TVNewser attended the 12th Annual Giants of Broadcasting luncheon in New York City today. Prominent members of the broadcasting, media and corporate communities attended the event, which honors distinguished leadership or performance in TV and radio.
“Today” show fourth hour co-host Kathie Lee Gifford spoke on behalf of her former “LIVE” partner, Regis Philbin, who could not accept his award in person.
She joked that Regis asked, “Am I’m not already a Giant of Broadcasting?” Chuck Scarborough longtime anchor of WNBC’s “News 4 New York” was also honored and jokingly thanked NBC for “not firing me.”
Sylvester L. “Pat” Weaver, a pioneer who created the “Today” show and “The Tonight Show” among others, was honored posthumously. His daughter and Academy Award nominated actress Sigourney Weaver spoke on his behalf.
Other honorees included Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill – co-anchors and managing editors of PBS “NewsHour,” and Fred Silverman, former CBS, ABC, and NBC executive who brought some of the most iconic programs of the 1970s and 1980s to broadcast TV.
The other honorees:
Regis Philbin – Hold Guinness World Record for most time spent in front of a television camera.
Pablo Raul Alarcon, Sr. – Founder and former chairman of the board of directors of Spanish Broadcasting System
Raul Alarcon, Jr. – Current CEO and president of Spanish Broadcasting System.
David J. Barrett – Former chief executive officer and chairman of Hearst Television at The Hearst Corporation.
Peter Smyth – Chairman and CEO of Greater Media, Inc.
170 Giants of Broadcasting have been honored by the Library since 2003, including Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Arthur Godfrey and Johnny Carson, Walter Cronkite, Paul Harvey, Barbara Walters, Charlie Rose, Bob Schieffer, Brian Williams, Tim Russert and Ken Burns.