Ted Turner's Vision Made the Atlanta Braves a National Baseball Icon

Wed, 06 May 2026 21:07:00 +0200

When Ted Turner purchased the Atlanta Braves in 1976, the team was struggling both on the field and in attendance. Rather than focusing solely on baseball performance, Turner recognized the Braves as valuable content for his national TV station, WTCG, later TBS. By broadcasting Braves games nationwide starting in 1977, Turner created a dedicated out-of-market fan base and established the team as 'America's Team.' His innovative strategy demonstrated that a sports franchise could generate value simply by being widely accessible to viewers, regardless of its immediate success on the field. Turner’s boldness even included briefly managing the team himself, a stunt that led to new MLB rules. Over the following decades, the Braves became one of baseball's dominant teams, reaching the World Series five times and winning in 1995, producing multiple Hall of Famers. Turner's legacy is credited with expanding the reach of professional baseball and cultivating fans far beyond Atlanta, proving the