Read David Zaslav’s Memo To WBD On Ted Turner’s Death: “He Did Not Just Disrupt Media. He Transformed It”

The death of Ted Turner today has left David Zaslav reflecting on the power of media and who owns what.

“He believed deeply in the power of ideas, in doing things differently and in building platforms that could inform, inspire and connect people around the world,” the Warner Bros Discovery CEO told staff today as news of Truner’s passing at 87 became public. “That belief inspired generations of leaders, myself included. He did not just disrupt media. He transformed it.”

Pointing to a sit-down with the rarely seen Tuner a few years ago, Zaslav Wednesday added: “One of the moments I reflect on most often was meeting with Ted in Washington, D.C., following the close of the WarnerMedia and Discovery merger in April 2022. We talked about the opportunities and challenges ahead, the responsibility that comes with stewarding these extraordinary brands and the need to keep innovating in a constantly changing world. I think about that conversation often.”

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Ted Turner Dies: Visionary CNN Founder Was 87