Ted Turner, media pioneer and founder of CNN, has died aged 87

Ted Turner, founder of the US broadcaster CNN died today at the age of 87, the American broadcaster reported.

A broadcasting entrepreneur, philanthropist, sportsman and environmentalist, Turner founded a media empire from a network purchased in Atlanta in 1970.

Originally from Ohio, he built a media empire that included the first cable superstation and popular movie and cartoon channels, as well as professional baseball sports teams such as the Atlanta Braves.

Cnn recalls its founder's background as follows: 'Turner was an internationally renowned yachtsman; a philanthropist who founded the United Nations Foundation; an activist who fought for the global elimination of nuclear weapons; and an environmentalist, playing a crucial role in the reintroduction of bison to the American West'.

In 1991, Turner was named Time magazine's Man of the Year for 'influencing the dynamics of events and turning viewers in 150 countries into instant witnesses of history'.