CBS Television President/CEO Leslie Moonves to be Honored With Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission's ``Sports & Entertainment Award of Excellence'' at GRAMMY Press Conference

Business Wire, Oct 18, 2001

Entertainment/Sports Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BW SportsWire)--Oct. 18, 2001

CBS Television President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves will be honored by the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission (LASEC) when he is presented with the organization's prestigious "Sports & Entertainment Award of Excellence" during the The Recording Academy's press conference at 10 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 18, 2001, at the Arena Club at STAPLES Center.

The "Sports & Entertainment Award of Excellence" was established to recognize and honor the individual who best exemplifies the highest qualities of outstanding achievement in his or her field and, through this work, projects a positive image for the City of Los Angeles. Last year's recipient was writer/producer David E. Kelley.

Presented to Moonves by LASEC President Kathryn Schloessman was a proclamation from Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn declaring it "Leslie Moonves Day," and a watch engraved with a LASEC "Award of Excellence" remembrance message, courtesy of Boucheron.

Moonves has been credited with turning CBS into television's hottest network with shows like "Survivor," "Big Brother" and "Everybody Loves Raymond." Since joining CBS Television in 1995, Moonves has been successful in attracting larger, and younger, audiences by implementing a series of strategic moves such as winning back NFL football and creating new shows like "Raymond," "Becker" and "Queen of Hearts" to replace older hits like "The Nanny."

According to Schloessman, "We chose Leslie because he has proven himself to be a visionary, leading the industry in creating innovative entertainment, including reality television shows. His dedication to the creation of quality programming is inspiring, and we believe he is the perfect recipient for this award."

Joining in the presentation were The Recording Academy President C. Michael Greene and John Bendheim, LASEC board member. CBS televises the GRAMMY Awards.

LASEC was created by former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan to bring major sporting and entertainment events to Los Angeles that help promote tourism and increase the visibility of Los Angeles as the "Sports and Entertainment Capital" of the world. Schloessman said, "Mayor Riordan established this award as a way to recognize individuals in the entertainment industry who help contribute to the success of our city. This 'Award of Excellence' expresses our utmost appreciation to those who set the standards that others can hope to achieve in the future."

LASEC is the official organization for the City of Los Angeles to seek, host, promote and retain major sporting and entertainment events that positively impact the local economy. It is a nonprofit organization and an affiliate of the Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau.

LASEC is involved in hosting and promoting more than 100 notable sports and entertainment activities each year. LASEC's official marketing partners are American Express, AT&T Wireless, CB Richard Ellis, Lincoln Mercury, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, United Airlines and ZNETIX.