How Ted Turner made the Atlanta Braves ‘America’s Team’

Yahoo Sports2h ago15 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

Ted Turner, who passed away at 87, significantly impacted the Atlanta Braves and made major league baseball accessible to millions. He transformed a struggling TV station into a national broadcasting powerhouse.

Key points

Ted Turner died at the age of 87.
He was instrumental in making the Atlanta Braves 'America's Team.'
Turner transformed a struggling TV station into a national broadcasting network.
He began his media career by buying small radio stations in the South.

Mentioned in this story

Ted Turner

Atlanta Braves

Among the many things that Ted Turner will be remembered for, will be his impact on the Atlanta Braves and bringing major league baseball into the homes of millions across the country.

Turner died on Wednesday at the age of 87.

In the late 60s, Turner began buying up small radio stations across the South, including in Georgia.

In 1969, he would sell those radio stations and bout the struggling UHF television station here in Atlanta, WRJR. He would soon change the call letters to WTCG, and initially ran old movies and TV shows.

In 1976, the FCC allowed WTCG to use satellites to transmit programming to cable stations throughout the country. He then branded it the WTCG-TV Super Station, airing from right here in Atlanta.

FILE - Dominique Wilkins, all time leading scorer at the University of Georgia, holds his Atlanta Hawks jersey flanked by coach Kevin Loughery, right, and owner Ted Turner on Sept. 4, 1982, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Joe Holloway, File)

In this Oct. 28, 1995, file photo, Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner, left, talks with Braves pitcher Tom Glavine as he holds the series MVP trophy after the Braves won the World Series in Atlanta.

Q&A

What was Ted Turner's role with the Atlanta Braves?

Ted Turner was the owner of the Atlanta Braves and played a crucial role in popularizing the team as 'America's Team.'

How did Ted Turner influence baseball broadcasting?

Ted Turner revolutionized baseball broadcasting by using satellites to transmit Braves games nationwide, making major league baseball accessible to a larger audience.

What did Ted Turner do before owning the Braves?

Before owning the Braves, Ted Turner bought small radio stations and later transformed a struggling UHF television station in Atlanta into a national cable network.

When did Ted Turner pass away?

Ted Turner passed away on Wednesday at the age of 87.