CNN founder Ted Turner with then wife Jane Fonda - Alan Light photo

Video Beat EXTRA EXTRA Part 3 - TED TURNER SPEAKS OUT ON CNN

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

CNN founder Ted Turner appeared on CNN this week on Wolf Blitzer's Situation Room program. Turner talked about how he was pushed out of being the boss of CNN and how it has changed - Recommended TV Listings

Friday May 14, 2010

TED TURNER THE MOUTH FROM THE SOUTH

CNN founder Ted Turner appeared on CNN this week on Wolf Blitzer's Situation Room program. Turner talked about how he was pushed out of being the boss of CNN came about when Time Warner merged with AOL.

That merger is considered by many as one of the worst mergers ever in business.

Blitzer has been with CNN for 20 years and Turner was in command when he was hired. Blitzer pointed out how hands on Turner was in the news room. When Turner had an idea he would go into the news room express his idea and the department would act on it.

When Turner now 71 announced the launch of CNN in 1979 (on air June 1, 1980) In 1979 at a Cable television conference cable and network broadcast television executives thought Turner was out of his mind to think that a 24 hours news format would work. Turner toddled on and his eventual success proved him right. Since the launch cable TV has eroded broadcast television's audience share. When CNN began cable television channels only had a 5% penetration in the television viewing market.

At that time Turner predicted that the print media was going to fade away noting that it was an antiquated manner to deliver information.

At that time cable was more immediate and being new kid on the block took more chances. Turner noted the Internet is now a more immediate way to deliver information and news but nobody is making enough money to support a news department. He thought that with the failure of the print media that eventually AP (Associated Press) would soon be the only source of news and that was not a good thing.

You could say that Turner missed his calling and should have been a diplomat. Wolf Blitzer brought to Turners attention that when he joined CNN one word that was not to be used on CNN was FOREIGN news with the preference being International. Turner explained his rationale that when news is reported from elsewhere it is not foreign it is International because we are all on this earth and CNN was reporting from all over the globe for International consumption.

His other claim to fame was extending his services to Russia and China when at that time it was not fashionable or the American way to do so. Turner used communication to help break down barriers whereas governments just talked about diplomacy. While they talked nothing was accomplished and Turner was busy communicating and doing business with countries the US government frowned on but…as they say… look at them now.

Turner noted that CNN though proven to be successful made major strides during the Iraq War. While visiting his then girlfriend (later to marry & divorce) actress Jane Fonda he turned on her television. All of the major networks were TALKING about the war in Iraq. When he turned on CNN he SAW what was going on in Iraq because they had reporters on the ground and he had invested in portable satellite dish uplink technology that enabled CNN to telecast globally in real time the action there. Turner felt that was the icing on the cake as it was the turning point when CNN achieved credibility as a major news source.

Turner has always been an excellent communicator who attracted overflow audiences whenever he spoke at a cable television conference. He has been known for his outlandish shoot from the hip and lip behavior but he his also shown his benevolent side when he pledged US $1 billion to the UN in 1997. Regarding what CNN is doing now Turner said since his departure CNN is more tabloid journalism and less news.

CNN's SAVE THE CHILDREN RHINESTONE RAMBO INFESTS PHNOM PENH

CNN founder Ted Turner had it right when he noted that since his departure from CNN it has resorted to tabloid journalism as was the case on a CNN program which did more to exploit children than help them. It's sad to say but it's almost comical how many NGO's are profiteering from the problems of the disadvantaged poor families of Cambodia who are so poor that their children are sold into prostitution willingly or not.

In February CNN telecast a feature on child prostitution on their World's Untold Stories program titled Innocence for Sale. If there ever was a misnomer this is it as this story is repeatedly told as we've witnessed fool after fool deceiving the public about their intentions.

The focus was on the undercover detective work of another Rhinestone Rambo who came to the land of Angkor Wat to save the children, to put his life on the line and defying danger.

This is a reoccurring theme for those blood thirsty networks that seek sensationalized programming. CNN's apparent star Anderson Cooper previously made the trip for his 360 show with the same theme with the same results…. NOTHING BUT SENSATIONALIZED PROGRAMMING and NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM.... POVERTY.

The BBC also previously aired two other tough guy Rambo's on the same mission with the same results. That was more comical as they informed the police (brilliant) where they were going to raid and needed their help. The twist is when they arrived no one was there. Hmmmmm. Go figure. But Hey!!! Back to the Rhinestone Rambo.

One of the opening scenes was the very healthy and plump Mr. Rambo standing with his arms crossed Rambo style with four tough looking guys behind him with their arms crossed and tough looks as if they were going to kick all of the ass in the world. The only thing missing was music in the background with Glen Campbell singing 'I'm a Rhinestone Rambo.'

The Rambo man boasted how he was going undercover into a brothel selling children. His voice was nervous as he explained how he could take pictures in focus with his undercover watch that had a camera without being detected. Now this was a moment that would make Dick Tracy proud, the problem is Dick Tracy is a comic book character this character is real.

The weirdness about this program is Mr. Rambo is undercover but his face is splashed all over the screen. How undercover is that!!! Forrest Gump said it best... "Stupid is what stupid does."

To be continued…

ANOTHER RING FOR THE KING

We're not referring to the NBA's Shaquille statement that he was signing to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers to win a ring for the King aka LeBron James. With Shaquille that's small change compared to talk show host LARRY KING.

The King of talk as we refer to him is about to experience his eighth divorce from wife number 7 Shawn Southwick after 13 years of wedded bliss... well sort of. Confused?

King married one of his wives twice. He created a stir with his current wife by giving her sister expensive gifts thus creating a jealous situation. King is subject to part with some big money as he doesn't have a prenuptial agreement with Southwick and has his worth is $144 million as well as earning a hefty $56 million contract with CNN. The couple resides in California and under California law if they divorce his wife is entitled to 50% of his earnings. The good news is the shotgun gossip news program TMZ reported that King has returned to live in the house with Southwick.

King is now celebrating his 25th year with CNN. The now 76 year-old King recently has been missing a number of shows since his marital problems came to light.

NOTE: YO LAR(RY).... get your Brooklyn street smarts together!

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TV SCHEDULE

Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia - Thailand time zone. Check our chart or your local listings for time in your area.

NOTE TIMES OF THE SAME TELECAST IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

3:00 PM - LOCKED UP ABROAD - National Geographic

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

8:00 PM - TRUE BLOOD - HBO

9:30 PM - UFC (ULTIMATE FIGHTING) - True Sport 2

11:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

7:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

9:00 PM - NARCO STATE - National Geographic

10:00 PM - LOCKED UP ABROAD - National Geographic

11:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

2:00 AM - AMERICAN GREED - CNBC

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