Ted Turner: The Untold Story You Need to See

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At one point, he organized an unexpected fundraising event to help pay his almost financially collapsed TV station’s employees. On another occasion, he boldly announced that he was managing the Atlanta Braves for a day – just because he could. And then there was the time when he revolutionized the world by launching CNN.

The life and impact of Ted Turner are portrayed honestly, including his flaws, in the documentary series “Call Me Ted,” which was directed by Keith Clarke and produced by Joni Levin under their production company, Point Blank Productions.

The six-part series isn’t a saintly biography. Instead, it delves into both the triumphs and tribulations of the groundbreaking media tycoon from Atlanta, who played a significant role in shaping cable television with TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, and CNN’s introduction of 24/7 global news. At 86 years old, Turner, who has been the owner of the Atlanta Braves for three decades, was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2018.

According to Levin, this individual was deeply convinced in his endeavors and self-confident, yet he faced numerous rejections. Instead of being discouraged by the word ‘no’, he transformed it into an opportunity for success. Our motivation behind sharing this story is that while some may recognize him, they don’t truly understand who he is.

Since the mid-2000s, Turner has largely been absent from media, following his sale of Turner Broadcasting System to Time Warner in 1996 and enduring the financially damaging AOL-Time Warner merger five years later. Levin expressed concern that with the passage of time, significant aspects of Turner’s legacy might be overlooked.

She notes that the younger group is mostly unaware of him, as he was an exceptional rule-breaker who constantly sought to challenge traditional norms. “Ted used to say, ‘It’s the global populace, it’s the collective ‘we’, it’s the spectators in the stands who hold the power to shift the course of the game,’ ” she reminisces.

As a film enthusiast, I was privileged to have worked closely with Turner in the late ’80s and early ’90s, contributing significantly to his story. In an exciting turn of events, Turner Broadcasting System acquired my 1988 documentary “John Huston: The Man, the Movies, the Maverick,” which had initially premiered at Sundance. This groundbreaking title eventually graced the screens of the then-nascent TNT. Furthermore, I was the one who produced the three-part series “MGM: When the Lion Roars” in 1992, a project that earned TNT its first Emmy Award.

Years after the upheaval in the industry that Turner significantly contributed to, Levin discovered an intriguing fact – Turner had never been the focus of a comprehensive documentary. Persistently, she pursued the mogul’s consent for this project, which required patience. Additionally, she enlisted backing and resources for the venture from cable executives who profited greatly from Turner’s innovative ideas: John Malone, Brian Roberts, and Charles Dolan, who passed away in December at 98 years old.

Throughout his career as a writer, director, and producer, Clarke has tackled a variety of narrative and nonfiction projects. At first, he hadn’t intended to team up with Levin on “Call Me Ted.” However, upon observing her dedication to sharing the story, he decided to give Turner’s narration of his 2008 memoir “Call Me Ted” a listen.

Clarke mentions that it was his casual language, disregard for tradition, and most notably, his openness about his flaws and vulnerabilities that intrigued him. This genuine sharing of personal struggles resonated with Clarke, who admires real-life narratives. In other words, he was moved by this man’s willingness to expose his errors, weaknesses, and the hurt he has caused and endured.

Levin finds it increasingly crucial to delve into how Turner overcame the obstacles he encountered as an autonomous media operator, considering the Trump administration’s attacks on journalism and democratic principles.

Levin stated that we aim to connect with today’s generation, as the issues that mattered deeply to Ted in his time are still relevant today. He fought battles for their sake then, and if he were here now, he would undoubtedly continue to advocate for the same causes – freedom of speech and press. When CNN was barred from being part of the press pool by the Reagan administration, Ted took them to court. Winning the case, he wouldn’t shy away from a fight today under similar pressure. Instead, he’d stand up boldly for those values.

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2025-04-18 18:49