Ted Turner, the media entrepreneur who founded CNN and helped revolutionize television news with the world’s first 24-hour cable news network, has died at the age of 87.

Axar.az reports, citing CNN, the Atlanta-based businessman, often nicknamed “The Mouth of the South” for his outspoken style, built a vast media empire that included CNN, the first 24-hour all-news network launched in 1980, as well as Turner Broadcasting channels such as TNT, TBS, and Cartoon Network.

He also owned major sports franchises, including the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks.

CNN’s launch on June 1, 1980, marked the beginning of 24-hour television news, a concept initially dismissed by critics but later embraced worldwide. Turner later expanded the network internationally, followed by the creation of Headline News and other cable channels.

In 1991, Turner was named Time magazine’s Man of the Year for what it described as “influencing the dynamic of events and turning viewers in 150 countries into instant witnesses of history,” particularly during the Gulf War, when CNN became the primary global source of live war coverage.

Beyond media, Turner was also a prominent philanthropist and environmental advocate. He founded the United Nations Foundation, pledged $1 billion to the UN, and became one of the largest private landowners in the United States, working on conservation projects including efforts to restore bison populations in North America.

Turner was also known for his personal and business partnerships, including his marriage to actress Jane Fonda, and for his outspoken views on politics, media, and global affairs.

He is survived by his five children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.