Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, has died at the age of 87, according to reports from the news network on Wednesday.
Turner’s pioneering contributions to global media began on June 1, 1980, when he launched the first 24-hour news program via US cable television with CNN. Later, in 1985, he expanded his influence globally by launching CNN International, setting a new standard for worldwide news coverage. Beyond journalism, Turner was also active in the wrestling circuit, where he owned World Championship Wrestling (WCW). However, he exited the business industry in the early 2000s after WCW was acquired by its contemporary competitor, WWF (now WWE).
In his personal life, Turner was married three times and fathered five children; all three marriages ended in divorce. His partners included Judy Nye, with whom he was together from 1960 to 1964, and Jane Shirley Smith, from 1965 to 1988. Most recently, he was married to actress Jane Fonda from 1991 to 2001.