The Improbable Success of CNN in the 1980s
Summary
This episode of Everything '80s details the launch and rise of CNN, exploring Ted Turner’s risky bet on 24-hour news. It covers CNN’s technical hurdles, early financial struggles, and key moments like the Reagan assassination attempt. The story highlights how CNN’s live coverage of major events proved the viability of cable news, paving the way for other specialty channels in the 1980s.
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