by Thinus Ferreira
CNN announced that Ted Turner, the creator and founder of the American TV news channel, has died. He was 87.
Ted Turner lost his battle against Lewy body dementia, which he revealed in 2018 and that is a progressive brain disorder. He died on Wednesday at home.
Ted Turner was instrumental in launching CNN on 1 June, 1980 as the world's first 24-hour TV news channel, followed by CNN International (DStv 401) in 1985.
Turner Enterprises issued a statement from the Turner family announcing and confirming Ted Turner's death.
"Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement," says Mark Thompson, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, in a statement.
"He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN. Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all take a moment today to recognise him and his impact on our lives and the world."
