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DEL.ICIO.USTed Turner, Murdoch have ‘buried the hatchet’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Arch rivals in the media world — Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch — are no longer at war.
When Murdoch announced that he was going “green” with his media empire by buying carbon offsets and instituting stronger environmental practices, Turner sent Murdoch a letter.
‘I had to congratulate him for it,” Turner told a luncheon crowd today at Atlanta’s Rotary Club. “Not many people take the time to write letters any more. I haven’t sent George Bush many notes.”
When Murdoch received Turner’s letter, he reached out to Turner and invited him to lunch, which happened a couple of months ago.
“I have buried the hatchet with him so I’m officially not at war with anybody,” Turner said.
Turner and Murdoch had been arch rivals with major philosophical differences.
Turner ran CNN, a 24-hour cable news network that some critics have said has a liberal bent, but one that Turner saw as a channel to increase global understanding.
Murdoch started Fox News, also a 24-hour cable news network, that often provided a conservative slant on its channel and described itself as a fair and balanced source of information.
Their competition did get personal. But as Murdoch’s empire grew (it now includes the Wall Street Journal), Turner lost control of Turner Broadcasting System and CNN after the acquisition by Time-Warner and merger with AOL.
At today’s lunch, Turner was asked what he would do differently if he was still running CNN.
“I would make Lou Dobbs shut up,” Turner quickly responded. After he thought about it some more, Turner said: “They don’t run as much international news as I’d like.” He also said the news is “lighter” and more “frivolous.”
Turner did say he misses the sports scores on the ticker of Headline News. And then he acknowledged: “I’m an old fuddy duddy now.”
As has become customary in his talks, Turner mentioned his estrangement with Time Warner. He got quite a laugh when he said: “A Time Man of the Year (Turner) got let go by Time.”
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Comments
By Bob
July 7, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this
Yea… he would make Lou Dobbs shut-up. Still the socialist.
By Bobby
July 7, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
honey, please, I would pay to make Lou Dobbs shut up. Lou represents an older generation of old thinking. What Ted built andl launched in 1980 was revolutionary and I agree that CNN has lost its way in the last several years. It’s for the masses so it’s very much dumbed down.
By Dan
July 7, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Oh Jeeze.. love it.. make Lou shut up. I wish he would. Of course Lou thinks so much of himself, he would probably have to ask one of his Yes people who Ted was. Lou.. Ted was the guy that hired you back after you quit long ago for not getting named Prez. of CNN.. crybaby.. blowhard
By DHD
July 7, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Ted is an embarrassment to Atlanta.
By S.P.
July 7, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
Ted is one of the few national bright spots from Atlanta. As is usually the case, the only good things that Georgia produces is from Atlanta, check that, ITP Atlanta. The rest of this state, which obviously includes DHD, is an embarrassment.
By Kp
July 7, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this
I agree I would make Lou shout up to but better yet how about that uneducated yahoo on CNN HN, Glenn Beck. Listening to him is like dealing with a whiny 5 year old.
By Marie
July 7, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
Hah, an embarrassment ! Unfortunately there are no more Ted Turner’s around to say things the way they are. Ted’s remarkable life won’t be repeated because it just isn’t possible to live the way he has lived in today’s politically correct world. Too bad.
By ATLien
July 7, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this
“I would make Lou Dobbs shut up.” HA! I love it. Why does Lou Dobbs still have his own show? That guy is a self-indulgent a-hole.
By Al
July 7, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
It’s about time that Turner finally came to the realization that he’s not that important anymore. After all, Murdoch has the successful Fox News Channel, built the Fox Television from scratch, owns the prestigious Wall Street Journal. As for Turner, his downfall occurred when he married Hanoi Jane. Turner could have had it all if he had not married that filthy racist communist.
By Bob
July 7, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this
Yea, but Lou Dobbs is right on about immigration.
By Dawgsfan1990
July 7, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this
C’mon Ted…PLEAS buy back the Braves!
By Dawgsfan1990
July 7, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this
C’mon Ted…PLEASE buy back the Braves!
By sniff
July 7, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
maybe ted should feast on a plate of doo doo from the chattahoochee? perhaps?
By Ted
July 7, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this
Ahhh….what the hell are y’all?? A bunch of jesus freaks? Ahhhh.
By g.w.h.
July 7, 2008 5:38 PM | Link to this
Had one dealing with Ted Turner in 1987…glad I have never had another…he is NOT a shining example of anything good for the State of Georgia. Many of the comments posted here have hit it squarely on the head, as to what kind of a human being he really is.
By Brendan
July 7, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this
Lou Dobbs is spot on with his take on Immigration matters.
Perhaps Ted Turner would considere buying back the Braves. And Thrashers!! Ted might clean house with the Thrashers!!
By Chilidog
July 7, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this
Ted, you are still DA MAN. Now buy back the Braves and the Hawks, and build us another winner for Atlanta. You seem to be the only one with the exception of Mr Blanks that would be willing to put out the dollars for some good management, players and coaches. Not to mention that you are one that really cares about the A-T-L.
By Chilidog
July 7, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
G.W.H., sounds like you need to do like Ted and bury the hatchet. You are still carrying bitterness from 1987. Follow Ted’s example and bury the hatchet. You will feel better.
By No Way
July 7, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
You people who want Ted to buy the Braves need to go back and look at the record he produced here before he finally gave up and let someone with baseball knowledge run the team. He bought the team in 1976. Take a look at the records form 76-91. We don’t need Ted to buy the team.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/
By Eric
July 7, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this
Atlanta has plenty to owe to Ted Turner. His cable networks exposed Atlanta to the world on a daily basis and it’s no mistake that our city has grew along greatly along with those networks. No matter what you think of the guy, his impact here in enormous.
By Haile G
July 7, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this
Ted is a world leader and visionary guy.
The State of Georgia and Atlanta must be proud of Ted’s achievements here and around the globe I was lucky today to see him and shake his hand in person.
Thanks,
Haile G
By Scott
July 7, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this
Ted has been great for Atlanta. I wish he and his bi-polar personality were running the CNN show again. As for Lou Dobbs, it is CNNs attempt at a poor man’s Bill O’Reilly. Same with Glen Beck. I miss Peter Jennings when it comes to the news.
By zeke
July 7, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
T. T. the eternal liberal! A socialist at herat! An environmental nut! However, he continues to buy up all the land he can! Pushing out individuals who would actually use the land as GOD intended, not to make more millions off the back of American citizens!!! The mouth of the south is about as seile as J Carter, and, they both need to shut their traps and simply GO AWAY!!!
By sp1
July 8, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
Ted is still a moron, he ran his company into the ground then whines about selling it to someone else then getting fired. Murdoch should not even give him the time of day, hes irrelevant and just looking for publicity, his being mad about CNN going fluff is ironic since he was the biggest publicity hound ever. Don’t cry because you helped dumb down the people TED.
Oh and the only thing good about Georgia is outside the cesspool called atlanta, still one of the top 3 most corrupt cities in the USA, congrats.
By Clay
July 8, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this
When Turner sold the Braves and CNN to Time Warner, the braves were on top and CNN had better ratings than Fox. I wish he still ran them.
By CJ
July 8, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this
I like Jane a whole lot more than I like Ted.