The pioneer of 24-hour television news broadcasting, Ted Turner, has died.
His demise has immediately brought to the fore his importance in the evolution of news media as we know today.
With the launch of Cable News Network (CNN) in 1980, news broadcasting was put on a loop and updated when new information was available.
This was unprecedented in the years before as news was mainly delivered in the evenings. There was scepticism on how sustainable the format would be, but Mr Turner proved it was doable, and thereby created a template for other news network to adopt and effectively changing the format for all electronic media broadcasting in all genres, be it news or entertainment.
According to the BBC, the media firm “…initially faced scepticism and struggles – being mocked as the “Chicken Noodle Network” in its early years by those who thought it would not succeed”.
“But the channel proved its worth by providing speedy and continuous updates of stories like the assassination attempt on US President Ronald Reagan in 1981, and the Challenger space shuttle disaster in 1986.
The network truly came of age with its live rolling coverage from Iraq during the 1990-1991 Gulf War.
President George Bush once said he learned more from CNN than he did from the CIA.”
Ted Turner went all in while building CNN as it is reported that he lived in the office for years. This probably gave him the place to think of his expansion into other outlets and film production such as the popular New Line Cinema
He also established the much loved children entertainment network, the Cartoon Network which has been the most– and remains popular with children and the young at heart in Nigeria even to this day.
The CNN remains a household name for foreign news in Nigeria, despite the large number of alternative sources thereby bearing a testement to the great Ted Turner legacy.
Mr Turner made some philantropic visit to Nigeria in 2010 when he visited to support UN effort at eradicating polio in Nigeria.
His global impact has an imprint on Nigeria, bringing events from all over the world to the audience in Nigeria in real time and and helping to shape politics and how news is presented by local media.
Also, the 24-hour broadcasting did not take effect until 1996 when Africa Independent Television (AIT) pionneered the format after broadcast libralization.
For years to come, the world of 24/7 broadcasting will remember Mr Ted Turner for his pioneering work and pay due respect to his legacy.
Mr Ted Turner died at the age of 87.
We here at insidekubwa.com pause to pay due regards to the media mogul and salute the inspiration he has been to our mission to media success.
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