In a 1999 lecture at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, former CNN Chief News Executive Eason Jordan told the audience that CNN International was directly inspired by
Fidel Castro. (Hat tip: rcl.)

I thank you very much for being here tonight. Let me also thank Fidel Castro. In the earliest days of CNN, when CNN was meant to be seen only in the United States, the enterprising Fidel Castro was pirating and watching CNN in Cuba. Fidel was intrigued by CNN. He wanted to meet the person responsible. So Ted Turner, who at that point had never traveled to a Communist country or knowingly met a Communist, [went to Havana]. It was big deal for Ted and during the discussions Castro suggested that CNN be made available to the entire world. In fact it was that seed, that idea that grew into CNN International, which is now seen in every country and territory on the planet.

I wonder what could have attracted Fidel Castro so strongly to CNN?