CNN was founded by Georgia businessman Ted Turner. In the 1970s
Turner took advantage of the increasing availability of
communications satellites to begin broadcasting his independent
UHF station, Plans for CNN were publicly announced in May 1979.
With the bravado that was one of his trademarks, Turner
predicted that CNN would represent "the greatest achievement in
the history of journalism." Schonfeld would serve as the
network's first president and CEO. Veteran journalist Daniel
Schorr, who had worked for CBS News during the "golden age" of
Edward R. Murrow, lent his credibility to the venture when he
agreed to become the new channel's most visible correspondent.
Turner set an ambitious goal of beginning CNN's broadcast on
June 1, 1980. Early response was skeptical. Critics doubted
whether there was a market for around-the-clock news, and many
questioned whether such a venture could be profitable. In a
television news universe dominated by the "big three" networks
(CBS, NBC, and ABC), many wondered if there