Turner's media moves reshaped sports and pro wrestling
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ATLANTA — Ted Turner, the media executive who bought the Atlanta Braves in the 1970s and later rebranded a wrestling company as World Championship Wrestling, died Wednesday. He used the TBS superstation and TNT to broadcast sports and wrestling nationally; WCW outpaced the World Wrestling Federation in television ratings for 83 weeks, according to former Turner executive Brad Siegel. This week, sports figures and industry officials reflected on Turner's influence: Diamond Dallas Page thanked him for providing an international wrestling platform, and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred called Turner a 'visionary' whose media innovations transformed how fans experience sports. The Braves won the 1995 World Series and Turner sold the franchise the following year, outlets reported.
Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.
Timeline of Events
- 1970s: Turner purchased the struggling Atlanta Braves and began broadcasting their games on his local TV station.
- Turner sold the Braves' signal to cable systems to create a national audience via TBS.
- Turner acquired and rebranded a wrestling company as World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and placed programming on TNT.
- WCW outpaced the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in television ratings for 83 weeks during head-to-head scheduling.
- 1995: The Braves won the World Series; Turner sold the franchise the following year and Turner died Wednesday.
Why This Matters to You
Ted Turner's media moves changed how we consume sports and entertainment. His vision brought local teams and wrestling to a national audience. If you're a sports fan, Turner's innovations likely shaped your viewing experience.
The Bottom Line
Turner was a media pioneer who reshaped sports broadcasting and pro wrestling. His legacy lives on in how we watch and engage with these events today. If you know someone who enjoys sports or wrestling, they might find Turner's impact worth knowing.
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Turner's national broadcasting strategy expanded audiences, benefiting broadcasters, the Atlanta Braves franchise, cable operators, wrestling talent such as WCW performers, and advertisers by creating larger, national markets.
Competing promoters and regional-only broadcasters lost viewership and market advantage during WCW's extended ratings lead, and some competitors experienced measurable ratings declines during that period.
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Turner's media moves reshaped sports and pro wrestling
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