In the late 1970s, Ted Turner studied every successful independent station in the country, from KTLA in Los Angeles to WPIX in New York and WGN in Chicago. Tampa Bay’s WTOG-TV stood out as a Florida Superstation. The station delivered a sharp mix of movies, sitcoms, local sports, and wrestling. Viewers in Tampa and St. Petersburg loved that lineup, and Turner understood why. He wanted WTBS to feel local, energetic, and unpredictable, even as he pushed it toward national reach.
WTOG’s Influence on Turner’s Thinking
Turner saw WTOG’s momentum take off under my boss, general manager Jim Dowdle, who built a station that truly connected with its audience. His team respected him because he treated everyone as an equal. I experienced that world firsthand, seeing how Dowdle fostered a culture of creativity, a family-like atmosphere, and a strong work ethic. Turner took note of that approach and used it as inspiration when shaping WTBS.
Wrestling and Sports as the Foundation
The combination of the Rowdies, 80 MLB baseball games from teams that held spring training in the area, the Buccaneers‘ preseason, and wrestling brought huge numbers for WTOG, and Turner saw the same opportunity in Atlanta. He embraced studio wrestling, Braves baseball, and Hawks basketball, aiming for programming that felt alive. My brother worked in the TBS sports department and witnessed Turner’s energy every day. Turner pushed his teams hard but kept the atmosphere relaxed, insisting everyone call him Ted, not Mr. Turner.
From Regional Cable to National Force
Turner took WTBS from a regional cable outlet to a national superstation because he trusted instincts shaped by stations like WTOG. He saw how Tampa Bay viewers responded to a bold mix of entertainment and sports. He built WTBS with that same spirit and turned it into a national brand.
