Byline: Rachel Brand
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
It was hard to overlook the absurdity of the situation.
Here was Ted Turner, cable visionary, news pioneer, billion-dollar donor to the United Nations, tipping back his chair and proselytizing about bison.
The founder of CNN journeyed here on his private jet from his Santa Fe ranch Thursday. After meeting reporters, he and fellow billionaire Phil Anschutz were to attend a private screening of the Civil War movie Gods and Generals. Produced by Turner Pictures, the movie will reach theaters in February.
In the meantime, he had a mission: to promote Ted's Montana Grill, a string of bistros that serve buffalo meat. He believes they will save the American bison.
The chain opened one restaurant in Littleton last week and is on schedule to open another in Larimer Square on Dec. 27.
Is a six-unit restaurant chain really the next fascination for the eccentric billionaire? Or is it a hobby business for the owner of 1.8 million acres of ranchland and 30,000 head of bison?
Likely the latter, but Turner refused to discuss his cable businesses and a wide range of other topics Thursday.
``No AOL Time Warner. . . . That's a conversation for another time and place,'' he said in a honey-thick drawl, his face drawn and tired.
No wonder: Times are tough for the media mogul. He sold his Turner Broadcasting Systems - including CNN, the Cartoon Network, and three Atlanta sports teams - to Time Warner in 1996. That made him the largest individual shareholder in Time Warner and its successor, AOL Time Warner.
AOL's share price has fallen 75 percent since the merger with Time Warner two years ago. That's sunk Turner's personal wealth to roughly $2 billion from what was once $9 billion.
Recently, Turner complained publicly about losing control of his companies. Although named vice chairman of AOL Time Warner, Turner is notoriously excluded from decisions.
That's left time for philanthropy and new ventures.
``This is really fun,'' said Turner of his restaurant foray. ``There's nothing like being involved with an operating business. I like to work.''
Turner owns the largest private herd of bison in the country. But the market for bison is small. So it makes sense to fuel demand for the low-fat beef alternative.
A side effect: saving the bison. Nearly extinct in the 1880s, the American bison can best ensure its survival if it becomes a ranched commodity, conservationists say.
``We want to do well by going good. Bring back the bison, that's our slogan. Eat at Ted's,'' said Turner, with a gap-toothed grin.
He walks the talk, eating bison ``three to four'' times a week.
The menu at Ted's Montana Grill includes 20 different bison burgers. The chili recipe comes from Turner's Montana Ranch.
CAPTION(S):
Photo
Ted Turner, right, shares a laugh Thursday with George McKerrow, CEO of Ted's Montana Grill. Turner was in Denver to promote his chain of restaurants, which feature bison meat. A Ted's Montana Grill is open in Littleton and another will open Dec. 27 downtown. SAMMY DALLAL / ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
