Broadcasting the End of the World
- gregorymaness
- Aug 19, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 20, 2024
In writing a previous blog post on the advent of 24-7 access to electronic entertainment and news and that electronic domain prior to 24-7 access and programming, I came across a reference to the “Turner Doomsday Video.” This is a video that was created at CNN founder Ted Turner’s request after the sign-on video was shot for the station’s launch in 1980.
Because the new station would be on 24-7 there would not be a need for a sign-off video and the sign-on video would only be played once. Turner evidently stated that, “Barring satellite problems, we won’t be signing off until the world ends.” And Ted Turner expected CNN to be there right up to the end bringing it to you, the viewers.
The video quality is certainly more in line with the technology levels of the early 1980s. It is hardly high-definition. If a major cable/satellite company intentionally released something like it, the startling drop in video quality would very likely tip people off that something was dreadfully wrong.
Of course, there are some that would argue that CNN has went careening off the rails when compared to the idealistic vision with which the station was founded. I am not making any such argument here. How many of us have lived up to our own idealism?
With that being said, it is an interesting look at the idealism expressed with the launch of CNN and the video almost serves as a snippet of a time capsule into 1980. The article “This Is The Video CNN Will Play When The World Ends” (link below) gives you an opportunity to hear and see a military band play “Nearer My God to Thee” just as Ted Turner intended you to hear it on the precipice of the apocalypse. Enjoy! 😉
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