We Changed the World: Memoirs of a CNN Global Satellite Pioneer

Ted Turner dreamed it. Sid Pike built it. The book's title, We Changed the World (Paragon House, 2005) -- is far from being immodest. The creation story of the CNN International satellite communications network evokes the American legends of stringing the intercontinental railway from sea to shining sea and the decade-long mission to land a man on the moon. Sidney Pike apparently never heard of the words, "It can't be done," although there are certainly plenty of folk around shouting them in his ear. His task brings him to confront domestic and global communications bureaucracies and powerful political leaders around the world. Some suffer from such shortsightedness and ignorance that they cannot even comprehend the concept. Others comprehend it only too well, fearing the threat to their own vise-like grip on information. To accomplish the mission, he crisscrosses the globe many times, coming to feel that "home" is a Boeing 747. (He probably has enough Frequent Flyer miles to actually take up permanent residence in one.) From China to Bahrain, Argentina to Moscow, Iraq to Canada, Aruba to New Zealand, bit by bit, the International network grows, as Pike cajoles, explains, and hammers out agreements that inch the project forward. (The case of establishing the link in Guam is in itself a cheering vindication of the American yearning for the triumph of the underdog!) In every case, Pike gives credit where it is due and pulls no punches about naming names where a hard punch in the nose is more appropriate ("Ted Turner is the worst deal maker I have ever known.") Even when the player is himself, Pike lays it down straight. On several occasions, his relation of a disagreement ends with "They fired me." His personal integrity and genuine belief in the value of this mission allow him to do no less. This sense of mission never intrudes into the narrative, but patently fuels the endeavor: a core belief in the power of free information exchange to ensure the viability of democracy. He's right, of course. For some portions of the world, the easy access to information that most of us take for granted is as dangerous to despotic power as an ICBM. The saga is thrilling as a narrative alone, but sprinkled throughout are fascinating insights into the workings of the global communications industry, the inner wrangles of Ted Turner's corporate empire, and the arcana of trying to establish a new mindset for a twenty-first century world. Beyond that, it is both inspiration and proof-positive that "it" can, indeed, be done. -- B. S. Horton, Ph.D., Technology Advocate. 2005.

The introduction of CNN's 24-hour cable news channel in 1980 changed the world of television, with satellite and cable providing a strong competitive alternative to tradition TV - and author Sidney pike was in the middle of the revolution, here explored in his We Changed The World: Memoirs Of A CNN Satellite Pioneer. Pike met with media and government leaders around the world trying to sell CNN programming, and was an early pioneer for the global television channels we know today. His memoir provides a first-person review of obstacles, achievements, challenges, and a rapidly-changing industry under transition to this day.