Stephen A. Smith and Rita Ferro Among the 2026 Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame Honorees
The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame has officially announced its 2026 class of inductees, and The Walt Disney Company is well represented.
For those who may not know, the Hall of Fame ceremony is a premier industry event that honors the influencers, innovators, and visionaries of broadcast, cable, and streaming television.
Photo: Also TVTechnology
At this year’s gala, which will take place on September 29 at New York’s Ziegfeld Ballroom, the next class of media legends will be immortalized.
“With each new year, a fresh privilege is revealed, each with its own powerful and stunning identity. The class of 2026 feels particularly noteworthy,” said Charlie Weiss, Chairman of the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame.
Photo: Also TVTechnology
“The combination of dynamic industry leaders, pioneering innovators, and groundbreaking creatives is nothing short of breathtaking. We stand in awe of their collective achievements, and we are thrilled to celebrate and honor them.”
The 2026 Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame Class
The 2026 Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame Class includes:
- Wolf Blitzer – Co-anchor of The Situation Room
- Val Boreland – President of Entertainment, Versant
- Andy Cohen – Host, executive producer, and author (Bravo, NBCUniversal, Embassy Row)
- Joseph M. Cohen – Co-founder of USA Network
- Luis Fernández – Chairman, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises (Chairman’s Award)
- Rita Ferro – President, Global Advertising, The Walt Disney Company
- Bobby Flay – Food Network personality
- Robert King & Michelle King – Creators and executive producers
- Jon Litner – President and CEO, YES Network
- Jim Packer – President, Worldwide Television Distribution, Lionsgate
- Suzanne Scott – CEO, Fox News Media
- Stephen A. Smith – Featured commentator and executive producer, First Take (ESPN)
- William Wang – Founder and CEO of VIZIO (Technology Leadership Award)
- Star Trek – Honored for 60 years (Franchise of the Year Award)
Two Disney Stars
For Disney fans, the two most notable honorees are Rita Ferro and Stephen A. Smith.
Ferro is a longtime Disney executive who oversees the company’s global advertising strategy.
Photo: Also THR
Smith, meanwhile, has become one of the most recognizable figures in sports media and the face of ESPN’s studio programming.
By joining the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame, the duo will become part of an exclusive group of nearly 500 industry pioneers.
Photo: Also Fox News
“Looking over this incredible Hall of Fame class of 2026 reminds us all why we are so passionate about our business,” said Allison Markert, Vice President and Global Head of Strategy & Operations at Future B2B. “It’s a privilege to honor these leaders for their remarkable careers and the tremendous influence they continue to have on our industry.”
Photo: Also MickeyBlog
