CNN - TURNER LABELS FOX 'PROPAGANDA VOICE'

CNN creator TED TURNER has branded American TV channel FOX NEWS a "propaganda voice" for President GEORGE W BUSH and drawn comparisons between its popularity and ADOLF HITLER's rise to power in 30s Germany.

During a speech he made to NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TELEVISION PROGRAMMING executives on Tuesday (25JAN05), Turner also slammed broadcasting corporations for their failure to stand up to Bush's administration.

The 66-year-old said, "There's one network, Fox, that's a propaganda voice for them. It's certainly legal. But it does pose problems for our democracy when the news is 'dumbed-down'.

"Adolf Hitler was more popular in Germany in the early 30s than... people that were running against him. So just because you're bigger doesn't mean you're right."

A spokesperson for Fox News counters, "Ted is understandably bitter having lost his ratings, his network and now his mind - we wish him well."