Born in Cincinnati in 1938, Turner eventually took control of his father’s struggling billboard company following a family tragedy in the early 1960s. What followed would become one of the most remarkable business success stories in American media history.

In 1970, Turner purchased Atlanta television station WJRJ-TV, later renamed WTBS. At the time, few could have predicted the station would become the foundation of a broadcasting empire that changed television forever. 

Turner’s boldest move came in 1976 when he transformed WTBS into the nation’s first “superstation,” using satellite technology to broadcast Atlanta-based programming across the country. Suddenly, viewers far beyond Georgia had access to Atlanta news, entertainment, and sports. In many ways, Turner introduced Atlanta to America. That exposure proved invaluable for the city’s image and economic growth. During a period when many Southern cities were still fighting outdated stereotypes, Turner positioned Atlanta as innovative, modern, and ambitious. His media ventures projected a city on the rise. 

Turner’s influence extended well beyond television. His acquisition of the Atlanta Braves and later the Atlanta Hawks helped solidify Atlanta’s identity as a major sports market. Under Turner’s ownership, Braves games became nationally televised through TBS, turning the team into “America’s Team” during the 1980s and 1990s. Fans across the country who had never visited Georgia suddenly associated Atlanta with professional sports excellence. 

Few individuals have left a larger imprint on Atlanta’s modern identity than Ted Turner, the outspoken entrepreneur and media pioneer whose ambitious ideas helped reshape, not only the city’s economy, but also its national and international reputation. Through broadcasting, sports, philanthropy, and civic influence, Turner played a defining role in Atlanta’s rise from a regional Southern city into a globally recognized cultural and business center.

The success of CNN fundamentally changed both journalism and Atlanta’s place in the world. The network turned the city into an international media center and attracted business investment, tourism, and professional talent. For decades, the CNN Center stood as one of Atlanta’s most recognizable landmarks and a symbol of the city’s growing influence.

Long before Atlanta became known as a booming media hub, a sports powerhouse, and one of the South’s most influential metropolitan cities, one man saw possibilities far beyond the city skyline.

That man was Ted Turner.

The media giant died peacefully on May 6, 2026, at the age of 87. According to Turner Enterprises, he passed away surrounded by members of his family at his home in Lamont, Florida. His five children Laura Turner Seydel, Robert “Teddy” Turner IV, Rhett Turner, Beau Turner, and Jennie Turner Garlington 

No official cause of death was immediately released. However, Turner publicly revealed in 2018 that he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a progressive neurological disorder. In early 2025, reports also confirmed he had been hospitalized with pneumonia before recovering at a rehabilitation facility.

He has largely remained out of the public spotlight in recent years while continuing to be recognized for his historic contributions to media, sports, philanthropy, and the city of Atlanta. 

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