Corporate History
In 1970, R. E. Turner, then head of a successful Atlanta-based outdoor advertising firm, purchased WJRJ-Atlanta, Channel 17, a small, struggling UHF station, and renamed it WTCG, for parent company Turner Communications Group. Through careful programming acquisitions, Turner guided the station to success. In December 1976, WTCG originated the "superstation" concept, transmitting via satellite to cable systems
In 1979, the company changed its name to Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.) and the call letters of its flagship entertainment network to WTBS. In 1980, the company broke new ground with the launch of CNN, the first 24-hour all-news network, forever changing the way the world saw breaking news. Today, CNN services reach nearly one billion people around the globe.
TBS, Inc. has grown at a phenomenal pace and now includes the following networks and businesses: TBS, Turner Network Television (TNT), Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), truTV, Adult Swim, Boomerang, TNT Europe, Cartoon Network Europe, TNT Latin America, Cartoon Network Latin America, TNT & Cartoon Network/Asia Pacific, Cartoon Network Japan, Cable News Network (CNN), CNN Headline News, CNN International, CNN en Espanol, CNN Airport Network, CNN en Espanol Radio, CNN.com, CNN Newsource, CNN+, and CNN Turk.
TBS, Inc. is the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry, and employs more than 9,000 people worldwide. Philip I. Kent oversees TBS, Inc. as chairman and chief executive officer.