Remembering Les Read

I first met Les Read while I was working for HBO.

Together we led a free preview of the channel from Phoenix and entertained scores of Cox Employees. Sharing a stage with this bigger than life great guy has created a bond between us until now. Les actually created an early cable industry standard - the free preview for premium channels.

And no matter what he did, where he was he told the worst jokes, which you never forgot (and then I did!)

As the editors from CableFax Daily eloquently put it, whether it was through his work as The Cable Center’s ambassador, his many years with the Cable Television Pioneers, or his decades at HBO and TelePrompTer, there’s a good chance that most everyone in the industry encountered Les Read at some point.

Or at least heard his booming voice, which narrated The Cable Center’s Hall of Fame and the Cable Pioneers dinners for years. Read passed away Thursday evening in Long Island at the age of 82, with news quickly spreading among industry friends on social media. Read had experienced a cardiac condition earlier in the month, according to Jim Faircloth, exec director of Cable TV Pioneers—an organization Read led for more than two decades.

“You cannot even think of the Cable Pioneers without thinking of Les. Les’ rich baritone has been silenced, but for our memories and the recordings that will always be treasured. There will never be another like Les,” Faircloth said, sending heartfelt condolences to Read’s wife, Anne, and his entire family.

Read’s industry resume includes helping build TelePrompTer from 23 cable systems to 120. In 1974, he joined HBO in affiliate relations, rising to VP until his retirement in December 2001—though many just called him “Mr. HBO.” His amazing voice also was used by the programmer for on-air promotions. “Les spent his 27 years at the company proudly devoted to making it a success. With a charm and sweetness never to be seen again, he was one of HBO’s greatest ambassadors.

We will miss that huge smile and big heart,” HBO said. In 2002, The Cable Center appointed Read as its ambassador, with the Pioneers naming him exec director emeritus when he stepped down in 2016. “Throughout his career—and even after he retired—Les Read was an ambassador who drew attention to everything that is good about our industry,” said SCTE-ISBE pres/CEO Mark Dzuban.

Info on services is pending.