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CNN Founder Ted Turner: Network Focuses Too Much on Politics, Needs 'More Balanced Agenda'

Ted Turner / YouTube
September 28, 2018

CNN founder Ted Turner said in an interview set to air this weekend that he believes the cable network's programming is too political these days.

Turner told "CBS Sunday Morning" that he no longer follows the news much, but still watches CNN occasionally and didn't want to criticize them.

"I think they're sticking with politics a little too much," he did say. "They'd do better to have a more balanced agenda. But that's, you know, just one person's opinion."

Turner took the time to praise and take a little dig at his former competitor and fellow media mogul Rupert Murdoch. "He didn't hate me. He envied me ... because I was ahead of him a little bit," Turner said with a smile. "But not much. He was one of the smartest guys in the media business— is one of the smartest."

The former CNN head honcho also revealed that he's suffering from Lewy body dementia, a form of the disease that steadily get's worse over time. "It's a mild case of what people have as Alzheimer's. It's similar to that. But not nearly as bad," Turner told host Ted Koppel.

"Alzheimer's is fatal. Thank goodness I don't have that. But, I also have got ... I can't remember the name of it," Turner said before he had to pause. "Dementia. I can't remember what my disease is."

Published under: CBS Sunday Morning , CNN