Full Breakdown
The Decades-Long Feud Between Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch
5/7/2026, 9:08:39 PM
Origins: 1983 Sydney-to-Hobart Yacht Race
The rivalry ignited during the 1983 Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race when the Murdoch-sponsored 81-foot Nirvana forced Ted Turner’s 80-foot Condor aground. Turner won a protest that disqualified Nirvana, then, at a post-race dinner, drunkenly challenged Rupert Murdoch to a televised Las Vegas fistfight.
Media Competition and Ratings War
Turner founded CNN in 1980 as the first 24-hour news channel. In 1996 Murdoch launched Fox News with a $100 million investment, branding it a conservative counter-point to CNN’s “liberal slant.” Fox’s pro-War stance during the 2003 Iraq invasion helped it overtake CNN in prime-time by early 2002. Viewership data show Fox drawing 5.6 million evening viewers versus CNN’s 4.4 million in 2003, and in April 2026 Fox averaging 2.8 million prime-time viewers compared with CNN’s 910,000. Time Warner declined to carry Fox News on its New York City cable system, cementing the competitive split.
Timeline of Major Episodes
- 1980 – Turner launches CNN, pioneering 24-hour news.
- 1983 – Yacht-race clash; Turner challenges Murdoch to a Las Vegas fistfight.
- 1996 – Murdoch launches Fox News; Turner’s Turner Broadcasting merges with Time Warner.
- 2002 – Fox News overtakes CNN in prime-time ratings.
- 2003 – Turner labels Murdoch a “warmonger” over Iraq-war coverage.
- 2011 – Turner demands Murdoch step down after the News of the World phone-hacking scandal.
- 2019 – Turner says the feud is “long since made amends” after a lunch at Ted’s Montana Grill.
- 2026 – Turner dies; Murdoch issues a tribute.
Official Statements & Responses
After Turner’s death, Rupert Murdoch released a statement praising Turner’s “trailblazing impact” on global news and calling him “a great American and friend.” Turner publicly condemned Murdoch’s alleged illegal activities, insisting the media mogul should “step down” after the 2011 phone-hacking revelations. By 2019 Turner reported that he and Murdoch had reconciled over a private lunch, describing the meeting as amicable.
Criticism & Opposition
Turner repeatedly accused Murdoch of “warmongering,” called him a “mega-maniac” lacking “a spark of human decency,” and compared him to Adolf Hitler. He alleged Murdoch leveraged former Mayor Rudy Giuliani to pressure Time Warner into carrying Fox News and claimed Murdoch “bought the government of New York City.” Murdoch’s New York Post editorial responded by questioning Turner’s sanity.
Reconciliation and Legacy
Turner’s 2019 interview confirmed the two had “long since made amends,” noting a friendly lunch at Ted’s Montana Grill. Murdoch’s tribute after Turner’s death highlighted the rivalry’s role in shaping the 24-hour news model that dominates today’s media landscape.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He’s a warmonger. He promoted it,” — Ted Turner
- “Just because your ratings are bigger doesn’t mean you’re better. It’s not how big you are, it’s how good you are that really counts.” — Ted Turner
- “His impact as a trailblazer has left an indelible mark on our cultural landscape. He was a great American and friend.” — Rupert Murdoch
- “I’m past retirement age now. So, I’m 72. That’s a little late to be running a corporation. Murdoch’s still doing it at 80, but for not for much longer, I’m afraid. I think he’s going to have to step down,” — Ted Turner
- “Years ago (I was out of the media industry at that point), I invited him to lunch at Ted’s Montana Grill in New York, and we had a great time catching up.” — Ted Turner
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Allegations that Murdoch “bought the government of New York City” remain unverified, and viewership figures differ across sources, though all indicate Fox News eventually surpassed CNN.
What’s Next
Turner’s passing closes the personal chapter of the feud; the two networks continue to compete, and no further public exchanges between the moguls are expected.
