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Clash of the Titans: How the Unbridled Ambition of Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch Have Created Global Empires That Control What We Read and Watch Each Day
CLASH OF THE TITANS By the author of the highly acclaimed national bestseller Hughes: The Private Diaries, Memos and Letters. The two most influential media moguls of all time: two billionaires, two fascinating stories that often intersect. Ted Turner is the brash, outspoken and unpredictable vice-chairman of AOL Time Warner who jockeyed a small firm into a $3 billion cable empire that includes-but is not limited to - CNN, super station WTBS, and Turner Network Television. Rupert Murdoch is the ruthless media baron whose News Corporation started with one paper and grew to include over 125 papers and magazines around the world, Fox studios and television networks, and broadcast satellite services in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Theirs is a fierce rivalry that has accelerated the race to deliver information and entertainment across the globe. Together they wield the ultimate one-two punch in the media power game. This outstanding biography delves deep into both of their lives. . . public and private.
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First published January 1, 2003
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About the author
Richard Hack
43 books17 followersBorn in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, Hack attended the Lynnewood School, and Haverford High School, on the Main Line in suburban Philadelphia. He later attended Pennsylvania State University and holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Design.
Hack moved to Los Angeles where he was hired by TV Guide magazine as its West Coast national programming editor. By the early 80s, Hack began writing the TeleVisions column for the daily entertainment trade paper, The Hollywood Reporter. During the next decade, Hack was instrumental in propelling the paper into a dominant position over rival Variety, and often appeared on The Tonight Show and Today reporting on Hollywood.
During the same period, he was a frequent guest on Oprah Winfrey, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, Charlie Rose, Tomorrow, Entertainment Tonight, and Access Hollywood.
In 1990, Hack left The Hollywood Reporter to become Vice President of Creative Affairs at Dove Audio and Entertainment, a production company that specialized in miniseries and books-on-tape. While at Dove, Hack adapted Sidney Sheldon’s The Sands of Time, Memories of Midnight, and The Stars Shine Down as mini-series, which he also produced, and wrote his first book, Next to Hughes with Robert Maheu.[2]
Since leaving Dove, Hack moved to a horse ranch in Maui, where he stabled polo ponies, and established a home on the Intracoastal in Florida.
His bestseller Hughes: The Private Diaries, Memos and Letters was released on September 11, 2001. Hack was being interviewed live on the Today show by Matt Lauer when the first plane crashed into the World Trade Center.
His subsequent book, PuppetMaster: The Secret Life of J. Edgar Hoover was the basis of the 2011 film "J Edgar," directed by Clint Eastwood.
Hack moved to Los Angeles where he was hired by TV Guide magazine as its West Coast national programming editor. By the early 80s, Hack began writing the TeleVisions column for the daily entertainment trade paper, The Hollywood Reporter. During the next decade, Hack was instrumental in propelling the paper into a dominant position over rival Variety, and often appeared on The Tonight Show and Today reporting on Hollywood.
During the same period, he was a frequent guest on Oprah Winfrey, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, Charlie Rose, Tomorrow, Entertainment Tonight, and Access Hollywood.
In 1990, Hack left The Hollywood Reporter to become Vice President of Creative Affairs at Dove Audio and Entertainment, a production company that specialized in miniseries and books-on-tape. While at Dove, Hack adapted Sidney Sheldon’s The Sands of Time, Memories of Midnight, and The Stars Shine Down as mini-series, which he also produced, and wrote his first book, Next to Hughes with Robert Maheu.[2]
Since leaving Dove, Hack moved to a horse ranch in Maui, where he stabled polo ponies, and established a home on the Intracoastal in Florida.
His bestseller Hughes: The Private Diaries, Memos and Letters was released on September 11, 2001. Hack was being interviewed live on the Today show by Matt Lauer when the first plane crashed into the World Trade Center.
His subsequent book, PuppetMaster: The Secret Life of J. Edgar Hoover was the basis of the 2011 film "J Edgar," directed by Clint Eastwood.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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October 14, 2007A really enjoyable but overwritten book on Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch. The author seems much more familiar with Murdoch's business dealing than Turner's, but the parts on Turner get really funny after the first 100 pages. A couple of other complaints...
The chapters segue directly from Murdoch's story to Turner's story with no parapraph break or any other interruption. I find that pretty odd, though one gets used to it after a few chapters. The author tells each man's story chronologically but that doesn't always make thematic sense in these chapters. Also, the first chapter describing their initial head-to-head competition in 1996 was pretty weak. The book gets a lot better once you make it out of that.
I am reading this because I am curious as to how Murdoch put himself in such a position as to be able to buy the Wall Street Journal. The information on Turner is a bonus. This has been worth my time thus far.
Purchased at the Friends of the Library bookstore at the El Toro public library.
The chapters segue directly from Murdoch's story to Turner's story with no parapraph break or any other interruption. I find that pretty odd, though one gets used to it after a few chapters. The author tells each man's story chronologically but that doesn't always make thematic sense in these chapters. Also, the first chapter describing their initial head-to-head competition in 1996 was pretty weak. The book gets a lot better once you make it out of that.
I am reading this because I am curious as to how Murdoch put himself in such a position as to be able to buy the Wall Street Journal. The information on Turner is a bonus. This has been worth my time thus far.
Purchased at the Friends of the Library bookstore at the El Toro public library.
October 17, 2013
Clash of the Titans is a credible parallel biography on Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch, as well as an entertaining history on the media landscape that each indelibly altered with the introduction of 24-hour news, channels for repurposing classic movies, and the creation of a fourth broadcast network.
The parallels and contrasts are sometimes forced, but on the whole, the book delivers an informative and entertaining account of the two men and their individual ascents in the world of business and media.
The parallels and contrasts are sometimes forced, but on the whole, the book delivers an informative and entertaining account of the two men and their individual ascents in the world of business and media.
September 28, 2015
Both Murdoch & Turner are such cartoonish caricatures, that this is a for-sure entertaining read. The narrator launching into the Australian and Atlantan accents with such gusto adds to the entertainment. The moguls' arcs of lives is fascinating; Rupert from shallow rebel to neo-con going from printing boobs and airing car chases to Fox News' bastion of conservatism. Ted Turner from reactive Southern gentleman seems to have emerged from the salt spray of competitive sailing to be a Lorax trying to save the world.
May 27, 2020
The tales of Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch are like that of so many 19th Century robber barons. The stack of toys each accumulated - company upon company - totters as the men head to their graves. All that will be left will be probate court fights between their bevy of wives and children.
I have more sympathy for Ted Turner, given his success establishing CNN. Murdoch's Fox News is a scourge on humankind. He should be reviled by future historians.
I have more sympathy for Ted Turner, given his success establishing CNN. Murdoch's Fox News is a scourge on humankind. He should be reviled by future historians.
July 27, 2022
Loved this book. Hidden gem, doesn't say it's an auto bio but has more biography detail than many on Murdoch.
The Ted Turner bio book is prob better on him. He doesn't come across too well in this book.
I liked the 70ies and 80ies deal marking in the US and dealing with the banks.
A lot of Murdochs reputation come from a latter years, but anyone interesting in building a large organisation could learn so much about his.
The Ted Turner bio book is prob better on him. He doesn't come across too well in this book.
I liked the 70ies and 80ies deal marking in the US and dealing with the banks.
A lot of Murdochs reputation come from a latter years, but anyone interesting in building a large organisation could learn so much about his.
February 23, 2017
Very interesting story about two unique and influential media moguls
December 7, 2010
Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch - same man but on different sides of the same coin. Much rather have lunch with Ted.
August 6, 2011
Practically a biography of two of the most ambitious men in America. The "Clash" is more of a prediction than an actual story.
December 27, 2013
Very good. If you want to know how CNN and Fox got their start this is it.
October 22, 2015
Don't read it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews