The man described by some as "The Godfather Of Cable TV" had passed away. Ted Turner was raised in Georgia after his family moved there when he was a boy. His father took his own life when Ted was 24 which catapulted Turner into taking over the company. In the 1970's he launched WTBS Channel 17 in Atlanta as the country's 1st true national "Super Station".
Turner's impact across the sports world can't be overlooked either. In the late 80's, Turner bought a pro-wrestling promotion that had been televised on TBS, when it fell on financial hardship. Turner often credited, wrestling, Braves Baseball and re-runs of Andy Griffith as the backbone of the success TBS enjoyed.
Turner later purchased the Atlanta Braves. During his ownership tenure the team went from a "cellar-dweller" to one of the best teams in baseball and one of the most beloved franchises in pro sports. The Atlanta Braves Radio Network became the most syndicated radio network in American Pro Sports during that time as well.
Turner purchased the Atlanta Hawks in the late 70's in an effort to ensure the team wouldn't be moved out of Atlanta. His wrestling promotion which rebranded as WCW had pockets of success before the company shutdown when Time Warner and AOL merger occurred in the early 2000's. However, WCW was the only pro wrestling promotion to ever have higher reported national TV ratings than WWE. They accomplished that feat for 83 straight weeks from fall of 1996 until early 1998.
Turner was also known for his generosity and philanthropic efforts. He is credited as being the man who pioneered cable TV. Ted Turner was 87 years old.
