Ted Turner, the founder of CNN and a pioneer of 24-hour television news, died on Wednesday, May 6, at the age of 87, his company Turner Enterprises said.

Turner transformed global journalism with the launch of CNN in 1980, the first network to deliver news around the clock, reshaping how audiences consumed information worldwide.

Born Robert Edward Turner III in Cincinnati in 1938, he built a media empire from his father’s billboard business. After taking over the company in 1963, he expanded into broadcasting, acquiring an Atlanta television station in 1970. He later created the “superstation” model, distributing content nationwide via satellite, laying the foundation for Turner Broadcasting System. Under his leadership, the company grew to include major networks such as CNN, TNT and Cartoon Network.

Turner sold Turner Broadcasting to Time Warner in 1996 for $7.3 billion in stock and served as vice chairman until 2003. Beyond media, Turner was known for philanthropy and environmental advocacy. He pledged $1 billion to the United Nations in 1997, helping establish the United Nations Foundation, and co-founded the Nuclear Threat Initiative in 2001.

He was also a competitive yachtsman, winning the America’s Cup in 1977, and became one of the largest private landowners in the United States. Turner revealed in 2018 that he had Lewy body dementia. Despite declining health, his influence on journalism and global media remained significant. He is survived by his children and extended family. Turner’s innovations in news delivery continue to shape the industry decades after CNN’s launch.