Final answer:
The claim that CNN was immediately profitable and a cultural success upon its 1980 launch is false. It took time for CNN to establish itself and become profitable in the arena of televised news.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that CNN showed an immediate profit and met with widespread cultural success when Ted Turner introduced it in 1980 is false. CNN, the first 24-hour news channel, was not immediately profitable upon its launch in 1980. It was a bold venture in the media landscape, pushing the boundaries of television journalism. The introduction of CNN and other cable networks like CSPAN and ESPN disrupted the traditional network's control over what the public watched and opened up avenues for the democratization of news. Cable television expanded in the 1980s, providing viewers with more specialized content and enabling advertisers to target specific audiences more effectively. The initial years were challenging for CNN, requiring significant investment, and it took several years for the network to become profitable.