Ted Turner, the founder of the first-ever 24-hour news cable channel CNN and WCW (World Championship Wrestling) has passed away at age 87.
Turner’s death was announced on Wednesday morning by CNN.
Not only is Turner one o the most influential figures in cable television, having launched his then Superstation WBTS on a national level through cable systems, that was best known for airing Jim Crockett Promotions Professional Wrestling. In late 1988, Turner purchased the company which was in bankruptcy, thus creating WCW (World Championship Wrestling).
Turner always valued pro wrestling and took WCW to a new level in 1995, when he launched WCW Nitro live on his TNT network each Monday night, going up against Vince McMahon’s WWF/E. This started the boom period of professional wrestling known as the Monday Night Wars, which WCW winning the number one spot for 83 weeks. WCW aired on both TBS and TNT up until March of 2001. Following the AOL/Time Warner merger, with Turner no longer in control of his company, executives canceled all WCW programming and the company was sold to Vince McMahon.
Turner also owned the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, MLB’s Atlanta Braves, and the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers that relocated to Canada to become the second iteration of the Winnipeg Jets, after being sold to True North Sports and Entertainment.
Turner revealed in September 2018 he was diagnosed and battling Lewy Body Dementia. He He stated at the time, the disease was causing him extreme fatigue, exhaustion and serious forgetfulness.
Tony Khan’s AEW brought live pro wrestling back to the TBS and TNT networks with Dynamite in October 2019, which started on TNT and then later moved to TBS. AEW’s second weekly live show, Collision launched on TNT in June 2023.