RIP Ted Turner

[Michael_ Gee]

CNN reporting its founder is dead at 87. Invented the very mixed blessing of cable news. America's Cup winner. Atlanta Braves owner. Allegedly 86ed from every bar in Newport, R.I. during said Cup, an amazing feat on its own All in all, quite a life. My favorite is when he offered Andy Messersmith a bonus to change his name to Channel, because Andy wore #17 and Channel 17 was Turner's first station and it broadcast the Braves.

 

[BurnsWhenIPee]

Damn. Gotta respect what he accomplished, and how he lived life on his terms.

 

[DanielSimpsonDay]

Calling hours are from 5:05-8:05

 

[Slacker]

CNN obit story ...​

CNN founder Ted Turner, a pioneer of cable TV news, dies at 87​

Just over a month before his 80th birthday in 2018, Turner revealed that he had Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder. In early 2025, Turner was hospitalized with a mild case of pneumonia before recovering at a rehabilitation facility.

 

[MileHigh]

NYT obit free link:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/06/...e_code=1.gVA.In7K.A9Qp5yGBfvOj&smid=url-share

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

He certainly kept Bowie Kuhn busy, with his wacky promotional gimmicks and trying to manage the team. I didn't become a Braves fan but, with SuperStation WTBS on our cable system, certainly appreciated having damn near every Braves game on TV plus the NBA on TBS and TNT. Probably doesn't get enough credit for helping to popularize the NBA (owning the Hawks, it was obviously self-interest) with the Tuesday and Friday night games on TBS and later TNT.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

AJC story ... https://www.ajc.com/news/2026/05/te...usiness-maverick-and-mouth-of-the-south-dies/

 

[nietsroob17]

Business, media, environmentalism, philanthropy, sport ... hell, even pro wrestling. His reach and influence was massive.

In an episode of Futurama, they stumbled across the "long lost city of Atlanta," and the history is that as the city sank, it's greatest figures escaped: Ted Turner, Hank Aaron and the guy who invented Coca-Cola.

Add to that a little guy named MLK and you've got a list.

RIP Ted.

 

[Oggiedoggie]

If he doesn’t look lifelike in his coffin, the mortician might have to colorize him.

 

[Slacker]

I hope we get some good stories from the great Bill Tush.
What a time that was in the days of WTCG/WTBS. ... IYKYK.

From Wiki:

One night, Turner said to Tush "Hi Bill, you're doing a good job. Are you doing what you want to do?" Tush said "I want to host the movies". The next day, WTBS' Director of Operations Sid Pike called Tush and said "You're going to host (WTBS') Academy Award Theatre."

The FCC required the station to broadcast news, so Turner suggested Tush record a 20 minute newscast to air after the end of the late night movie. The newscast was named 17 Update Early in the Morning.

It was rebroadcast at 5 am. Turner jokingly commented, "we'll have a 100% share (of the viewership ratings) at that time". Initially, the newscast was simply Tush recording a voice-over of the days' news. He signed off by saying "Have a nice night or morning, whatever the case may be". Later, Turner told Tush "Why don't we have someone on-camera doing the news? You're the announcer. Why don't you do it?"

The late night time slot and having full control over content allowed Tush to take great liberties with the news presentations. One episode saw Tush literally dragged off the set by a "kidnapper" as Tush delivered "news" of diplomats being kidnapped around the globe. Tush said "There was fake panic from the crew" as he forcibly removed from behind his news set desk.

One stunt saw Tush and his crew promoting the addition of "a new, award-winning weatherman from Cleveland, Ohio". A week-long promotion built audience interest. The day the new "weatherman" started, Tush placed an older announcer who worked off-air for the station in front of a weather map. When the "weatherman" was given his cue that he was on the air, the announcer introduced himself, grabbed his chest and "died" on air, causing another false panic on set.

Tush once delivered the news with his "co-anchor" Rex, a German Shepherd. The dog (who belonged to an associate) was shown next to Tush on set wearing a shirt and tie while eating a peanut butter sandwich. Rex appeared only on one episode but a myth grew where many people thought the dog was a nightly guest. Tush was often joined by a so-called "Unknown Newsman" who read the news while wearing a paper sack on his head. Tush and his team invented stories and false news, reporting made up holiday parades and a "rocket launch" which included footage of a paper airplane set on fire. Tush said he knew the reach of the new cable SuperStation had grown when he was invited by fans in Valdez, Alaska to be the grand marshal of their winter festival parade.

Tush's parody news programs are now considered a forerunner of both Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update and The Daily Show.

​

 

[garrow]

One of my journalism professors had worked as a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and covered Turner some. After Turner made a comment that Christianity was a "religion for losers" he made an in-person apology at a church in the area.

My professor covered it and said he won the crowd over by the end, showcasing, in the professor's opinion, his strong charisma.

RIP.

 

[playthrough]

RIP. Pioneer, indeed. Cannot understate what he meant to Atlanta.

Might have to shoot up to the Ted's Montana Grill in my town and have a bison burger in his honor.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

I did not know that stuff about him singing Nazi songs and hanging KKK posters in college.

 

[MileHigh]

A true pioneer on so many fronts. RIP.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Tune in at five after and 35 after the hour for more.

 

[HanSenSE]

CNN reporting its founder is dead at 87. Invented the very mixed blessing of cable news. America's Cup winner. Atlanta Braves owner. Allegedly 86ed from every bar in Newport, R.I. during said Cup, an amazing feat on its own All in all, quite a life. My favorite is when he offered Andy Messersmith a bonus to change his name to Channel, because Andy wore #17 and Channel 17 was Turner's first station and it broadcast the Braves.

 

[BTExpress]

The name change thing is just a rumor, but at that time the Braves decided to have the players wear their nicknames on the backs of their jerseys. That made it a lot easier for Turner to claim there was nothing all that goofy about "Channel," because many of the names on the backs of the jerseys were goofy.

 

[nietsroob17]

The gimmicks of that era of Braves baseball, orchestrated by Ted and promotions guy Bob Hope (no, not THAT one), were something of legend.

Messersmith's jersey, Ted hiring himself as manager, ostrich races, bathtub races, Wedlock and Headlock Night (marriages and pro wrestling on the field), Karl Wallenda tightroping across the rim of the old Atlanta Stadium.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

Ted Turner was what Donald Trump believes himself to be.

 

[Driftwood]

He was at one time the and remained one of the largest private land owners in the US with more than 2 million acres.