facility.
Turner’s footprint in television history remains massive. Beyond CNN, he helped reshape cable broadcasting through ventures like WTBS, which popularized the superstation concept, as well as TNT and Cartoon Network—each becoming major players in their respective spaces.
For pro wrestling fans, Turner’s influence is especially significant.
He was the driving force behind World Championship Wrestling, bringing the promotion into national prominence after acquiring Jim Crockett Promotions. Under Turner’s leadership, WCW became a true competitor on a global stage.
That rise was fueled in large part by Nitro on TNT, which went head-to-head with WWE RAW during the Monday Night Wars, one of the most memorable and competitive eras in wrestling history. WCW also expanded its weekly presence with Thunder airing on TBS.
His willingness to invest in wrestling—and trust bold creative risks—helped shape an entire era.
“Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement,” Mark Thompson, Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, said in a statement. “He 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.”
