Editing Ted Turner (section)

== Business career ==
=== WTBS ===
After leaving Brown University, Turner returned to the South in late 1960 to become general manager of the [[Macon, Georgia]], branch of his father's business. Following his father's suicide in March 1963, Turner became president and chief executive of Turner Advertising Company when he was 24 and turned the firm into a global enterprise. He joined the [[Young Republicans]], saying he "felt at ease among these budding conservatives and was merely following in [his father]'s far-right footsteps", according to ''It Ain't as Easy as It Looks''.<ref name=bibb5556 />

During the [[Vietnam War]] era, Turner's business prospered; it had "virtual monopolies in Savannah, Macon, [[Columbus, Georgia|Columbus]], and [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]]" and was the "largest outdoor advertising company in the Southeast", according to ''It Ain't as Easy as It Looks''. The book observed that Turner "discovered his father had sheltered a substantial amount of taxable income over the years by personally lending it back to the company" and "discovered that the billboard business could be a gold mine, a tax-depreciable revenue stream that threw off enormous amounts of cash with almost no capital investment".<ref>{{cite book |last=Bibb |first=Porter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BaWaAAAAIAAJ&q=%22discovered+his+father%22 |title=It Ain't as Easy as it Looks: Ted Turner's Amazing Story |date=1993 |publisher=Crown Publishers |isbn=978-0-517-59322-6 |page=52}}</ref>

In the late 1960s Turner began buying several Southern radio stations.<ref>{{cite book |last=O'Connor |first=Michael |title=Ted Turner: A Biography |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2009 |chapter=5 |isbn=978-0-313-35043-6}}</ref> In 1969, he sold his radio stations to buy a struggling television station in Atlanta, [[Ultra high frequency|UHF]] Channel 17 [[WPCH-TV#As WJRJ-TV|WJRJ]] (now WPCH).<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Merger is proposed by Rice, Turner |periodical=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications, Inc. |date=July 14, 1969}}</ref> At the time, UHF stations did well only in markets without [[Very high frequency|VHF]] stations, like [[Fresno, California]], or in markets with only one station on VHF. Independent UHF stations were not ratings winners or that profitable even in larger markets, but Turner concluded that this would change as people wanted more than several choices. He changed the [[call sign]] to WTCG, erroneously claimed to have stood for "<u>W</u>atch <u>T</u>his <u>C</u>hannel <u>G</u>row" but in actuality stood for <u>T</u>urner <u>C</u>ommunications <u>G</u>roup.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=For the Record |periodical=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications, Inc. |date=April 13, 1970}}</ref> Initially, the station ran old movies from prior decades, along with theatrical cartoons and bygone sitcoms and drama programs. As a better syndicated product fell off the VHF stations, Turner would acquire it for his station at a very low price. WTCG ran mostly second- and even third-hand programming of the time, including fare such as ''[[Gilligan's Island]]'', ''[[I Love Lucy]]'', ''[[Star Trek]]'', ''[[Hazel (TV series)|Hazel]]'', and ''[[Bugs Bunny]]''. Other low-cost content included humorist [[Bill Tush]] reading the news at 3 a.m., prompting Turner to jokingly comment that, "we have a 100% share at this time". Tush once delivered the news with his "[[Anchorman|co-anchor]]" Rex, a [[German Shepherd]]. The dog (who belonged to an associate) was shown next to Tush on set, wearing a shirt and tie while eating a peanut butter sandwich. Rex appeared only on one episode, but a myth grew where many people thought the dog was a nightly guest.<ref name=Saporta>{{cite web |url=https://saportareport.com/bill-tushs-30-year-tv-career-began-the-lucky-moment-he-stopped-by-channel-17-for-a-job/archived-columnists/chris-schroder/adminmegan/ |title=Bill Tush's 30-year TV career began the lucky moment he stopped by Channel 17 for a job |date=May 21, 2012 |website=Saporta Report |publisher=saportareport.com |access-date=August 19, 2021}}</ref> By 1972, WTCG had acquired the rights to telecast [[Atlanta Braves]] and [[Atlanta Hawks]] games.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Program Briefs: Hawks roost beside Braves |periodical=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications, Inc. |date=October 16, 1972}}</ref> Turner would go on to purchase UHF Channel 36 [[WCNC-TV|WRET]] (now WCNC) in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], and ran it with a format similar to WTCG.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

[[File:Ted Turner smoking a cigar.jpg|alt=refer to caption|thumb|upright|Turner {{circa|1976}}]]
In 1976, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) allowed WTCG to use a satellite to transmit content to local cable television providers around the nation. On December 17, 1976, the rechristened WTCG-TV Super-Station began to broadcast old movies, [[situation comedy]] reruns, cartoons, and sports nationwide to cable-television subscribers.<ref>"Ted Turner." ''Encyclopedia of World Biography'', 2nd ed., vol. 15, Gale, 2004, pp. 355–357.</ref> As cable systems developed, many carried his station to free their schedules, which increased his viewers and advertising. The number of subscribers eventually reached 2 million and Turner's net worth rose to $100 million. He bought a {{convert|5000|acre|ha|adj=on}} plantation in Jacksonboro, South Carolina, for $2 million.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Endicott|first=Eve|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rFDTnLS_KCwC&q=ted+turner+5000+acre+plantation&pg=PA96|title=Land Conservation Through Public/Private Partnerships|date=1993|publisher=Island Press|isbn=978-1-61091-349-2|language=en}}</ref>

In 1976, Turner bought the Atlanta Braves, and in 1977, he bought the Atlanta Hawks, partially to provide programming for WTCG.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 7, 1976 |title=Yachtsman Turner Purchases Braves |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/01/07/archives/yachtsman-turner-purchases-braves-yachtsman-buys-braves-for-at.html |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/hawks/news/hawks-raise-banner-honor-turner|title=Hawks Raise Banner To Honor Turner|first=Micah|last=Hart|date=November 30, 2004|work=[[National Basketball Association|NBA.com]]|access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref> Using the rechristened WTBS superstation's status to broadcast Braves games into nearly every home in North America, Turner turned the Braves into a household name even before their run of success in the 1990s and early 2000s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/309493-call-me-the-owner-why-the-braves-need-ted-turner-back|title=Call Me Owner: Why the Braves Need Ted Turner Back|first=Jordan|last=Bagbey|website=[[Bleacher Report]]|date=December 16, 2009|access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref> At one point, he suggested to pitcher [[Andy Messersmith]], who wore number 17, that he change his surname to "Channel" to promote the television station.<ref>{{Cite news| url = http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080320&content_id=2446061&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl|title= Messersmith: The game's first free agent|author=Gary Caruso |work=[[MLB.com]] |date =March 20, 2008}}</ref>

In 1978, Turner struck a deal with a student-operated radio station at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]], [[WMBR|Technology Broadcasting System]] (now WMBR), to obtain the rights to the WTBS call sign for $50,000. Such a move allowed Turner to strengthen the branding of his "Super-Station" using the initials TBS. Turner Communications Group was renamed [[Turner Broadcasting System]] and WTCG was renamed [[WPCH-TV|WTBS]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2011/04/08/wmbr_fm_celebrates_50_years_on_the_air/|title=Tune in, turn on...|first=Jonathan|last=Perry|date=April 8, 2011|website=[[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref>

In 1986, Turner founded the [[Goodwill Games]] with the goal of easing tensions between capitalist and communist countries. Broadcasting the events of these games also provided his superstation the ability to provide Olympic-style sports programming.<ref>Burton, Paul. "Turner, Ted." ''Notable Sports Figures'', edited by Dana R. Barnes, vol. 4, Gale, 2004, pp. 1651–1653.</ref>

[[Turner Field]], first used for the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] as [[Centennial Olympic Stadium]] and then converted into a baseball-only facility for the Braves, was named after him.<ref>{{cite web | title=Centennial Olympic Stadium | access-date=September 11, 2024 | date=January 3, 2024 | url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/centennial-olympic-stadium | work=olympics.com | quote=Renamed Turner Field – after Ted Turner, the founder of Cable News Network (CNN) whose global headquarters are in the city – the stadium has hosted Major League Baseball (MLB) for almost 20 years. }}</ref>

=== CNN ===
[[File:Ted Turner autographing, RIT NandE Vol13Num31 1981 Oct8 Complete.jpg|thumb|Turner in 1981]]
In 1978, he contacted media executive [[Reese Schonfeld]] with his plans to launch a 24-hour news channel (Schonfeld had previously approached Turner with the same proposition in 1977 but was rebuffed).<ref name=Barkin>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yIJ80AkyQdsC&q=kellner&pg=PA1|first=Steve M.|last=Barkin|title=American Television News: The Media Marketplace and the Public Interest: The Media Marketplace and the Public Interest|publisher=Taylor & Francis|date= 2016|isbn=9781315290911}}</ref> Schonfeld responded that it could be done with a staff of 300 if they used an all electronic newsroom and satellites for all transmissions.<ref name=Barkin /> It would require an initial investment of $15 million–$20 million and several million dollars per month to operate.<ref name=Barkin />

In 1979, Turner sold his North Carolina station, [[South Carolina Educational Television|WRET]], to fund the transaction and established its headquarters in lower-cost, non-union [[Atlanta]].<ref name=Barkin /> Schonfeld was appointed first president and chief executive of the then-named [[Cable News Network]] (CNN).<ref name=Barkin /> CNN hired Jim Kitchell, former general manager of news at [[NBC]] as vice president of production and operations; [[Sam Zelman]] as vice president of news and executive producer; [[Bill MacPhail]] as head of sports, Ted Kavanau as director of personnel, and [[Burt Reinhardt]] as vice president of the network.<ref name=Barkin /> In 1982, Schonfeld was succeeded as CEO by Turner after a dispute over Schonfeld's firing of [[Sandi Freeman]]; and was succeeded as president by CNN's executive vice president, [[Burt Reinhardt]].<ref name=wp>{{cite news |first=Lauren|last=Wiseman|title=Burt Reinhardt dies at 91: Newsman helped launch CNN |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/burt-reinhardt-dies-at-91-newsman-helped-launch-cnn/2011/04/14/AFMd9mkG_story.html |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |date=May 10, 2011 |access-date=May 19, 2011}}</ref>

==== Turner Doomsday Video ====
{{Main|Turner Doomsday Video}}
Turner famously stated before CNN debuted: "We won't be signing off until the world ends. We'll be on, and we will cover the end of the world, live, and that will be our last event... we'll play the National Anthem only one time, on the 1st of June [the network's debut on June 1, 1980], and when the end of the world comes, we'll play '[[Nearer, My God, to Thee]]' before we sign off." Reportedly, Turner plans to make good on that promise. He commissioned a video recording of a military marching band playing the hymn. Turner has sometimes played the tape for reporters, noting the reason he made it. In 2015, the video was found in CNN's database and leaked. The video was tagged in the database as "[Hold for release] till end of world confirmed".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/cnn-s-doomsday-video-leaks-to-the-internet-1798275220|title=CNN's doomsday video leaks to the Internet|website=News|date=January 5, 2015|language=en-us|access-date=February 15, 2020|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215184548/https://news.avclub.com/cnn-s-doomsday-video-leaks-to-the-internet-1798275220|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Other ventures ===
{{Professional wrestling sidebar}}
In 1981, Turner Broadcasting System acquired [[Brut Productions]] from [[Faberge Inc.]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Faberge Sells Brut's Assets|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/01/business/faberge-sells-brut-s-assets.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 1982 |access-date=November 27, 2014}}</ref>

After a failed attempt to acquire [[CBS]], Turner purchased the film studio [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]]/[[United Artists|UA]] Entertainment Co. from [[Kirk Kerkorian]] in 1986 for $1.5 billion.<ref name=MGM>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/08/business/turner-acquiring-mgm-movie-empire.html|title=Turner Acquiring MGM Movie Empire |first=Geraldine|last=Fabrikant|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 8, 1985|access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref> Following the acquisition, Turner had amassed enormous debt and sold parts of the acquisition; Kerkorian bought back MGM/UA Entertainment. The MGM/UA Studio lot in [[Culver City, California|Culver City]] was sold to [[Lorimar Productions|Lorimar]]/[[Telepictures]]. Turner kept MGM's pre-May 1986 and pre-merger film and television library.<ref name="ymrt">''You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story,'' (2008) p. 255.</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1986/08/27/turner-united-artists-close-deal/|title=Turner, United Artists Close Deal |publisher=[[United Press International]]|date=August 27, 1986|access-date=September 7, 2020|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055612/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1986-08-27/business/0250090069_1_united-artists-turner-mgm|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Turner Entertainment]] was established in August 1986 to oversee film and television properties owned by Turner thanks to the deal with Kerkorian.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Having now acquired MGM's library of 2,200 films made before 1986, Turner had them syndicated on his nationwide television stations.<ref name=MGM /> When broadcasting their older films, he aired [[Film colorization|colorized]] versions of ones originally shot in black-and-white.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-10-23-ca-6941-story.html|title=Turner Defends Move to Colorize Films |first=John|last=Voland|date=October 23, 1986|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref> Opposition arose from cinephiles, actors, and directors to Turner's colorization efforts. Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] wrote on Turner's broadcasting of a colorized ''[[Casablanca (film)|Casablanca]]'', "that will be one of the saddest days in the history of the movies. It is sad because it demonstrates that there is no movie that Turner will spare, no classic however great that is safe from the vulgarity of his computerized graffiti gangs."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/casablanca-gets-colorized-but-dont-play-it-again-ted|title='Casablanca' gets colorized, but don't play it again, Ted|first=Roger|last=Ebert|website=[[RogerEbert.com]]|date=October 30, 1988|access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref> Thanks in part to Turner's colorization, the [[Library of Congress]] established the [[National Film Registry]] with the aim to preserve American films in their original format.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/12/national-film-registry-spike-lee-claudia-weill|title=Spike Lee Gets His Fourth Film on the National Film Registry: 'Sometimes Dreams Come True'|first=Donald|last=Liebenson|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|date=December 11, 2019|access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref>

In 1988, Turner purchased [[Jim Crockett Promotions]] which he renamed [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW) which became the main competitor to [[Vince McMahon]]'s [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF). This rivalry became known as the [[Monday Night Wars|Monday Night War]], and would last throughout the 1990s. In 2001, under [[WarnerMedia#AOL Time Warner (2001–2003)|AOL Time Warner]], WCW was [[WWE#Start of the Attitude Era (1997–1999)|sold to the WWF]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/632761-wcw-how-it-died-and-how-wwe-and-vince-mcmahon-made-sure-it-never-rose-again|title=WCW: How It Died, and How WWE and Vince McMahon Made Sure It Never Rose Again|first=Joe|last=Burgett|website=[[Bleacher Report]]|date=March 11, 2011|access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref>

Also in 1988, Turner introduced [[Turner Network Television]] (TNT) with ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]].'' TNT, initially showing older movies and television shows, added original programs and newer reruns. Turner would later create [[Turner Classic Movies]] (TCM) in 1994, airing Turner's pre-1986 MGM library of films alongside those of [[Warner Bros.]] made before 1950, though it has expanded its library since.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

In 1989, Turner created the [[Turner Tomorrow Fellowship Award|Turner Tomorrow Fellowship]] for fiction offering positive solutions to global problems. The winner, from 2500 entries worldwide, was [[Daniel Quinn]]'s ''[[Ishmael (Quinn novel)|Ishmael]].''{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

{{external media
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| video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIyViBTPPJ8 Ted Turner: Captain Planet] – a 2019 documentary hosted by Dr. Sanjay Gupta highlighting the personal life, career, and the environmental work of Ted Turner (CNN Philippines, full episode)}}
In 1990, he created the Turner Foundation, which focuses on philanthropic grants concerning issues pertaining to the environment and overpopulation. In the same year he created [[Captain Planet]], an environmental [[superhero]]. Turner produced the television series ''[[Captain Planet and the Planeteers]]'' and its later sequel series with Captain Planet as the featured character.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/27/world/ted-turner-captain-planet-intl/index.html|title=Is Ted Turner the real Captain Planet?|first1=Mark|last1=Tutton|first2=Holly|last2=Brown|first3=Samantha|last3=Bresnahan|website=[[CNN]]|date=November 29, 2019|access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref>

In 1992, the pre-May 1986 MGM library, which also included Warner Bros. properties including the early ''[[Looney Tunes]]'' and ''[[Merrie Melodies]]'' libraries and also the Fleischer Studios and Famous Studios ''Popeye'' cartoons from Paramount (and then United Artists), became the core of [[Cartoon Network]]. A year before, Turner's companies purchased [[Hanna-Barbera]] Productions (whose longtime parent, [[Taft Broadcasting|Taft/Great American Broadcasting]], had been headquartered in Turner's original hometown of Cincinnati), beating out several other bidders including [[MCA Inc.]] (whose subsidiaries included [[Universal Pictures]] and [[Universal Destinations & Experiences]]) and [[Hallmark Cards]]. With the 1996 Time Warner merger, the channel's archives gained the later Warner Bros. cartoon library as well as other Time Warner-owned cartoons.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

In 1993, Turner and Russian journalist Eduard Sagalajev founded the Moscow Independent Broadcasting Corporation (MIBC). This corporation operated the sixth frequency in Russian television and founded the Russian channel [[TV-6 (Russia)|TV-6]].<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=December 30, 1992 |title=Turner Channel for Moscow |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/30/business/turner-channel-for-moscow.html |access-date=September 7, 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> The company was later purchased by Russian businessman [[Boris Berezovsky (businessman)|Boris Berezovsky]] and an unknown group of private persons. In 2007 the license for TV-6 had expired and there was no application for renewal.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

=== Time Warner merger ===
[[File:2000 Ted Turner (29902987051).jpg|thumb|Turner speaking at an industry event in 2000]]
Turner Broadcasting System merged with Time Warner Entertainment on October 10, 1996, with Turner as [[chair (official)|vice chairman]] and head of Time Warner Entertainment and Turner's cable networks division.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1995/09/23/MN70161.DTL|last=Pelline|first=Jeff|date=September 23, 1995|title=Time Warner Closes Deal for Turner|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref> Turner was dropped as head of cable networks by CEO [[Gerald Levin]] but remained as Vice Chairman of Time Warner Entertainment. He would be succeeded in March 2001 as head of Turner Broadcasting by [[Jamie Kellner]], who was also greatly responsible for cancelling [[WCW]]'s television contracts on networks which Turner previously ran.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB983920915516944115|title=WB Network Chief Kellner Takes Over Turner Operations at AOL Time Warner|first1=Joe|last1=Flint|first2=Sally|last2=Beatty|publisher=Wall Street Journalism|date=March 7, 2001|accessdate=June 22, 2024}}</ref><ref name=tedturnersuccessor>{{Cite news |last=Schneider |first=Michael |date=2024-06-22 |title=Jamie Kellner, TV Maverick Who Launched Both Fox and The WB, Dies at 77 |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/jamie-kellner-dies-dead-fox-the-wb-obituary-1236044943/ |access-date=2024-06-22 |work=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/former-head-turner-broadcasting-jamie-kellner-passes-away|title=Former Head of Turner Broadcasting Jamie Kellner Passes Away|first=Jeremy|last=Lambert|publisher=Fightful|date=June 22, 2024|accessdate=June 22, 2024}}</ref> He resigned as AOL Time Warner vice chairman in 2003 and then from the Time Warner board of directors in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-30-fi-turner30-story.html|title=Ted Turner to Resign AOL Post|first=Sallie|last=Hofmeister|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=January 30, 2003|access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/25/business/ted-turner-leaving-time-warners-board.html|title=Ted Turner Leaving Time Warner's Board|author=[[Associated Press]]|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 25, 2006|access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref>

On January 11, 2001, Time Warner Entertainment was purchased by [[AOL|America Online]] (AOL) to become AOL Time Warner,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-250781.html |title=AOL, Time Warner complete merger with FCC blessing |work=CNET |first1=Patrick |last1=Ross |first2=Evan |last2=Hansen |date=January 11, 2001 |access-date=June 2, 2012}}</ref> a merger which Turner initially supported.<ref name=NewYorker2001>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2001/04/23/the-lost-tycoon |title=The Lost Tycoon |first=Ken |last=Auletta |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |date=April 23, 2001 |access-date=June 24, 2018}}</ref> However, the burst of the [[dot-com bubble]] hurt the growth and profitability of the AOL division, which in turn dragged down AOL Time Warner's performance and stock price. At a board meeting in fall 2001, Turner's outburst against AOL Time Warner CEO [[Gerald M. Levin|Gerald Levin]] eventually led to Levin's announced resignation effective in early 2002, being replaced by [[Richard Parsons (businessman)|Richard Parsons]].<ref name=NinaMunk>{{cite web |url=http://www.ninamunk.com/PowerFailure.php |title=Power Failure |first=Nina |last=Munk |work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date=July 2002 |access-date=June 26, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714183334/http://www.ninamunk.com/documents/PowerFailure.htm |archive-date=July 14, 2011 }}</ref> In contrast to Levin, who as CEO isolated Turner from important company matters, Parsons invited Turner back to provide strategic advice, although Turner never received an operational role that he sought.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/16/business/at-63-ted-turner-may-yet-roar-again.html|title=At 63, Ted Turner May Yet Roar Again|first1=Jim|last1=Rutenberg|first2=Alessandra|last2=Stanley|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 16, 2001|access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref> Time Warner dropped "AOL" from its name in October 2003. In December 2009, AOL was spun off from the Time Warner conglomerate as a separate company.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Turner was Time Warner's biggest individual shareholder.<ref name=NinaMunk/> It is estimated he lost as much as $7 billion when the stock collapsed in the wake of the merger.<ref name=Turner2008>{{cite web |url=http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/mixed-media/2008/11/11/ted-turner-goes-to-town-on-time-warner |title=Ted Turner Goes to Town on Time Warner |first=Jeff |last=Bercovici |work=[[Conde Nast Portfolio]] |date=November 11, 2008 |access-date=June 23, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113003314/http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/mixed-media/2008/11/11/ted-turner-goes-to-town-on-time-warner |archive-date=November 13, 2008}}</ref> When asked about buying back his former assets, he replied that he "can't afford them now".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/24/AR2006022401888.html |title=Turner To Leave Time Warner |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=February 25, 2006 |access-date=March 24, 2010 |first=Steven |last=Levingston}}</ref> In June 2014, [[Rupert Murdoch]]'s [[21st Century Fox]] made a bid for Time Warner valuing it at $80 billion. The Time Warner board rejected the offer and it was formally withdrawn on August 5, 2014.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Frizell |first=Sam |date=August 5, 2014 |title=21st Century Fox Withdraws Time Warner Takeover Bid |url=https://time.com/3083321/21st-century-fox-time-warner/ |access-date=February 25, 2024 |magazine=Time}}</ref>

=== Rivalry with Murdoch ===
Turner had a long-running feud with fellow cable magnate Rupert Murdoch for years. This originated in 1983 when a Murdoch-sponsored yacht collided with the yacht skippered by Turner, ''[[Condor (yacht)|Condor]]'', during the [[Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race]], causing it to run aground {{convert|6.2|mi|km}} from the finish line. At the post-race dinner, a drunken Turner verbally assaulted Murdoch, afterward challenging him to a televised fistfight in [[Las Vegas]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2009/12/murdochs_rivalries.html |title=Rupert Murdoch and the Art of War |author=Daily Intelligencer |work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |date=December 23, 2009 |access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref>

Murdoch's [[Fox News]], established in 1996, became a rival to Turner's CNN, a channel that Murdoch regarded with disdain for its "liberal slant" in news coverage. Time Warner declined to carry it on their New York City cable network in response, who in the midst of a merger, Turner said would "squash Rupert Murdoch like a bug."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/05/nyregion/cable-news-feud-has-personal-and-political-roots.html |title=Cable News Feud Has Personal and Political Roots |first=Mark |last=Landler |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 5, 1996 |access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref>

In 2003, Turner challenged Murdoch to another fistfight, and later on accused Murdoch of being a "warmonger" for his support and backing of President [[George W. Bush]]'s [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]].<ref name="turnermurdoch">{{cite news |title=Turner: Murdoch is a 'warmonger' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/apr/25/newscorporation.pressandpublishing |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=April 23, 2003 |access-date=March 12, 2011 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/09/ted-turner-wants-rupert-murdoch-step-down/337730/|title=Ted Turner Still Happy to Spar with Rupert Murdoch |first=Adam Clark |last=Estes |work=[[The Atlantic]] |date=September 20, 2011 |access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref>

However, revealing in an interview with ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' in 2019, Turner said he and Murdoch have since made amends.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/features/ted-turner-interview-cnn-mgm-1203183345/|title=Ted Turner: The Maverick Mogul Reflects on His Legacy, Big Deals and Old Feuds|first=Cynthia|last=Littleton|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=April 9, 2019|access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref>

=== Atlanta Braves ===
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Ted Turner
|image=
|team=Atlanta Braves
|number=27
|position=[[Manager (baseball)|Manager]]
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1938|11|19}}
|birth_place= [[Cincinnati, Ohio]], U.S.
|bats=
|throws=
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=May 11
|debutyear=1977
|debutteam=Atlanta Braves
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=May 11
|finalyear=1977
|finalteam=Atlanta Braves
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=Games
|stat1value=1
|stat2label=Win–loss record
|stat2value=0–1
|stat3label=Winning %
|stat3value=.000
|teams=
*[[Atlanta Braves]] ({{mlby|1977}})
| awards      =
}}
For most of his first decade as owner of the Braves, Turner was a very hands-on owner. This peaked in 1977, his second year as owner.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Turner was suspended for one year by [[Commissioner of Baseball]] [[Bowie Kuhn]] on January 3, 1977, for his actions while pursuing the signing of free agent outfielder [[Gary Matthews]] from the [[San Francisco Giants]].  Matthews signed a five-year, $1.875 million contract with the Braves on November 18, 1976.  Kuhn's actions stemmed from remarks made by Turner to then-Giants owner [[Bob Lurie]] during the [[1976 World Series]].  In addition, the Braves were also stripped of their first-round selections in the June 1978 draft of high school and college players.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/03/archives/kuhn-suspends-turner-braves-owner-for-year-in-matthews-case-turner.html |last=Chass |first=Murray |title=Kuhn Suspends Turner, Braves' Owner, for Year in Matthews Case |work=The New York Times |date=January 3, 1977}}</ref>  Turner, however, successfully appealed the suspension and Kuhn relented and reinstated the draft selections, one of which would turn out to be [[Bob Horner]] from [[Arizona State University]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.80sbaseball.com/tag/gary-matthews/ |title=Horner vs. Turner |website=80sbaseball.com |access-date=September 1, 2021 }}</ref>

On May 11, 1977, with the team mired in a 16-game losing streak, Turner sent manager [[Dave Bristol]] on a 10-day "scouting trip" and Turner himself took over as interim manager – the first owner/manager in the majors since [[Connie Mack]]. He ran the team for one game (a loss to the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]])<ref>{{cite web|title=Ted Turner Managerial Record|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/turnete99.shtml|website=Baseball Reference|access-date=May 17, 2019}}</ref> before [[National League (baseball)|National League]] president [[Chub Feeney]] ordered him to stop running the team. Feeney cited major league rules which bar managers and players from owning stock in their clubs. Turner appealed to [[Commissioner of Baseball]] [[Bowie Kuhn]], and showed up to manage the Braves when they returned home. However, Kuhn turned down the appeal, citing Turner's "lack of familiarity with game operations."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Hannon |first=Kent |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1092438/index.htm |title=Benched from the Bench |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615165546/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1092438/index.htm |archive-date=June 15, 2013 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=May 23, 1977}}</ref>

In the mid-1980s Turner began leaving day-to-day operations to the baseball operations staff, and the team (still under Turner's ownership) won the [[1995 World Series]].

The Atlanta Braves were sold by Time Warner (which had assumed control after the merger with Turner Broadcasting System) to Liberty Media in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Braves sale is approved|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/1968024/|website=Major League Baseball|access-date=June 12, 2017|archive-date=August 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818173225/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/1968024//|url-status=dead}}</ref>