Payne joined Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. in 1993 as counsel to Turner Entertainment Company, serving most recently as vice president of business affairs for Turner Sports and vice president and team counsel for the Atlanta Braves, Hawks and Thrashers. Over the past five years, Payne has been instrumental in negotiating Turner Sports television agreements, such as the NBA on TBS Superstation and TNT, the Braves on TBS Superstation and NASCAR, as well as Turner Sports broadcast talent deals and team television, radio and sponsorship agreements. He was actively involved in the development of Philips Arena, as well as the acquisition and start-up of the Atlanta Thrashers franchise.
Said Jim Walton, ``He (Payne) has been the driving force behind many key business negotiations for Turner Sports and is uniquely qualified to lead CNN/Sports Illustrated Interactive as we expand our position as the primary source for online sports information.''
