Making the News - Ted Turner and CNN | The News Will Continue | 2

The launch of CNN in 1980 marked a radical shift in television history, as media tycoon Ted Turner and executive Reese Schonfeld attempted to pioneer 24-hour news coverage. Despite initial skepticism and a reputation for technical gaffes—earning the moniker "Chicken Noodle News"—the network struggled to compete with established giants like ABC, CBS, and NBC. Success eventually arrived through aggressive, on-the-ground reporting during high-stakes events, including the MGM Grand hotel fire and the assassination of John Lennon, which proved the viability of the 24-hour model. To maintain this momentum and preempt competition from the Satellite News Channel, Turner and Schonfeld launched a second, faster-paced network, CNN2, utilizing a recurring 30-minute "wheel" format. This expansion solidified CNN’s market position but simultaneously strained the professional relationship between its visionary founder and the executive responsible for its daily operations.