The Cable Center said Thursday that it has named A+E Networks CEO emeritus Nick Davatzes as the recipient of the 2014 Bresnan Ethics in Business Award. Davatzes will be presented the industry award, honoring the late Bill Bresnan, founder and chairman of Bresnan Communications and long-time chairman of the board of The Cable Center, at the 17th annual Cable Hall of Fame Celebration, April 29 at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE., in conjunction with The Cable Show 2014.
“I am humbled to follow in the footsteps of Bob Miron, Alan Gerry, Brian Lamb and of course Bill Bresnan,” Davatzes said in a statement. “Bill was a dear friend, and his commitment to building a strong and ethical cable industry was second to none. I am honored to be named the 2014 Bresnan Ethics in Business Award recipient.”
Davatzes, who retired as CEO of A+E Network in 2005, is the latest recipient of the award which was established in 2011 to honor outstanding men and women in the cable industry who best exemplify Bill Bresnan’s longstanding commitment to ethics in business. The first awardee was retired Bright House Networks chairman Bob Miron, followed by former CableVision Industries founder Alan Gerry and C-SPAN founder Brian Lamb.
Awardees represent the ideals upheld by Bresnan, including continually demonstrating ethical leadership qualities, doing what’s right in the face of adversity, even when it is unpopular, incorporating doing what’s right in everyday life, and demonstrating societal, community and philanthropic engagement.
“Nick has been at the forefront of so many innovations to the cable industry,” retired Time Warner Cable chairman and CEO and chairman of the Bresnan Award selection committee Glenn Britt said in a statement. “He has been a respected leader in our industry for many years, and is dedicated to contributing to his community through numerous philanthropic activities. We are pleased to honor him with the Bresnan Ethics in Business Award.”
Davatzes served as A+E Networks president and CEO from 1983 to 2005. Under his leadership, A+E Networks grew from a single start-up network to a worldwide entertainment company, and during his tenure, encompassed over 150 countries reaching more than 250 million households. In January 1995, Davatzes founded History, which along with A+E are currently available in nearly 98 million homes nationwide. In 1996, Davatzes developed A+E Networks International, which markets History, A&E Network and Lifetime globally. A+E Networks is now in over 300 million homes around the world, in over 160 countries.
Before joining A+E Networks, Davatzes held executive positions with Warner Amex Cable Communications, Inc., Intext Communications Systems and The Xerox Corp.
In 2006 President George W. Bush presented Davatzes with the National Humanities Medal, in an Oval Office ceremony in recognition of his contributions to the humanities. That same year he was inducted into the Phi Kappa Tau Hall of Fame. In 2005, The Cable Center inducted Mr. Davatzes into the Cable Hall of Fame, honoring his significant contributions to the cable telecommunications industry. In 2003, Davatzes received the Vanguard Award for Distinguished Leadership from the National Cable Television Association (NCTA). In 1999, Mr. Davatzes was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. In 1988 Davatzes, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, was also the recipient of the Marine Corps Historical Foundation Heritage Award.
In 2006, Davatzes became a member of the Board for The Cable Center and serves on the Executive Committee.
“We are delighted to recognize Nick with this year’s Bresnan Ethics in Business Award,” The Cable Center CEO Larry Satkowiak said in a statement. “Nick has an unrivaled passion for the cable industry and the numerous charities in which he is involved. He has also been a true champion of The Cable Center, bringing leadership and guidance to our board for many years.”
For more information on the Cable Hall of Fame celebration, visit www.cablehalloffame.com, or call 720-502-7500.
