Turner Broadcasting System

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
Type Subsidiary of Time Warner
Industry Entertainment
Cable Television
Interactive Media
Founded 1970
Founder(s) Ted Turner
Headquarters CNN Center
Atlanta, Georgia
, United States
Key people Philip I. Kent (Chairman and CEO)
Parent Time Warner
Divisions CNN
TNT
TCM
Cartoon Network
Boomerang
TruTV
TBS
Website turner.com
Aerial view of the CNN Center, which has the headquarters of Turner Broadcasting System

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (often abbreviated TBS Networks or TBS, Inc.) is the company managing the collection of cable networks and properties started by Robert Edward "Ted" Turner in the mid-1970s. The company has its headquarters in the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia.[1]

The company's current assets include CNN, HLN, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, and over-the-air Atlanta station WPCH-17 (formerly WTBS, a near-simulcast of the national TBS). Turner Broadcasting does not include The CW Television Network, HBO and Cinemax.

TBS, Inc. merged with Time Warner in 1996, and now operates as a semi-autonomous unit of Time Warner. The current chairman and CEO of Turner Broadcasting is Philip I. Kent.

Contents

History

1970s

In 1970, Ted Turner, then head of a successful Atlanta-based outdoor advertising firm, purchased WJRJ-Atlanta, Channel 17, a small, struggling UHF station, and renamed it WTCG, for parent company Turner Communications Group. Through careful programming acquisitions, Turner guided the station to success. In December 1976, WTCG originated the "superstation" concept, transmitting via satellite to cable systems.

In 1979, the company changed its name to Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.) and the call letters of its flagship entertainment channel to WTBS, now TBS.

1980s

In 1980, the company launched CNN, the first 24-hour all-news network.

In 1984, Turner launched Cable Music Channel, his competition to MTV. The channel was short-lived, but helped mold and launch the original format of VH1.

In 1986, Turner bought the pre-1986 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer library, the RKO Radio Pictures library, the a.a.p. library, and a few United Artists material from MGM/UA. Turner Entertainment is founded.

In 1988, the company launched TNT.

1990s

Turner expanded its presence in film production and distribution, first with the 1991 purchase of the failing Hanna-Barbera. New Line Cinema and Castle Rock Entertainment would be acquired three years later.[2][3] Turner launched Cartoon Network on Thursday, October 1, 1992.

In 1994, Turner Classic Movies launched.

In 1996, Turner Broadcasting merged with Time Warner and has grown at a phenomenal pace and now reaches more than 200 countries and territories around the world.

2000s

In 2003, Philip I. Kent succeeded Jamie Kellner as chairman. The former The WB Network was brought to the fold in 2001 during Kellner's watch, but returned to Warner Bros. in 2003 with the departure of Kellner.

In early 2006, the company sold Turner South to Fox Cable Networks creating SportSouth, a regional sports channel. Fox assumed control of the network on May 1, and at the beginning of the newest NHL season, rebranded it as SportSouth, coincidentally the former name of FSN South when Turner owned the network in partnership with Liberty Media, from its founding in 1990, until 1997.

In May 2006, Turner Broadcasting, which already owned 50% of Court TV, purchased the remaining half from Liberty Media.

Also in May 2006, Ted Turner attended his last meeting as a board member of Time Warner and officially parted with the company.

In August 2006, Turner Broadcasting Europe volunteered to edit or stop airing some Hanna-Barbera Tom and Jerry films after Ofcom UK received a complaint that the cigar smoking in a Tom & Jerry short was inappropriate.[4]

Channels

U.S. domestic

News

Entertainment

Interactive/broadband sites

Animation

International

Latin America

The channels in Latin America are controlled by "Turner Broadcasting System Latin America", headquarted in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. It broadcasts Latin American versions of U.S. channels, and also channels that are exclusive for the region.

Over-The-Air Networks
News
Entertainment
Animation

Other regions

News
Entertainment
Animation

References

External links

UK links