Dissolution of Turner Broadcasting System
The dissolution of Turner Broadcasting was the gradual dismantling and absorption of the Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (commonly known as TBS)—once an independent American media conglomerate—into its then-parent company WarnerMedia (now Warner Bros. Discovery) between 2019 and 2022. The process marked the end of Turner as a standalone operating division, following over four decades of influence in cable television, news broadcasting, and entertainment programming in the media industry.[1]
The dissolution was the culmination of multiple corporate restructurings following Time Warner's 1996 acquisition of Turner Broadcasting,[2] Ted Turner's resignation from AOL Time Warner,[3] and AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner in 2018,[4] and finally the WarnerMedia–Discovery merger in 2022.[5] Today, majority of Turner Broadcasting's remaining assets are operated by Warner Bros Discovery's Streaming & Studios and Global Linear Networks divisions.[6]
Background
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After his father committed suicide, Ted Turner was appointed President and CEO of Turner Advertising Company, a Savannah-based billboard business, in March 1963. Turner renamed the company to Turner Communications and officially incorporated it on May 12, 1965. By the late 1960s, Turner Communications transitioned from advertising to radio and cable television, with its most noteworthy purchase being that of the Atlanta-based WJRJ-TV channel from Rice Communications in 1969. Turner and Rice Communications merged in 1970, with the combined entity being Turner Broadcasting System.[7]
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Turner then grew rapidly into a pioneering force in cable media. Its flagship station, WTBS, became one of the first "superstations" distributed nationwide via satellite. Turner later launched influential networks such as CNN (1980), TNT (1988), and Cartoon Network (1992). In 1996, Turner merged with Time Warner, bringing its networks into one of the world's largest media conglomerates. Despite the merger, Turner retained a distinct corporate identity, headquartered in Atlanta and overseeing its own networks.[8]
Time Warner acquired by AT&T, Turner starts being phased out
[edit]Over time, Turner's operational independence diminished as WarnerMedia centralized its television operations. The process accelerated after AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner (renamed WarnerMedia) in 2018, when major leadership and structural changes began reshaping the company.
AT&T dissolves Turner
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Following AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner, which was completed on June 14, 2018, the Turner division underwent a major reorganization. AT&T aimed to streamline operations by integrating Turner's networks into the broader WarnerMedia structure, alongside HBO and Warner Bros. Entertainment.
In 2019, WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey announced that the company would move away from the long-standing "Turner" name, consolidating its entertainment and news assets into new divisions.[9] CNN, TNT, and TBS were reassigned to WarnerMedia News & Sports and WarnerMedia Entertainment, while Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and Boomerang were absorbed into Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults, and Classics. By 2020, the Turner Broadcasting System, as a corporate entity, had effectively ceased to exist—though its network brands continued to operate. The Atlanta Turner Techwood campus, once a cornerstone of the company's identity, began losing key departments as WarnerMedia consolidated towards operations in New York,[30 Hundson Yards] Los Angeles,[Cartoon Network Studios] and Burbank.[Warner Bros]
WarnerMedia merger
[edit]When AT&T announced its plan in May 2021 to spin off WarnerMedia and merge it with Discovery, Inc., the remaining Turner infrastructure was absorbed into the forthcoming Warner Bros. Discovery corporate framework. The merger was finalized on April 8, 2022, marking the formal end of Turner Broadcasting's independent existence.
Under Warner Bros. Discovery, the Turner legacy networks were reorganized as follows: CNN, CNN International, and HLN became part of Warner Bros. Discovery News, TNT, TBS, and truTV joined the U.S. Networks Group, focusing on general entertainment and sports, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and Boomerang were folded under Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios.[10]
The Turner name was quietly phased out of corporate branding and documentation. By late 2022, the Turner Broadcasting System trademark was no longer used in Warner Bros. Discovery filings, symbolizing its complete dissolution.
See also
[edit]- Ted Turner
- Warner Bros. Discovery
- Acquisition of Time Warner by AT&T
- CNN
- WarnerMedia
- TNT (American TV network)
- TBS (Cable Channel)
References
[edit]- ^ "AT&T, Time Warner deal disassembles Turner Broadcasting". ARTS ATL. March 6, 2019.
- ^ UPI Archives (October 10, 1996). "TBS holders approve Time Warner deal - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ Doran, James (January 30, 2003). "Turner goes as AOL reveals loss of $98bn". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ Financier Worldwide Magazine (August 2018). "AT&T closes $85bn Time Warner deal". www.financierworldwide.com. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ WBD Press (April 2022). "Combination of Discovery and WarnerMedia Creates Warner Bros. Discovery, Global Leader in Entertainment and Streaming". ir.wbd.com. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ Flint, Joe (March 4, 2019). "AT&T Breaks Up Turner, Bulks Up Warner Bros. in Major WarnerMedia Overhaul". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ "Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. | American company | Britannica". www.britannica.com.
- ^ "TURNER TO MERGE INTO TIME WARNER; A $7.5 BILLION DEAL (Published 1995)". The New York Times. September 23, 1995.
- ^ Ho, Rodney; Kempner, Matt. "AT&T's WarnerMedia restructuring breaks apart Turner Broadcasting". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ "WarnerMedia, Discovery complete merger, become Warner Bros. Discovery". CNBC. April 8, 2022.
