Ted Turner has made his mark in cable television, sports ownership, film production and even bison ranching. Now the man once nicknamed Captain Outrageous is focused on philanthropic pursuits ranging from improving air and water quality to supporting the United Nations.
Turner will talk about his current projects in a Dec. 4 visit to Duke, offering brief remarks and responding to questions from the audience. The event is presented by the Sanford Institute of Public Policy's DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy.
Although perhaps best known for ventures such as CNN, which revolutionized the television news business, Turner has focused recently on philanthropic pursuits such as the Turner Foundation Inc. The foundation, created in 1990, supports efforts to improve air and water quality, develop sustainable energy, maintain wildlife habitat and curb population growth.
In 2001, Turner launched the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), a foundation he co-chairs with former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn. NTI is working to close the gap between the threat from nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and the global response.
In September 1997, Turner announced his pledge of up to $1 billion to the United Nations Foundation (UNF), which has four core priorities: women and population; children's health; the environment; and peace and security.
During his multifaceted career, Turner realigned broadcast news with the 1980 founding of CNN, the world's first live, 24-hour global news network. Over the next 20 years, Turner Broadcasting System Inc. built a portfolio of cable television news and entertainment brands and businesses, including CNN Headline News, CNN International, TNT, Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies.
Turner is also well known for his ownership of sports teams, including the Atlanta Braves baseball team and the Atlanta Falcons basketball team. In addition, he manages the largest commercial bison herd in North America and has opened a chain of restaurants featuring bison meat.