AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan to Be Honored by Center for Communication



NEW YORK - The Center for Communication has announced that it will honor Josh Sapan, president and CEO of AMC Networks, at its annual award
 luncheon on Oct. 17.



Joan Rivers will be a featured speaker at the event at the Pierre Hotel in midtown Manhattan. She stars in Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? on AMC Networks' WE
 tv network.



The choice of Sapan seems to ensure an honoree who is settled in his job.

 Last year, Jeff Zucker was honored at the event after he had been informed by in-coming owner Comcast that he would have to leave his post as NBCUniversal CEO. Zucker at the event joked that the Center has a knack for bestowing an award on executives "right after they get shit-canned."



After all, several years earlier, Tom Freston was the toast of the Center - after just having been pushed out from his role as Viacom CEO.




"One of the most accomplished leaders and innovators in the media and entertainment industry, Josh Sapan has overseen [the company's] growth and 
success for the past 24 years," the Center said in announcing this year's honoree who will receive its Frank Stanton Award. "AMC Networks airs some of
the most critically acclaimed series on television including AMC's Mad Men and Breaking Bad, Sundance Channel's Carlos and IFC's The Onion News Network."



The former unit of cable operator Cablevision Systems, previously known as Rainbow Media, earlier this year got its own stock market listing.



This year's event co-chairs include HBO's Richard Plepler, Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman, former News Corp. top executive Peter Chernin, Sony Corp. boss Sir Howard Stringer, CBS Corp. CEO Leslie Moonves and other big 
entertainment industry names.



Previous award honorees also include Charlie Rose, BET chairman Debra Lee, Johnny Carson and Michael Bloomberg.

Email: Georg. Szalai@thr.com

Twitter: @georgszalai