Introducing 'Media Moguls with Web Barr'
The Ted Turner Saga Starts Today! Listen to Episode 1 Now!
"I was interested in one thing, and that was finding out what you could accomplish if you really tried. My interest was always in why people did the things they did, and what causes people to rise to glorious heights.”
- Ted Turner
Hi friends,
I'm very excited to share that Media Moguls with Web Barr—a podcast over 1.5 years in the making is…LIVE. But if we’re being honest, it’s really the result of a lifetime of passion, obsession, and experience in media and entertainment coming to life!
Media Moguls is an in-depth podcast on the entrepreneurs, innovators, and risk-takers who built and reshaped media & entertainment over the past century. We’ll unpack the game-changing innovations, power struggles, and defining moments that shaped the media industry—all while telling the story of how we got to now. No shortcuts. No half measures. All in.
We're kicking off today with the premiere of Episode 1 of Season 1: The Ted Turner Saga—a modern-day David and Goliath story. Ted Turner’s the cable maverick who revolutionized television, created the Superstation, founded CNN and the 24-hour news cycle, pioneered satellite distribution, and reshaped sports media—all while making bold bets no one else dared, risking his own capital, and pushing his company to the brink over and over. Over 10 episodes, we'll discuss Ted’s relentless drive, fearless bets, and epic battles with the networks, affiliates, Hollywood, and other industry giants—and that’s just the start. It’s a story so audacious it feels like fiction, but trust me, it’s all real.
Most episodes will run over 2 hours because context matters, connecting the dots takes time (remember, all the pieces matter), and these stories deserve more than a quick summary. In another era, Media Moguls would’ve been a series of books, but podcasts let us dive deeper, bringing history to life with the kind of passion and excitement that audiobooks simply can’t match. So, if you're into immersive, longform podcasts like Acquired, Hardcore History, or History on Fire (all inspirations for this show), I think you'll love Media Moguls.
Episode 1 is available NOW and Episode 2 drops next week. After that, new episodes will be released monthly starting in April.
If you enjoy the show, please rate us 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and share with friends or on socials! Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention—I don’t have a publicist or agent, but I’d love your help spreading the word: If you host a podcast, run a newsletter, or write for a publication (especially around business, media, or tech), let’s chat about Media Moguls!
This is just the beginning. Thanks for your support, it means everything!
Let’s go!
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Sponsors
We’re looking for great partners to support the show. If you’re interested in sponsoring Media Moguls, let’s talk! Or, if you’d like to help us secure sponsorship deals (with a generous commission), shoot me an email—I’d love to chat.
Show Notes: Episode 1
Season 1 of Media Moguls begins with Ted Turner, the media maverick who revolutionized cable television, news, and sports. But before Turner built his media empire, he was just a young man shaped by ambition, discipline, and tragedy—driven by a relentless need to succeed.
In this debut episode, longtime media operator and host Web Barr unpacks the pivotal moments that set Ted Turner on his path—from a chaotic childhood to selling advertising for his father’s billboard company, and beyond. We also break down the broadcast TV revolution—how the birth of television changed everything, the slow rise of network news, and how a personal tragedy set Turner on his journey to transform media forever.
Media empires aren’t built overnight. They’re forged through ambition, unorthodox thinking, and relentless drive. This is Media Moguls with Web Barr: The Ted Turner Saga.
More From Hi Barr
For business inquiries, please email: contact@hibarrmedia.com
Listen to Hi Barr’s You Had To Be There
Credits
Writing, research, and production by Web Barr.
Artwork by Dylan Lathrop.
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
Sources: Episode 1
Books used in Episode 1…Get em here!
Up All Night: Ted Turner, CNN, and the Birth of 24-Hour News
Ted Turner Speaks: Insights From the World's Greatest Maverick
Cable Cowboy: John Malone and the rise of the modern cable-TV business
Me and Ted Against the World: The Unauthorized Story of the Founding of CNN
Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II
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