Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Conversation
The Conversation
Michael J. Socolow, Professor of Communication and Journalism, University of Maine

Ted Turner didn’t just revolutionize television − he changed the way we see our world

Ted Turner attends the CNN launch event in Atlanta, Ga., on June 1, 1980. Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Ted Turner, who died on April 6, 2026, was bright, shrewd and, most of all, lucky. The cable TV visionary proved to be in the right place, at the right time, to change television and video news forever.

Most of his big gambles, on things such as the MGM studio and library, which led to the creation of the Turner Classic Movies channel, paid off handsomely.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.