Ted Turner, the visionary who founded CNN and transformed global news, died at age 87. His company confirmed his death on Wednesday, surrounded by loved ones. Turner not only launched the first 24-hour news channel in 1980, revolutionizing media consumption, but also led the Atlanta Braves to win the World Series in 1995, marking an era in sports and communication.
The technology behind the 24-hour revolution 📡
To sustain a continuous news channel in 1980, Turner bet on low-cost satellite links and portable recording equipment, breaking the model of traditional networks. His integrated newsroom system allowed live broadcasting from any location, using microwaves and repeaters. This infrastructure, simple by today's standards, was a technical leap that forced competitors to modernize and changed the way news is distributed in real time.
And on top of that, he gave the Braves a World Series ⚾
Of course, after creating CNN and buying a baseball team, Turner decided he could also win a World Series. In 1995, the Braves achieved it, although many say it was more due to the pitchers than their owner. But hey, if anyone can boast of founding a media empire and seeing their team become champions, it's him. The rest of us mortals can only watch replays on his channel.