Neal Pilson

Neal Pilson (born April 18, 1940) is the founder and president of Pilson Communications, Inc., a consulting company specializing in sports television, media and marketing. Pilson was also the president of CBS Sports during the 1980s and early 1990s. He currently serves as a selectman on the town board of Richmond, Massachusetts, and is an adjunct professor at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies.

Early life and education Neal Pilson was born on April 18, 1940, in New York City to Alfred Pilson, later a CFO of Simplicity Pattern Company, Inc., and Hilda Pilson (née Archer).

He attended Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, from 1956 to 1960, where he played varsity basketball. Pilson received an A.B. in history upon his graduation in 1960 and was selected to Phi Beta Kappa. Soon after completing his degree at Hamilton College, he enrolled at Yale Law School, where he graduated with an LL.B in 1963.

Career After completing his studies at Yale Law School, Pilson worked at private law practices in New York City, where he was responsible for writing up contracts and doing similar work that became very useful in his later career. When he turned down the role at HBO, he encouraged the company to hire Michael Fuchs, his William Morris Agency colleague, instead. Fuchs later became the president, CEO, and chairman at HBO, retiring in 1995 with a golden parachute that was rumored to be around $50 million. As Pilson said in an interview with the Manchester Journal, "whenever I see [Fuchs], he says, 'I owe you.'" A few years later, in 1981, he began his first of 2 terms (1981–1983 and 1986–1994) as the president of CBS Sports. He was initially tapped to lead CBS Sports as president after the division had gone through a tumultuous series of 4 presidents in 5 years and needed a way to finally lead ABC and NBC in sports broadcasting.

Throughout his presidency with company, he helped to negotiated a number of major broadcast agreements with CBS's most important sports franchises, which included the World Figure Skating Championships, PGA, the US Open Tennis, The Masters, NASCAR NCAA Basketball, MLB and the NFL.

Pilson also helped CBS acquire the domestic television broadcast rights to the 1992, 1994, and 1998 Olympic Winter Games during his second term.

Pilson was also involved in the firing of sports commentator Jimmy the Greek in 1988 after Jimmy made racists comments at a Washington, D.C., restaurant.

Towards the end of his tenure as CBS Sports president, CBS lost the rights to both MLB and the NFL's NFC package, being outbid on the latter by Fox. In 1994, Pilson transitioned into a new role at CBS as the Senior Vice President of the CBS Broadcast Group, a position he held until 1995.

Post-CBS sports career After departing from CBS, Pilson launched his own consultancy firm, Pilson Communications, Inc.

Pilson has worked with a wide array of clients through his consultancy firm, including:

Arena Football League NASCAR Kentucky Derby Rose Bowl World Series of Poker International Olympic Committee Women's Tennis Association Major League Baseball NCAA Daytona International Speedway IRG Sports + Entertainment

In his post-CBS career, Pilson was a senior advisor for the Sports Finance Group at UBS AG since 2004. National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Conference NBA Players Association World Congress of Sports New York Law Journal Sports Seminar Hamilton College Yale Law School Washington University Fordham University Columbia University

Due to his extensive experience in sports broadcasting, Neal has served as an expert witness in a number of high-profile cases in the sports industry.

Outside of his work with Pilson Communications, Inc., Neal teaches Leadership and Personnel Management, which was co-taught with Val Ackerman for several years, in Columbia University's Master of Science in Sports Management Program.

Philanthropy Neal Pilson and his wife, Frieda, have long supported a number of major charitable organizations and educational institutions.

One of Pilson's major philanthropic focuses is the March of Dimes Foundation. He was a board member of the organization's Greater New York Chapter, and, as a result of his work, the March of Dimes Sports Luncheon now raises millions of dollars each year. Pilson also received the 1991 March of Dimes Sports Luncheon Founder's Award in recognition of his work.

Personal life Neal Pilson married his wife, Frieda Pilson (née Rudman), in 1962. Together, Neal and Frieda have 3 adult children and 6 grandchildren.

Over the course of his career, they lived in Ardsley, New York, and Chappaqua, New York, before settling in Richmond, Massachusetts.

Awards and recognition Throughout his career, Neal Pilson has earned a number of major awards and honors, including: 1991: March of Dimes Sports Luncheon Founder's Award 1994: Olympic Order from the IOC 2004: Named to The 20 Most Influential People: Sports Media 2010: Named to the first class of "The Champions" of Leadership and Success by IMG World Congress of Sports 2018: Inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame