With additional reporting by Isabella Japal
Three cheers for the trailblazers of media!
On May 3, the 31st annual Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame 31st Anniversary Gala took place at Ziegfeld ballroom. The beloved affair beautifully honored the pioneers of the industry on the star-studded night full of glorious moments.
Paying tribute to the leading influencers and innovators of broadcast, cable and broadband television, the night awarded the top of the industry.
Over a delectable menu of shrimp salad and steak wine glasses were raised in the at the gala that honored five-time National Sportscaster of the Year and multi-Emmy Award-winning CBS Sports commentator Jim Nantz with the Hall of Fame’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
Hosts Tracy Wolfson and Craig Melvin brought to the stage a grand list of inductees including Caroline Beasley, CEO, Beasley Media Group and George G. Beasley (1932-2021), Founder, Beasley Media Group; Matthew Bond, Chairman, Content Distribution, NBCUniversal; Ray Cole, President & COO, Citadel Communications, LLC; Frank Comerford, Chief Revenue Officer & President of Sales, NBCUniversal Local; Ray Hopkins, President, U.S. Networks Distribution, Paramount Global; Wonya Lucas, President & CEO, Hallmark Media; Jim Nantz, Sports Commentator, CBS Sports (Lifetime Achievement Award); Soledad O’Brien, CEO, SO’B Productions; Rachael Ray, Host, Rachael Ray; Deborah Roberts, ABC News Senior National Affairs Correspondent and Contributing Anchor for 20/20; Al Roker, Weather and Feature Anchor, TODAY; Co-Host of 3rd Hour, TODAY, NBCUniversal; and James Thompson, Past President (2008-2022), Broadcasters Foundation of America.
Emotional speeches jam-packed with meaningful inspiration kept the room connected. The best of the industry perfectly shared the warm sentiment as to why being in media is not just a job. It is not just a career. It is life. Many also shared that their world would not be the same without loving support of family members and countless mentors throughout the years.
“It is for me a full circle moment,” said Roker on the stage “Nobody who is receiving this award is here on their own merits.”
AMC Networks’ long-running, critically acclaimed and award-winning series The Walking Dead will also be honored with the Iconic Show Award.
The B+C Hall of Fame is presented by Future publication Broadcasting+Cable. As one of the industry’s most respected events, the celebration honors the pioneers, innovators, stars and shows who have helped build the industry. Previous honorees have included greats like Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Phil McGraw, Michael Powell, the cast of The View, Robert A. Iger, Dr. John Malone and more.
A portion of the net proceeds is donated to The Broadcasters Foundation of America, a charitable organization that provides anonymous financial grants to those of our industry colleagues and their families who are in acute need due to critical illness or accident, advanced age, death of a spouse or other serious misfortune.
Photos Courtesy Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame
Check out all of our red carpet interviews here.