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Ted Turner, the pioneering media mogul and former owner of the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, and World Championship Wrestling (WCW), passed away on Wednesday at the age of 87, his company, Turner Enterprises, announced. Turner had publicly disclosed a diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive brain disorder, in 2018, and was hospitalized for pneumonia in 2025, which contributed to his declining health. His death marks the end of an era for a figure whose audacious business acumen and unconventional leadership irrevocably reshaped the landscape of sports broadcasting, professional wrestling, and global news.
Born Robert Edward Turner III in Cincinnati, Ohio, Turner became synonymous with Atlanta, transforming its professional sports franchises and establishing a media empire that revolutionized how information and entertainment were consumed worldwide. His ventures included the founding of CNN, the world’s first 24-hour cable news channel, and TBS, which became the inaugural cable "superstation," along with TNT.
The Atlanta Braves, in a statement released following his death, lauded Turner as "one of a kind – a brilliant businessman, consummate showman and passionate fan of his beloved Braves." The organization acknowledged his profound influence, stating, "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." The statement concluded, "Ted was also a legendary philanthropist whose compassion and generosity extended across the globe. 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."
Turner’s foray into professional sports began in 1976 when he acquired the Atlanta Braves for a reported $12 million. At the time, the Braves were a struggling franchise, frequently languishing at the bottom of the National League standings. Turner, recognizing the potential synergy between sports and his burgeoning cable television interests, ingeniously positioned the team as the flagship programming for his WTBS network. This move, unprecedented in its scope, allowed Braves games to be broadcast nationwide, effectively creating the concept of a "superstation" and laying the groundwork for the team’s eventual designation as "America’s Team."
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His ownership was marked by a series of unconventional and often flamboyant promotional tactics. In 1977, in a move that underscored his hands-on and sometimes impulsive approach, Turner briefly managed the Braves for one game, a decision swiftly curtailed by the National League. While the early years of his tenure saw limited on-field success, Turner’s relentless promotional efforts and the nationwide reach of TBS provided the Braves with an economic lifeline and a growing national fanbase.
The fortunes of the Braves began to shift significantly with Turner’s strategic hiring decisions. In 1978, he brought in Bobby Cox as manager, a move that would prove foundational for future success. Cox’s second tenure, beginning in 1990, coincided with the assembly of an extraordinary roster. Turner’s recruitment of general manager John Schuerholz from the Kansas City Royals in 1990 was another pivotal moment, leading to the development of an unparalleled homegrown talent base, including future Hall of Famers like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Chipper Jones.
This combination of managerial stability, strategic player development, and aggressive acquisitions ushered in an unprecedented era of dominance for the Braves. From 1991, the team embarked on a remarkable run, securing 14 consecutive division titles – a record in professional sports. This dynasty culminated in the 1995 World Series championship, a landmark achievement for both the franchise and the city of Atlanta. The Braves’ almost nightly presence on TBS broadcasts during this period cemented their status as a national brand, making their star players household names across the United States. In 1996, at the height of the Braves’ success and as part of a massive corporate merger, Turner sold the team to Time Warner for approximately $400 million.
Beyond baseball, Turner’s influence extended to other professional sports. He owned the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks from 1977 to 1982. During his stewardship, the Hawks achieved a modest record, winning a single playoff series. While his tenure with the Hawks was less celebrated than with the Braves, it demonstrated his commitment to integrating professional sports into his broader media portfolio.
Perhaps one of Turner’s most impactful, albeit controversial, ventures in sports entertainment was his entry into professional wrestling. In 1988, he founded World Championship Wrestling (WCW) after acquiring the assets of Jim Crockett Promotions. Under Turner’s financial backing and strategic vision, WCW emerged as the primary rival to Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). The "Monday Night Wars," a weekly ratings battle between WCW’s "Monday Nitro" and WWF’s "Monday Night Raw," became a cultural phenomenon in the late 1990s. WCW’s innovative programming, featuring high-profile talent acquisitions and storylines like the New World Order (nWo), enabled "Monday Nitro" to surpass "Monday Night Raw" in television ratings for an impressive 83 consecutive weeks, fundamentally altering the professional wrestling landscape. Despite its significant success, WCW ultimately lost momentum, and its assets were purchased by the WWF from AOL Time Warner in 2001, marking the end of Turner’s direct involvement in professional wrestling.
Turner’s competitive spirit was not confined to the boardroom or sports arena. He was an accomplished yachtsman, famously winning the prestigious America’s Cup race in 1977. His competitive drive and entrepreneurial spirit earned him widespread recognition, including being named Time Magazine’s "Man of the Year" in 1991 for his groundbreaking leadership in cable news. In Atlanta, his legacy was further honored when the former Centennial Olympic Stadium, which hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics, was rebranded as Turner Field and served as the home of the Braves from 1997 to 2016.
Ted Turner is survived by his five children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. His passing marks the departure of a figure whose unique blend of innovation, showmanship, and philanthropy left an enduring and multifaceted impact on sports, media, and global affairs.
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