the story of cnn People around the world were watch ing the Cable News Network CNN on the morning of Tuesday January 28 1986 to see the launch of the space shuttle Challenger A television chan nel devoted entirely to news CNN was broad casting the event live from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida Although the other networks covering the launch cut to commercials about a minute into the shuttle’s flight CNN contin ued to offer a live picture of the Challenger as it rose into the sky It was the only network still broadcasting when the shuttle burst into flames and smoke 73 seconds after launch killing eve ryone on board including teacher Christa McAuliffe CNN’s 2 anchors covering the event remained on the air for the next 13 hours soli difying the network’s reputation as the source for live breaking news built for success
b u i l t f o r s u c c e s s 6 p a g e the story of cnn chapter one In the fall of 1978 businessman Ted Turner called Reese Schonfeld a journalist he had met only a few times before Turner was the owner of the Atlanta Braves baseball team and Turner Broadcasting System TBS which operated a cable television station based in Atlanta Georgia Schonfeld was a 23-year TV news veteran Turner wanted Schonfeld’s help launching a 24-hour cable news service that would broadcast live via satellite to the whole country and eventually to people in countries all across the world Can it be done Turner asked Schonfeld And will you do it with me Schonfeld appreciated Turner’s vision of a television network that would put breaking news in front of viewers as it happened helping them to become better informed citizens So in August 1979 he moved to Atlanta and helped Turner cre ate CNN Schonfeld was tasked with hiring the reporters anchors and producers who would create and deliver the content broadcast on CNN He also worked to set up bureaus across the country to deliver local news Turner meanwhile worked to build the necessary financial foundation He had to round up advertisers to support the venture and convince the owners of cable operations nationwide to subscribe to the new network New News
Known for his brashness Ted Turner once said CNN won’t be signing off until the world ends cnn
