Jack Abernethy, CEO of Fox Television Stations, got the Golden Mike Award at The Plaza in New York March 6, the award given out annually by the Broadcasters Foundation of America. Richard E. Wiley, chair emeritus at Wiley and former FCC chairman, was given the Edward F. McLaughlin Lifetime Achievement Award. 

The Broadcasters Foundation helps people in the broadcast industry who are facing acute need, whether it is due to illness, natural disaster or another catastrophe. It will disburse more than $2 million in financial assistance this year. 

Soledad O’Brien, host of Matter of Fact, hosted the dinner. 

Scott Herman, chairman of the Foundation, reminded those in the ballroom that “you should all know you are keeping that net strong for those who count on us.”

Wiley, who was Federal Communications Commission chairman from 1974 to 1977 before launching an influential communications law practice in Washington, was singled out by a long list of broadcast luminaries in a video tribute. Gary Shapiro, Consumer Technology Association president, called him “the father of HDTV.” Perry Sook, Nexstar Media Group chairman and CEO, said Wiley streamlined the FCC and made it more efficient for broadcasters in America. 

Jeff Smulyan, chairman and CEO of Emmis Communications, stepped up to the podium. “No one has ever regretted knowing Dick Wiley,” he said, calling him “the man to see” in Washington. 

“They value your advice, but more than that, they value your friendship,” he said. 

Wiley spoke of his father bringing home a 10-inch Philco TV, and how his life changed. 

With NextGen TV, Wiley said, “the best is yet to come” for broadcasting. 

After a musical performance from country singer Frank Ray, a video tribute to Abernethy rolled, including Sherri Shepherd, Harvey Levin and Jerry O’Connell offering their thoughts and quips. 

Rosanna Scotto, co-host of Good Day New York on WNYW New York, then stepped onstage to introduce the Fox Stations boss. She spoke of how he told the newsroom to “break the news, don’t read the news,” and gave news professionals a tremendous amount of freedom. 

“He encourages us — and expects us — to take risks,” Scotto said. 

Abernethy then stepped onto the stage. “Broadcasting is about service,” he said. “We need to take care of our own.”

He spoke of his mother pushing him hard to succeed as a kid in Kingston, New York, and thanked Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch “for their unwavering support of local broadcasting.” He also credited the Murdochs for giving him, and Fox station general managers, the freedom to run stations as they see fit. 

Abernethy said he is “proud and humbled to be part of this great tradition of broadcasting.” ■

Jack Abernethy, CEO of Fox Television Stations, will get the Golden Mike Award from the Broadcasters Foundation of America. The black-tie event happens Monday, March 6 at the Plaza Hotel in New York. 

Abernethy has run the Fox group since 2004, overseeing 29 TV stations. 

“We’re proud to honor Jack for his distinguished career, and the success his leadership has brought to the Fox Television Stations,”  Scott Herman, chairman of the Broadcasters Foundation of America, said. “A champion of local news and live events, Jack’s vision has propelled the Fox group of stations to the forefront in their markets, earning recognition across the industry.”

The Broadcasters Foundation Golden Mike Award is presented annually to an individual for their excellence in and commitment to broadcasting, and their ongoing service to the community at large. 

“I would like to thank Scott Herman, Tim McCarthy and the Broadcasters Foundation Board of Directors for this prestigious Golden Mike Award and for their tremendous commitment to helping and supporting broadcasters in need across the country,” Abernethy said. “Now, more than ever, we must help those in our industry who are facing challenging times so we can continue to encourage and foster the entrepreneurial spirit and journalistic dedication of local newsrooms, which are making an immeasurable impact in their respective communities.”

Past Golden Mike winners include Michael Bloomberg, Perry Sook, Gordon Smith and Hilton Howell, Jr. Howell was awarded earlier this year. ■

The ad boycott against Fox News Channel’s Ingraham Angle has cost the program about half of its commercial minutes and five of its top 20 advertisers, according to Kantar Media.

Kantar found that ad time on the Ingraham Angle was down 40% during the show’s March 30 telecast and down 52% on March 31. The show had been averaging 14 minutes and 33 second of ads during the first quarter.

Host Laura Ingraham announced that she will be on vacation this week. She apologized for remarks she made about David Hogg, one of the students who is advocating for tighter controls on guns after surviving the shooting at Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Despite the apology, Hogg and others have continued the boycott.

On Monday (April 3), Fox News co-president Jack Abernethy said he expected Ingraham to be back next week. “We cannot and will not allow voices to be censored by agenda-driven intimidation efforts,” he said.

Kantar said that five of the advertisers that have said they will no longer advertise on the Ingraham Angle — Bayer AG Group, Hulu, Johnson & Johnson, Liberty Mutual Insurance and Wayfair — were among the top 20 spenders on the show during the first quarter.

Other advertisers that have pulled out of the show — Entertainment Studios, Honda, Jenny Craig, Jos A Bank, Nestle, Nutrish, Office Depot, Principal Finance, Progressive Insurance, Ruby Tuesday, Stitch Fix and TripAdvisor — accounted for 13% of the show’s commercial time.