Ted Turner died Wednesday at 87, the visionary who launched CNN and reshaped cable television. The former billboard advertising heir turned the company into a broadcasting powerhouse, leaving a lasting legacy in media.

Turner transformed his inherited billboard firm into Turner Broadcasting System, headquartered in Atlanta. In 1995 he sold the network group to Time Warner for an undisclosed sum. Later, he led the ill‑fated 2000 merger with America Online, exiting in 2003 after clashes with rivals like Rupert Murdoch and Sumner Redstone.

Turner's rivalry with other media titans accelerated cable TV’s mainstream adoption, spurring investment in new channels and subscriber growth. His ventures set a benchmark for corporate philanthropy, and his landholdings made him one of the country’s largest private owners of natural resources.

Turner's death also signals a shift for his philanthropic foundations, which have funded conservation and education projects worldwide. Investors will watch how his estate manages legacy assets as the media sector evolves under new digital competitors. His impact endures in both corporate and environmental arenas.