Ted Turner Wiki
Ted Turner is as an American prominent media mogul and philanthropist. He is known as the founder of the Cable News Network (CNN), the very first 24-hour cable news channel. He also founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television, which later became TBS. As a philanthropist, he donated $1 billion gift to support the United Nations, which created the United Nations Foundation a public charity that broadens support for domestic support for the UN.
Ted Turner Biography
He was born to Florence and Robert Edward Turner II a billboard magnate. At the age of 9, his family moved to Savannah, Georgia. He attended The McCallie School a private boys’ preparatory school in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
He attended Brown University where he was the vice-president of Brown Debating Union and captain of the sailing team. He also became a member of Kappa Sigma. He majored in Classics but later changed his major to Economics but was expelled before he graduated for having a female student in his dormitory room.
In November 1989 he was awarded an honorary B.A. from the Brown University when he returned to campus to keynote the National Association of College Broadcasters second annual conference.
Ted Turner Age
He was born Robert Edward Turner III on November 19, 1938, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is 80 years.
Ted Turner Wife
He has been married and divorced thrice: in 1960-1964 Judy Nye, 965-1988 Jane Shirley Smith, and 1991-2001 Jane Fonda an actress.
Ted Turner Height
He stands at a height of 6 ft 2 in.
Ted Turner Net worth
He has a net worth of $2.2 billion as of 2019.
Ted Turner Girlfriend
He once said that he four girlfriends and said that it was difficult but was far much better than being in a marriage.
Ted Turner Business career
He returned back to the South to become general manager of the Macon, Georgia branch of his father’s business in late 1960 after leaving Brown University. He became president and chief executive of Turner Advertising Company when he was 24 and turned the firm into a global enterprise. His business prospered during the Vietnam War as it had “virtual monopolies in Savannah, Macon, Columbus, and Charleston” and was the “largest outdoor advertising company in the Southeast,” according to It Ain’t As Easy As It Looks.
He began buying Southern radio stations in the late 1960s. He sold his radio station in 1969 to buy a struggling television station in Atlanta, WJRJ, Channel 17. He changed the call sign to WTCG (standing for “Watch This Channel Grow”). From the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s the station ran old movies along with theatrical cartoons and very old sitcoms and old drama shows. He also purchased UHF Channel 36 WRET(now WCNC) in Charlotte, North Carolina.
FCC allowed WTCG to use a satellite to transmit content to local cable TV providers around the nation in 1976. Many carried his station to free their schedules as cable systems developed which increased his viewers and advertising. The number of subscribers eventually reached 2 million and Turner’s net worth rose to $100 million. He later bought a 20 km2 (5,000 acres) plantation for $2 million in Jacksonboro, South Carolina.
He struck a deal with a student-operated radio station at MIT, to obtain the rights to the WTBS call sign for $50,000. He also rebranded his super station using initials TBS. Turner Communications Group was renamed Turner Broadcasting System and WTCG was renamed WTBS. He bought the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks partially to provide programming for WTCG in 1976.
He founded the Goodwill Games in 1986.
CNN
He contacted media executive Reese Schonfeld in 1978, with his plans to found a 24-hour news channel (Schonfeld had previously approached Turner with the same proposition in 1977 but was rebuffed). Reese responded that it would require an initial investment of $15 million–$20 million and several million dollars per month to operate and would be done with a staff of 300 if they were to use an all-electronic newsroom and satellites for all transmissions.
He sold his North Carolina station, WRET, to fund the transaction and established its headquarters in lower-cost, non-union Atlanta.
Ted Turner Other ventures
He attempted to acquire CBS but failed and later purchased the film studio MGM/UA Entertainment Co. from Kirk Kerkorian for $1.5 billion in 1986. In August 1986 Turner Entertainment Co. was established to oversee film and TV properties owned by Turner.
He purchased Jim Crockett Promotions which he renamed World Championship Wrestling (WCW) which became the main competitor to Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation(WWF). He introduced the Turner Network Television(TNT) with Gone with the Wind.
He created the Turner Foundation in 1990, which focuses on philanthropic grants in environment and population. He also created Captain Planet that same year an environmental superhero. Together with Russian journalist Eduard Sagalajev, he founded The Moscow Independent Broadcasting Corporation(MIBC). In late 1994, Turner Classic Movies(TCM) broadcast was launched.
Awards and Honors
- 2013: Lone Sailor Award, which recognizes Navy, Marine and Coast Guard veterans who have distinguished themselves in their civilian careers (Turner is a Coast Guard veteran).
- Two-time Emmy Award winner
- Lifetime Achievement – Sports (2014)
- Lifetime Achievement – News & Documentary (2015)
- 2004: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- 2004: Commemorative banner at Philips Arena honoring his tenure as owner of the Atlanta Hawks.
- 2001: Albert Schweitzer Gold Medal for Humanitarianism.
- 1997: Peabody Award winner.
- 1996: Atlanta Braves home ballpark (1996-2016) named Turner Field.
- 1995: World Series winner (as the owner of the Atlanta Braves)
- 1991: Audubon medal from the National Audubon Society.
- 1990: Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.
- 1991: Time magazine’s Man of the Year.
- 1991: Television Hall of Fame inductee.
- 1989: Paul White Award, Radio Television Digital News Association.