Turner Broadcasting System
Former American media conglomerate whose television and entertainment properties included CNN, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, and Turner Classic Movies.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Turner Broadcasting System was an American television and media company established by Ted Turner in 1965. It grew from a regional outdoor-advertising business into one of the most influential companies in the development of American cable television. Its defining innovations included distributing the Atlanta independent station WTCG nationally by satellite, creating an early basic-cable superstation that was later associated with the TBS name, and launching CNN in 1980 as the first 24-hour cable news network. The company expanded rapidly during the 1980s and 1990s. It launched TNT, acquired major film and animation libraries, purchased Hanna-Barbera and Ruby-Spears, and created Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies. Turner also became involved in sports and professional wrestling through Turner Sports and World Championship Wrestling. Its acquisition of the pre-May 1986 MGM film and television library gave it a substantial long-term content archive, later managed through Turner Entertainment Co. The company acquired Castle Rock Entertainment and New Line Cinema shortly before merging with Time Warner. Turner Broadcasting merged with Time Warner on October 10, 1996. It subsequently operated as a major collection of cable networks and entertainment assets within the larger media group. In the 2000s and 2010s, it expanded internationally through channel launches, joint ventures, acquisitions, and regional television investments. These activities included the creation of Zee Turner in India, ownership interests in Latin American networks, the acquisition of LazyTown Entertainment, and the purchase of a majority stake in iStreamPlanet to support digital video distribution. The corporate Turner identity was gradually reduced after Time Warner was acquired by AT&T in 2018 and renamed WarnerMedia. Turner properties were redistributed among WarnerMedia Entertainment, WarnerMedia News & Sports, and Warner Bros. In 2022, WarnerMedia merged with Discovery to form Warner Bros. Discovery. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. remained as an in-name-only legal subsidiary holding certain copyrights and contracts, but the operating company was no longer maintained as a standalone corporate division. The TBS name survives primarily through the TBS cable network and historical references to the former media group.
History
Turner Broadcasting System originated in the advertising business of Robert Edward Turner II, who had acquired a billboard company in Savannah, Georgia, in the late 1940s. After his death in 1963, his son Ted Turner inherited the enterprise and broadened it into radio and television. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. was incorporated in Georgia on May 12, 1965. In 1970, Ted Turner purchased Atlanta UHF station WJRJ, Channel 17, and renamed it WTCG. The station became the foundation of Turner’s national expansion. In December 1976, WTCG was distributed to cable systems by satellite, extending its reach beyond Atlanta and establishing the superstation model. The service was later identified with the WTBS name and became an important example of how satellite delivery could create a national basic-cable channel from a local station. Turner renamed Turner Communications Group as Turner Broadcasting System in 1979. In 1980, it launched Cable News Network, or CNN. CNN’s continuous news format transformed cable television and eventually became one of the company’s most recognizable global assets. Turner later introduced Cable Music Channel, Turner Network Television, and a broad portfolio of entertainment and sports programming. TNT launched in 1988 and became a major outlet for movies, original series, and sports. Turner’s 1986 purchase of MGM/UA Entertainment Co. created both substantial debt and a valuable film library. Turner sold the studio operations back to Kirk Kerkorian but retained the pre-May 1986 MGM film and television library, the Associated Artists Productions library, and certain RKO distribution rights. Turner Entertainment Co. was formed to manage these assets. The company also acquired Hanna-Barbera and Ruby-Spears in 1991, Castle Rock Entertainment in 1993, and New Line Cinema shortly afterward. The company launched Cartoon Network in 1992 and Turner Classic Movies in 1994. Its sports and wrestling activities expanded through Turner Sports and World Championship Wrestling. WCW programming on TNT and TBS competed directly with WWF programming during the late-1990s Monday Night War. Turner also developed international channels and regional ventures, including Turner South and operations in India and Latin America. Turner merged with Time Warner on October 10, 1996. Within Time Warner, it continued operating a significant collection of cable networks. Cartoon Network later became the home of Adult Swim, while Boomerang was launched as a classic-animation service in 2000. Time Warner acquired full control of Court TV in 2006 and relaunched it as TruTV in 2008. Turner also pursued international television investments, including Zee Turner, Chilevisión, LazyTown Entertainment, and several Indian television properties. After John K. Martin became chairman and chief executive in 2014, the company undertook restructuring and workforce reductions. It also invested in streaming technology through a majority stake in iStreamPlanet and launched the digital video brand Great Big Story. Turner’s corporate structure changed substantially after AT&T acquired Time Warner in 2018. The Turner name was phased out as an operating brand, and its properties were allocated among WarnerMedia units and Warner Bros. In 2022, WarnerMedia merged with Discovery to create Warner Bros. Discovery. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. continued only as a legal entity associated with legacy copyrights and contracts, while its former businesses operated under Warner Bros. Discovery divisions.
- 2022
WarnerMedia becomes part of Warner Bros. Discovery
[1]The WarnerMedia–Discovery combination ended Turner’s role as a standalone operating group.
- 2018
Turner enters WarnerMedia
[1]AT&T completed its acquisition of Time Warner, including Turner Broadcasting System.
- 2008
Court TV becomes TruTV
[1]Turner relaunched Court TV as TruTV on January 1.
- 2001
WCW assets are sold
[1]The World Wrestling Federation acquired WCW’s principal assets after Turner ended its wrestling programming.
- 2000
Boomerang launches
[1]Boomerang debuted as a sister channel focused on classic animation.
- 1996
Merger with Time Warner
[1]Turner Broadcasting became part of Time Warner on October 10.
- 1994
Turner Classic Movies launches
[1]TCM launched as a channel devoted primarily to classic films and archival cinema.
- 1992
Cartoon Network launches
[1]Turner introduced a dedicated animation network that later became associated with Adult Swim and Boomerang.
- 1988
TNT launches
[1]Turner Network Television broadened the company’s national entertainment and sports presence.
- 1980
CNN launches
[1]Cable News Network began broadcasting on June 1 as the first 24-hour cable news channel.
Products and positioning
A pioneering American cable-media company built around national television distribution, news, sports, entertainment, animation, and film libraries.
Cable television network · 1976
TBS
The service developed from Atlanta station WTCG and its satellite distribution as a national superstation. It became a major basic-cable entertainment network carrying films, series, comedy, and sports.
Cable news network · 1980
CNN
Launched in 1980, CNN pioneered continuous 24-hour cable news and developed into an international news brand with television, digital, and regional operations.
Entertainment and sports network · 1988
TNT
TNT was created as a national entertainment channel for movies, original programming, and sports. It became one of the principal U.S. networks associated with the Turner portfolio.
Animation network · 1992
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network launched in 1992 using Turner’s animation library and later added original animated programming. Its ecosystem also produced Adult Swim and supported Boomerang.
Film channel · 1994
Turner Classic Movies
TCM was established as a curated channel for classic cinema, drawing on Turner’s extensive film holdings and presenting films with historical and archival context.
Entertainment network · 2008
TruTV
Turner acquired full control of Court TV in 2006 and relaunched the channel as TruTV in 2008, shifting its identity toward unscripted entertainment and comedy.
Brand decisions
2022
Combination with DiscoveryM&ABackground
AT&T separated WarnerMedia, which was then combined with Discovery, Inc.
Action taken
WarnerMedia merged with Discovery to form Warner Bros. Discovery, placing former Turner networks under the new company’s U.S. networks structure.
Aftermath
Turner Broadcasting System remained largely as an in-name-only subsidiary rather than an independent media operator.
2018
Integration into WarnerMediaM&ABackground
AT&T acquired Time Warner and reorganized its media assets under a new corporate identity.
Action taken
Turner properties were distributed among WarnerMedia Entertainment, WarnerMedia News & Sports, and Warner Bros., while the Turner corporate brand was phased out.
Aftermath
Turner ceased to function as a unified operating division, although the legal subsidiary continued to hold legacy rights and contracts.
1996
Merger with Time WarnerM&ABackground
Turner had become a major cable and content company, while Time Warner sought to combine its film, publishing, and entertainment assets with Turner’s networks and libraries.
Action taken
Turner Broadcasting System merged with Time Warner on October 10.
Aftermath
Turner operated within Time Warner for more than two decades, with its networks and content assets integrated into the larger media group.
1986
Purchase of MGM/UA Entertainment Co.M&ABackground
Turner sought to expand into film and television production and acquire a large content library.
Action taken
Turner purchased MGM/UA Entertainment Co. and later sold the studio operations back while retaining selected libraries and distribution rights.
Aftermath
The transaction left Turner with significant debt but also gave it a valuable library that supported later cable and home-entertainment activities.
Purchase price. $1.5 billion (1986 transaction; nominal purchase price reported in reference material)
Sources1 sources
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