CNN Launches the 24/7 News Cycle

2025-03-25

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On Sunday, June 1st, 1980, Ted Turner pressed a button—and CNN went live, beaming 24/7 news into homes across America and changing the media landscape forever, while shrinking time and space forever.In this episode, we sent Julia Thompson to track down and interview people who were at CNN’s Atlanta headquarters on day one. What follows is the story of a visionary who dared to build a 24-hour news network on a tight budget—in a world dominated by 30-minute broadcasts and networks spending over $100 million a year on their news. With his own money and a vow to stay on the air “...

In this episode, we sent Julia Thompson to track down and interview people who were at CNN’s Atlanta headquarters on day one. What follows is the story of a visionary who dared to build a 24-hour news network on a tight budget—in a world dominated by 30-minute broadcasts and networks spending over $100 million a year on their news.

With his own money and a vow to stay on the air “until the world ends,” Ted Turner took on the giants. It’s a modern-day David and Goliath tale—driven by technology, entertainment, risk, and pure tenacity. This is how CNN was born.

This episode features interviews with:

Richard Roth (CNN original. Covered Gulf War, Berlin Wall fall, Tiananmen Square protests, and more)
John Huey (former Time Inc. Editor-in-Chief, Fortune Editor. WSJ journalist covering CNN's launch)
Jack Lechner (TV/Film Producer. Professor. Multiple-Time Jeopardy! Winner)
Steven Livingston (Author, The CNN Effect. Professor)
Web Barr

Listen to Hi Barr's newest podcast, Media Moguls with Web Barr on your favorite podcast app now.

CREDITS

'You Had To Be There' is a Hi Barr production.

Created by Hi Barr.

'CNN Launches the 24/7 News Cycle' was written and hosted by Julia Thompson.

Produced by Julia Thompson and Web Barr.

Edited by Julia Thompson.

Edit, Sound Mix, and engineering by Vishal Nayak.

Original score by Teeny Lieberson.

Artwork created by Dylan Lathrop.

Special thanks to our parents, friends and chosen family. And most importantly, thank you to the artists who’ve inspired us because they had to do it.

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