Story perspectives

Media Mogul Ted Turner Dies, Fox Beats CNN?8?

5/7/2026

Summary

Turner Dies

Ted Turner died on May 6, 2026 at age 87.
The rivalry with Rupert Murdoch began in the 1983 Sydney-to-Hobart race after Murdoch-sponsored Nirvana ran Turner’s Condor aground and Turner won the protest.
Fox News overtook CNN in early 2002 and drew 2.8 million prime viewers versus CNN’s 910,000 by April 2026.
Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch made amends in 2019 over lunch at Ted’s Montana Grill in New York.

Summary

Murdoch Accused

Rupert Murdoch hired Roger Ailes (former Giuliani adviser) to lead Fox News, ending with Ailes resigning after harassment allegations.
Turner accused Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News of trying to enlist Rudy Giuliani to intercede and claimed Murdoch bought New York City’s government with a New York Post endorsement of Giuliani and an anchor job for his wife at WNYW-TV Channel 5.
Rudy Giuliani (Mayor) denied allegations and rejected claims he was in Murdoch’s pocket.

Summary

Turner Demands Stepdown

Ted Turner demanded Rupert Murdoch step down in 2011 after phone-hacking scandal and warned that not even Rupert Murdoch should break law.
Ted Turner contrasted Ted Turner's willingness to take responsibility while running Ted Turner's company with Rupert Murdoch’s alleged claim of ignorance.
Ted Turner said that Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch had made amends and expressed disappointment that a media company had violated the law, calling the misconduct serious.

History

Historical Context

Rupert Murdoch announced the U.S. 24-hour news channel on Jan 31 1996, hiring former Republican strategist Roger Ailes; the network launched on Oct 7 1996 to 17 million cable homes. Building on Murdoch’s 1989 Sky News venture, Fox News quickly overtook CNN in ratings by Jan 2002, reshaping American cable news and cementing a lasting conservative media influence.

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Turner Dies

Ted Turner died on May 6, 2026 at age 87.
The rivalry with Rupert Murdoch began in the 1983 Sydney-to-Hobart race after Murdoch-sponsored Nirvana ran Turner’s Condor aground and Turner won the protest.
Fox News overtook CNN in early 2002 and drew 2.8 million prime viewers versus CNN’s 910,000 by April 2026.
Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch made amends in 2019 over lunch at Ted’s Montana Grill in New York.

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