‘Eye’ of the storm

Moonves heat rise

The ice is starting to thin under the feet of Les Moonves, the embattled CBS chairman and chief executive, who has been accused by six women of sexual misconduct.

The entertainment mogul was suspended Wednesday from the board of The USC School of Cinematic Arts. However, the CBS board has so far refrained from doing the same.

In addition, Moonves asked the USC Media Center to “temporarily” stop using his name inside the 20,000-square-foot Julie Chen/Leslie Moonves and CBS Media Center until the CBS board’s investigation has concluded.

Moonves’ alma mater, Bucknell University, removed his name from its Web site this week.

On Monday, CBS’ board voted to launch a special investigation into claims made by six women in a New Yorker story by reporter Ronan Farrow.

The board did not vote on whether to suspend Moonves, however.

While many at CBS are shell-shocked by the turn of events, speculation is brewing that Joe Ianniello, the chief operating officer, is primed to take over — at least temporarily — if his embattled boss exits.

However, some top CBS brass are still confident that Moonves will remain in charge, a source told The Post.

Rumors of the pending Farrow piece have been so persistent that Shari Redstone, majority shareholder of CBS, approached Moonves about the allegations, according to The New York Times.

In Farrow’s report, a halfdozen women claim various indiscretions, including unwanted kissing and touching over the past few decades.

A subsequent claim surfaced Tuesday, in which NBC News revealed that a woman claimed that Moonves sexually assaulted her.

The double whammy has put the pressure on CBS’ board to launch an internal investigation, but as of Wednesday, it has yet to name the law firm that would do it.

Moonves, who will address investors on the company’s second-quarter earnings call Thursday, is said to have legal representation. CBS declined to comment on that.