The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is honoring former chairman Dick Askin with the Syd Cassyd Founders Award, it was announced Monday by Bruce Rosenblum, chairman and CEO of the Academy.
He will receive the award at the Creative Arts Emmys on Sept. 15.
Askin is a veteran television executive who served as Chairman and CEO of the Academy from 2003 to 2007. He remains active in the Academy, currently serving on the board of the Television Academy Foundation.
“Dick left an invaluable mark on the Television Academy during his years of service on the Board of Governors, the Executive Committee and during two terms as Chairman,” said Rosenblum in a statement. “He is a smart, talented, and innovative executive, and built a great foundation for the organization to grow on a variety of levels.”
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The Academy credits Askin, according to the announcement, with creating the Runaway Production Committee “to address the relocation of television production from the U.S. to other countries. He focused on strengthening the Academy brand by developing a more collaborative relationship with the National Television Academy, and brought the International Television Academy under the aegis of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.”
“During his time as Chairman,” the announcement continues, “Askin supported, and the board voted, to amend the organization’s bylaws to include broadband eligibility in the Primetime Emmy Awards competition. He left a legacy of increased membership value by expanding the Academy’s slate of professional development events, networking programs and membership benefits.”
During his career Askin has been CEO and President of Tribune Entertainment, where he helped develop TV series including Gene Roddenberry’s Earth: Final Conflict, Mutant X, and Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda. During his tenure there he also expanded the stage space in Hollywood and helped create the first all-digital studio.
Askin has also served as President of Samuel Goldwyn Television and began his career at WNBC-TV in New York. He came to L.A. to work at KNBC as National Sales Manager and later director of sales. He was also vp domestic sales for Fries Entertainment.
Since 2007, Askin has operated Askin & Company which advises and consults on TV programming, marketing and distribution.
Past recipients of the Syd Cassyd Founders Award include Syd Cassyd himself, who was the first to receive the accolade when it was established in 1991. Subsequent recipients were Robert Lewine in 1992, Hank Rieger (1994), Larry Stewart (1995), Thomas Sarnoff (1997), Howard Smit (2000), Leo Chaloukian (2004), Richard Frank (2007), Dixon Dern (2009) and John Leverence (2010).
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