BRUCE PAISNER, INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY PRESIDENT & CEO, RE-ELECTED FOR A TWO YEAR TERM

NEW YORK, November 26, 2007 – The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced today that the Board of Directors re-elected its President & CEO, Bruce Paisner, for a two year term. Paisner who has been at the helm of The International Academy since January 2004 is also President of Hearst Entertainment. His new term starts January 1, 2008.

The election was held on November 19, a few hours before the 35th International Emmy® Awards Gala during which 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Al Gore was presented with the International Emmy® Founders Award.

 “It is an honor to be asked by my colleagues to continue to lead this great organization,” said Paisner. “The International Academy has significantly grown its membership and its global reach over the last four years and I look forward to more international outreach for the future.”

Founded in 1969, The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the largest organization of global broadcasters, with over 500 members from nearly 70 countries and over 500 companies. The Academy was chartered with a mission to recognize excellence in television programming produced outside of the United States. The Academy is a unique, independent organization including the world’s leading entertainment and media decision makers who come together to exchange ideas, discuss common issues and promote new strategies for the future development of quality global television programming.

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Media Contacts:

Eva Obadia, Director Marketing & PR               
The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences       
eva.obadia@iemmys.tv                      
T: 212-489-6969                       
F: 212-489-6557

Matt Biscuitti
The Lippin Group
matt@lippingroup.com
T: 212-986-7080

POLAND WINS FIRST EMMY® EVER AT 35TH INTERNATIONAL EMMY AWARDS GALA

NEW YORK, November 19, 2007 – The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the winners of the 35th International Emmy® Awards tonight at a star-studded Gala event held at the New York Hilton, hosted by award-winning stage and screen actor host Roger Bart, currently leading in Mel Brook’s new Broadway musical, Young Frankenstein.

A cast of international stars including Robert De Niro, Kristen Bell, Sam Waterston, Rob Morrow, Alan Cumming, Gloria Reuben, Eric Bogosian and Katrina Bowden presented the International Emmy® statue to the winners in front of an international audience of over 1,000 entertainment and media executives.

Live-action fairytale The Magic Tree made history in the Children & Young People category by garnering Poland’s first ever International Emmy® Award victory.

There was a tie in the Best Performance by an Actor with both British actor, Jim Broadbent winning for his performance as Stan McDermott in the drama series, The Street and Dutch actor, Pierre Bokma winning for his performance as Peter van der Laan in the television movie, The Chosen One. Best Performance by an Actress was won by French comedian Muriel Robin for her performance as Marie Besnard in Marie-Besnard The Poisoner.

In addition to the Best Actor category, British programs won in the Arts Programming, Comedy, Documentary, Drama Series, TV-Movie/Mini-Series and Non-Scripted Entertainment categories.

“We congratulate this year’s winners for their outstanding achievement. The International Academy is proud to be the preeminent platform for recognizing excellence in television programming and talent on a global scale,” said Academy President & CEO Bruce Paisner, also President of Hearst Entertainment.

The International Emmy® Founders Award was presented by Robert De Niro to Former Us Vice-President and 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Al Gore, for his role in launching cable/satellite channel Current TV and his ongoing effort to alert the world to one of the great challenges of our time, global warming.  The Directorate Award was presented by French film and television star Carole Bouquet to Patrick Le Lay, Chairman, TF1 Group for guiding the growth of the TF1 brand from a traditional commercial television broadcaster to a multi-media organization that is a pioneer in many of the emerging new digital platforms.

2007 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient and Former Vice President Al Gore is co-founder and co-chairman of Current TV, an independently owned cable and satellite television nonfiction network for young adults. Based on citizen journalism and viewer participation in shaping the news and information that is relevant to them. Al Gore also serves as chairman of Generation Investment Management, a firm that is focused on a new approach to sustainable investing. He chairs the Alliance for Climate Protection, a non-profit organization designed to help solve the climate crisis. Al Gore was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976, 1978, 1980 and 1982 and the U.S. Senate in 1984 and 1990. He was inaugurated as the forty-fifth vice president of the United States on January 20, 1993, and served eight years. During the Administration, Al Gore was a central member of President Clinton’s economic team. He is the author of the bestsellers Earth in the Balance and An Inconvenient Truth and is the subject of an Oscar-winning documentary

Patrick Le Lay has been the driving force behind TF!’s success for the last twenty years. TF1 is the leading French terrestrial television channel with a current average market share of 35 percent. In addition to over-the-air broadcasting TF1 owns several special interest channels distributed through cable and satellite services, including Eurosport, La Chaine Info (LCI, news), and Odyssee (documentaries), as well as home shopping, multimedia distribution, and licensing operations. In 1996 TF1 launched the satellite broadcasting service TPS (Television Par Satellite) and is currently one of the main promoters of HDTV in France.

The International Children’s Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) Award was presented to the winning broadcaster from Thailand, National Broadcasting of Thailand, for its program From South to North, From East to West, Thailand ICDB-Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS by The Bold & The Beautiful actors Ashley Jones and Drew Tyler Bell. This special Award is co-presented by The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and UNICEF.

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the largest organization of global broadcasters, with over 500 members from nearly 70 countries and over 500 companies. The Academy was chartered with a mission to recognize excellence in television programming produced outside of the United States. The Academy is a unique, independent organization including the world’s leading entertainment and media decision makers who come together to exchange ideas, discuss common issues and promote new strategies for the future development of quality global television programming.

Media Contacts:

Eva Obadia, Director Marketing & PR               
The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences       
eva.obadia@iemmys.tv                      
T: 212-489-6969                       
F: 212-489-6557

Matt Biscuitti
The Lippin Group
matt@lippingroup.com
T: 212-986-7080

2007 INTERNATIONAL EMMY® AWARD WINNERS

ARTS PROGRAMMING
Simon Schama’s Power of Art: Bernini
British Broadcasting Corporation / WNET / Thirteen
United Kingdom
Executive Producer: Basil Comely
Producer: Clare Beavan
Director: Clare Beavan
Writer: Simon Schama
Nominees:     Simon Schama (Presenter)
Clare Beavan (Producer, Director)
Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s marble sculpture, the Ecstasy of Saint Theresa, shows a nun in the state of orgasmic bliss accompanied by a lambent angel. Much like the artist himself, the sculpture raised great controversy in the Vatican. Simon Schama tells the story of the most renowned and notorious sculptor of 17th century Rome and his ability to depict movement in a way never before attempted in stone.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR – TIE
Pierre Bokma
as Peter van der Laan
The Chosen One
VPRO Television / IdtV Film BV
The Netherlands
Set in the Dutch Bible Belt, two deeply-religious brothers, Johan and Peter van der Laan, start a software company in a chicken shed. Within a few years, the enterprise grows into a worldwide business with a billion-dollar profit and thousands of employees. But on the day of flotation on the New York Stock Exchange, the enterprise takes a turn for the worst. A young financial director gets involved with Johan’s daughter, creating an inextricable jumble of business interests, family issues and religion; threatening the whole empire to collapse like a house of cards.

AND

Jim Broadbent
as Stan McDermott
The Street
Granada Television for BBC One
United Kingdom
Accepting: Ken Horn (Producer, The Street)
The Street is a gritty but warm drama set in the North of England with each episode concentrating on a different house in a community. This episode tells the story of Stan McDermott, a dedicated warehouse foreman who is devastated that his retirement is quickly approaching. To make matters worse, unless he dies before his 65th birthday, his pension is worth next to nothing. Seeing no other way out, Stan attempts suicide but fails miserably. After a stint at a mental hospital, Stan discovers the true meaning of life despite its injustices and tribulations.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS
Muriel Robin
as Marie Besnard
Marie Besnard – The Poisoner
Ramona / RTBF / To Do Today Productions
France
Marie Besnard – The Poisoner follows the incredible true story of the infamous “black widow” serial killer. In the wake of swelling rumors in the small French town of Loudun after World War II, Marie Besnard is accused of poisoning her husband and eleven other members of her family. Simone, a young radio reporter originally from Loudun, hears about the accusations against one of the small town’s wealthy inhabitants and decides to cover the story. The “trial of the century” begins as Marie pleads her innocence.

CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE
The Magic Tree
TVP SA
Poland
Executive Producer: JJoooo
Director: Andrzej Maleska
Writer: Andrzej Maleska
Principal Cast: Filip Fabis, Mateusz Chorowski, Arek Glensk
Nominees:     Andrzej Maleska (Director)
Hanna Probulska-Dzisiów (Editor)
Somewhere in Europe, there grew a huge tree – a magic tree. One day, it was cut down and its wood was used to make many things: a sledge, furniture, and toys, among others. Each object retained some of the magic power. The day the objects were sent to stores, amazing things started to happen. Each episode tells a separate story of events caused by different objects made out of the Magic Tree.

COMEDY
Little Britain Abroad
BBC Comedy / Little Britain Productions
United Kingdom
Executive Producer: Jon Plowman
Producer: Geoff Posner
Director: Matt Lipsey
Writers: Matt Lucas, David Walliams
Principal Cast: Matt Lucas, David Walliams
Nominees: Jon Plowman (Executive Producer)
Little Britain is going abroad! Lou and Andy head off to Disneyland but end up on a desert island; Bubbles De Vere tries out a Swiss boutique; mental health patient Anne meets the Pope; Marjorie visits an American Fat Fighters group; Dafydd Thomas is off to a Greek island gay resort; and Vicki Pollard is being held in a Thai jail. And what is going on between the Prime Minister and the American President?!

DOCUMENTARY
Stephen Fry – The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive
IWC Media / BBC Scotland
United Kingdom
Executive Producers: Alan Clements, Charlotte Moore, Andrea Miller
Producer: Ross Wilson
Director: Ross Wilson
Nominees: Stephen Fry (Presenter)
Ross Wilson (Producer/Director)
Stephen Fry explores the world of manic depression, a mental illness which affects four million people in the UK alone, including Stephen. It is a greatly misunderstood condition driving sufferers to extreme highs and suicidal lows. In a world where the medication is as feared as the illness itself, Stephen talks openly about the path he chose and speaks to celebrities who owe their life and career to medication. He also interviews the family of one girl who committed suicide rather than take medication.

DRAMA SERIES
The Street
Granada Television for BBC One
United Kingdom
Executive Producer: Sita Williams
Producer: Ken Horn
Directors: David Blair, Terry McDonough
Writers: Jimmy McGovern, Marc Pye, Alan Field, James Quirk, Arthur Ellison
Principal Cast: Jane Horrocks, Jim Broadbent, Lee Ingleby, Timothy Spall, Neil Dudgeon, Sue Johnston, Christine Bottomley, Jody Latham
Nominees:     Sita Williams (Executive Producer)
Roxy Spencer (Script Executive)
Set in Northern England, each episode concentrates on a different house on the street. Every story is unique, but linked by community and an indomitable sense of humor. There’s poverty, crime, drugs and violence, but there’s also laughter and love. There are mothers and daughters; fathers and sons, and a husband and wife falling in love all over again after forty years. These are love stories as unexpected, messy and exuberant as real life.

NON-SCRIPTED ENTERTAINMENT
How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?
BBC Entertainment
United Kingdom
Executive Producers: Martin Scott, Bea Ballard, Ruth Wrigley, Suzy Lamb
Producers: Deborah Sargeant, Mel Balac
Writer: Rob Colley
Principal Cast: Graham Norton, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Zoë Tyler, John Barrowman, David Ian
Accepting: John Plowman Executive Producer: Jon Plowman
Graham Norton hosts the search for a new Maria Von Trapp to star in the West End production of The Sound of Music. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber sets out on the unenviable task of trying to fill the wimple of Julie Andrews. Who could possibly be a nun in training, a governess, a will-o’-the wisp and a singing sensation? But in a twist, rather than pick their new leading lady themselves, the panel and Lloyd Webber let the viewers select the winner.

TV MOVIE/MINI-SERIES
Death of a President
Borough Films for MORE4
United Kingdom
Executive Producer: Robin Gutch
Producers: Gabriel Range, Simon Finch, Ed Guiney
Director: Gabriel Range
Writers: Gabriel Range, Simon Finch
Principal Cast: Michael Reilly Burke, M. Neko Parham, Malik Bader, Hend Ayoub, Becky-Ann Baker, Chavez Ravine, Robert Mangiardi, Brian Boland, James Urbaniak, Jay Patterson, Christian Stolte, Patricia Buckley, Jay Whittaker, Seena Jon
Nominee: Gabriel Range (Producer, Director, Writer)
Simon Finch (Producer, Writer)
Set in the near future, this drama uses archive footage and documentary techniques to imagine the assassination of George W. Bush. It is October 2007 and Bush is gunned down by a sniper after a speech in Chicago. While a nation mourns, the hunt for his killer swings into action and the investigation soon focuses on a Syrian-born man, Jamal Abu Zikri. Death of a President explores the administration’s responses to 9/11 and is inspired by real-life experiences of those caught up in the events.

THE INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY OF BROADCASTING AWARD
Each year, The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and UNICEF co-present a special award to the broadcaster who embraces the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting initiative and whose programming best captures the spirit of the ICDB. Although not an International Emmy®, this special initiative is a great honor and prestigious recognition for the work of youth around the world who write, report, produce and present programs that express their thoughts on the issues that affect them. The theme for this year’s ICDB was “Unite for Children. Unite Against AIDS”.

National Broadcasting of Thailand – Thailand
Written entirely by children, National Broadcasting of Thailand’s “From South to North, From East to West, Thailand ICDB-Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS” incorporated numerous dramas, musical numbers and interviews. The dramas included stories about friends who don’t believe in condoms, poor conditions leading to HIV/AIDS infection and being careful about love. The youth production teams were also interviewed about their experiences.

ROBERT DE NIRO TO PRESENT AL GORE WITH FOUNDERS AWARD AT THE 35TH INTERNATIONAL EMMY® AWARDS GALA

Drew Tyler Bell, Katrina Bowden, Elmo, Ashley Jones, Gloria Reuben, Jose Wilker Also Added to Cast of International Celebrity Presenters

New York, November 15, 2007 – The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced today that Robert De Niro has been added to the line-up of celebrity presenters for the 35th International Emmy® Awards Gala, taking place on November 19, 2007, in New York, and hosted by Roger Bart.  De Niro will be presenting the International Emmy® Founders Award to former United States Vice President and 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Al Gore, who will be receiving the Founders Award in recognition of his role in launching cable/satellite channel Current TV and his ongoing effort to alert the world to one of the great challenges of our time, global warming. 

De Niro joins Drew Tyler Bell (The Bold and the Beautiful), Katrina Bowden (30 Rock), Elmo (Sesame Street), Ashley Jones(The Bold and the Beautiful), Gloria Reuben (ER) and Brazilian television star José Wilker as new participants in the festivities. Previously-announced presenters include Sam Waterston (Law & Order), Alan Cumming (X-Men 2, Cabaret), Rob Morrow (Numb3rs, Northern Exposure, The Bucket List), Eric Bogosian (Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Talk Radio) and George Wendt (Cheers, Hairspray). Additionally, French film and television star Carole Bouquet (Sex and The City, New York Stories) will present the Directorate Award to TF1 Group Chairman, Patrick Le Lay.

The International Emmy® Awards recognize excellence in television programming produced outside of the United States. Over 1,000 international entertainment decision-makers attend the International Emmy® Awards Gala in New York every year.

This year’s sponsors include: Phoenix TV, Globo TV, Accenture, Microsoft, NBC Universal, Ascent Media, Reed Midem, Sofitel Hotels, and Variety. Chip Quigley, Kingdom Entertainment, will produce the show for the 7th year in a row.

# # #

CONTACTS:

Eva Obadia                                 
International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences       
T: 1-212-489-6969                       
eva.obadia@iemmys.tv   

Matt Biscuiti    
The Lippin Group
T: 1-212-986-7080
matt@lippingroup.com

ROGER BART TO HOST 35TH INTERNATIONAL EMMY® AWARDS GALA

Gala Cast of International Celebrity Presenters Includes Robert De Niro, Sam Waterston, Lorraine Bracco, Alan Cumming, Elmo, Gloria Reuben, Eric Bogosian, Carole Bouquet, Rob Morrow, Katrina Bowden and George Wendt

New York, November 5, 2007 – The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced today that screen and stage actor Roger Bart will be hosting the 35th International Emmy® Awards Gala on November 19, 2007, in New York. Famous worldwide for his role as the menacing pharmacist in the hit television show Desperate Housewives, Bart is now starring in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein on Broadway and Ridley Scott’s new movie American Gangster.

Robert De Niro and Sopranos lead Lorraine Bracco will join the cast of celebrity presenters, which includes Sam Waterston (Law & Order), Elmo (Seasame Street) and actors Alan Cumming (X-Men 2, Cabaret), Gloria Reuben (ER), Rob Morrow (Northern Exposure, The Bucket List), Eric Bogosian (Talk Radio), Katrina Bowden (30 Rock), Ashley Jones and Drew Tyler Bell (The Bold & The Beautiful) and George Wendt (Cheers, Hairspray) for the International Emmy® Awards Gala.

French film and television star Carole Bouquet (Sex and The City, New York Stories) will present the Directorate Award to TF1 Group Chairman, Patrick Le Lay.

Nominees in attendance include actors Stephen Fry (UK), Takeshi Kitano (Japan), Muriel Robin (France), Brenda Ngxoli, (South Africa), Lazaro Ramos (Brazil), Victoria Wood (UK), Lilia Cabral (Brazil), Pierre Bokma (The Netherlands) and Bobby AuYeung Chun Wah (Hong Kong, PR China).

The International Emmy® Awards recognize excellence in television programming produced outside of the United States. Over 1,000 international entertainment decision-makers attend the International Emmy® Awards Gala in New York every year.

This year’s sponsors include: Phoenix TV, Globo TV, Accenture, Microsoft, , NBC Universal, Ascent Media, Reed Midem, Sofitel Hotels, and Variety. Chip Quigley, Kingdom Entertainment, will produce the show for the 7th year in a row.
 

2007 International Emmy® Awards Host & Presenters:

Roger Bart – Host

A gifted actor, Roger Bart’s tremendous presence extends to both the small and big screens, as well as to the stage.

Bart will next be seen on Broadway in the musical Young Frankenstein as the title character, ‘Dr. Frederick Frankenstein.’ Based on the smash hit 1974 film, Young Frankenstein is the wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Mary Shelley classic from the comic genius of Mel Brooks. Co-starring Megan Mullally, Sutton Foster, Shuler Hensley, Fred Applegate and Christopher Fitzgerald, the show is directed by Susan Stroman. The show begins previews on October 11th & premieres on November 8th.

This fall, Bart also appears in American Gangster alongside Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe.  Directed by Ridley Scott, the film was released by Universal on November 2nd.  He recently wrapped Harold & Kumar 2, the follow up to the cult comedy hit.

Previous film roles include ‘Carmen Ghia’ for Universal’s film version of The Producers directed by Susan Stroman. Bart also starred in Paramount Pictures’ The Stepford Wives as the gay Stepford wife. The role was created for Bart based on his flamboyant role in the Broadway production of The Producers. Additional films include Hostel 2, the sequel to the hit horror film, Jeff Garlin’s independent comedy I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With The Insider, starring Al Pacino and Russell Crowe, Disney’s Hercules (singing voice of Young Hercules), and The Lady and the Tramp II (singing voice of Scamp).

On Broadway, Bart originated the role of ‘Carmen Ghia’ in The Producers, the smash hit musical by Mel Brooks and Director Susan Stroman.  Bart received Tony and Drama Desk nominations for the role. In 1999, Bart received Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Featured Actor in a Musical as ‘Snoopy’ in the revival of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, directed by Michael Mayer. Other Broadway credits include The Frogs, starring opposite Nathan Lane, and Triumph of Love.

On television, Bart started in the critically acclaimed Sci-Fi miniseries The Lost Room and portrayed ‘George Williams,’ the menacing pharmacist on ABC’s hit Desperate Housewives. Other television credits include the CBS comedy Bram and Alice, directed by James Burrows, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and The George Carlin Show.

A native of New Jersey, Bart currently divides his time between New York and Los Angeles.

Eric Bogosian
Armenian-American television and film actor, playwright, monologist, and novelist, Eric Bogosian, is Law & Order’s Captain Danny Ross and has had an illustrious career spanning stage and screen.  Nominated for a Pulizer Prize for Talk Radio, Bogosian’s other credits include Blade: Trinity, Igby Goes Down and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.

Carole Bouquet
The French actress best known internationally as Bond girl Melina Havelock in the 1981 movie For Your Eyes Only, Carole Bouquet has had a diverse entertainment career. Spokesmodel for Chanel in the 1990’s, Bouquet won the prestigious César award for Best Actress in Trop belle pour toi and has most recently appeared on U.S. screens as Aleksandr Petrovskys ex-wife Juliette in Sex & The City.

Katrina Bowden
Currently playing Cerie in the hit NBC series, 30 Rock, Katrina Bowden’s previous work includes roles in Law & Order: Special Victim’s Unit and the daytime drama, One Life to Live. Bowden will next be seen in the upcoming comedy National Lampoon’s Ratko: The Dictator’s Son.

Lorraine Bracco
Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominated actress, Lorraine Bracco is best known for her roles as Karen Hill in Goodfellas and mob-psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Melfi on the hit HBO TV series, The Sopranos. Bracco’s numerous film credits include Riding in Cars with Boys, The Basketball Diaries and Medicine Man.

Alan Cumming
Eclectic Tony Award winning actor Alan Cumming, wrote, directed, produced and acted (with Jennifer Jason Leigh) in The Anniversary Party, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won a National Board of Review Award and two Independent Spirit Award nominations. Other films include: X Men 2, the Spy Kids trilogy, Eyes Wide Shut, Emma, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, Urbania, Nicholas Nickleby, Titus, Goldeneye and Circle of Friends. Cumming’s television work includes The L Word and Reefer Madness on Showtime and Sex in the City on HBO. In Britain he wrote and starred in the cult sitcom The High Life as well as many other films for the BBC including Bernard and the Genie for which he won a British Comedy award. Alan will soon be seen in the much anticipated Sci Fi Channel mini series Tin Man, an adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro is considered as one of the greatest actors of all time. Finding fame with his first role in Bang the Drum Slowly, he gained his reputation as a volatile actor in Martin Scorsese’s 1973 film, Mean Streets. De Niro went on to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Godfather: Part II and received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor in Taxi Driver, The Deer Hunter and Cape Fear. In 1980 he solidified his impressive career with another Academy Award win, this time for Best Actor in Raging Bull. De Niro currently heads his own production company, Tribeca Film Center, and made his directorial debut in 1993 with A Bronx Tale.

Elmo
Winner of 7 Daytime Emmy Awards, Elmo is a 3 ½-year-old red monster with a high-pitched voice and a contagious giggle.  Enthusiastic, friendly, and cheerful, he always wants to be part of everything that goes on.  However, like most preschoolers, he sometimes doesn’t have the skills or knowledge to do what he wants.  But that never stops him because he has a very positive, optimistic view of himself and life. In Season 38, Elmo returns for a ninth season of “Elmo’s World.”  This year, Elmo, Dorothy (his pet fish) and Mr. Noodle cover topics such as Mouths, Noses, Violins, Helping, and the Beach.  In a street story, Elmo has been chosen to play the ‘Amazing Alphabet Race’ game in which Elmo has to search for all the letters of the alphabet in the hopes of winning a fabulous prize. Elmo is appearing this Holiday season in Elmo’s Christmas Countdown.

Ashley Jones
With two Daytime Emmy nominations for her role as Bridget Forrester on the number one show in the world, CBS’s Bold and the Beautiful, Ashley Jones rose to fame at Megan Dennison on The Young and the Restless. Jones’ other acting credits include the cult comedy, Old School and TV shows Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Crossing Jordan, The District, Without a Trace, and 7th Heaven.

Nai-Chian Katz
Mrs Nai-Chian Mo Katz has been the senior Washington correspondent for Phoenix Satellite Television since October 2002.  Her main area of expertise is in U.S. foreign policy towards Asia, the U.S-China and also the U.S.-Taiwan bilateral relationships.  Miss Katz has interviewed President Bush, Secretary of Commerce- Gutierrez, Secretary of Labor- Chao, Deputy Secretary of State- Negroponte, former Deputy Secretary of State- Zoellick, former Deputy Secretary of State- Armitage, former Secretary of Commerce- Evans, former Deputy Secretary of Defense- Wolfowitz and other senior U.S. Government officials throughout the years.  She was also an embedded journalist during the Iraq war in 2003, reporting from the U.S. Fifth and Sixth Fleets.

Prior to joining Phoenix Satellite Television, she built a strong track record working as a reporter and anchor-woman at a number of premier Chinese language television stations.  She worked for STAR TV and also Formosa TV in Taiwan before 1997 and then later on she resided in Hong Kong and worked for CNBC Asia and Chinese Television Network before she moved to the United States in 2001.

Rob Morrow
Rob Morrow is best known for his critically acclaimed portrayal of New York doctor-gone-Alaska, Joel Fleischman, on the hit television series, Northern Exposure, for which he earned which three Golden Globe and two Emmy Award nominations. Morrow is currently starring in the television series Numb3rs and will be seen this fall in the upcoming film The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.

Gloria Reuben
Multiple Emmy Award nominee Gloria Reuben is perhaps best known to TV viewers for her 5 year run as Nurse Jeanie Boulet in hit-TV series, ER. Prior to TV Reuben debuted in film, starring opposite Jean Claude Van Damme in Time Cop and Johnny Depp in John Badham’s, Nick of Time. In between a slew of other television projects Reuben also starred in the critically acclaimed off-Broadway production of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues and in 2000, she  extended her burgeoning career into contemporary music, singing back up on the North American leg of Tina Turner’s “24/7″concert tour.

Most recently, Gloria co-starred in The Sentinel with Keifer Sutherland and Michael Douglas and in the HBO feature film, Life Support, with Queen Latifah, which focuses on the HIV/AIDS crisis in the female black community in the U.S.

Drew Tyler Bell
Drew is currently making his Broadway debut in Spring Awakening at the Eugene O’Neill Theater in the role of ‘Hanschen’.  He recently starred in The Seeker: The Dark is Rising for 20th Century Fox and has starred for four years as Thomas Forrester in the CBS daytime drama The Bold and the Beautiful.  He appeared in the feature film Jeepers Creepers 2 for MGM, television series’ Standoff for Fox and Jake 2.0 for UPN, and the recently released Love’s Abiding Joy for the Hallmark Channel.  In addition, Drew has been in numerous national commercials both as an actor and dancer.  He has been dancing since the age of six and is currently a member of the Los Angeles tap troupe “Tapsounds Underground”.

Sam Waterston
Most recently famous for his role as Detective Jack McCoy in the long-running NBC television series Law & Order, Sam Waterston is an Academy Award nominee who got an early break in the TV industry starring with Katherine Hepburn in The Glass Menagerie. Since then Waterston has appeared in numerous feature films including The Great Gatsby, The Killing Fields and Le Divorce. Waterston is a six-time Emmy Award nominee and 1993 Golden Globe winner for Best Actor in the television series I’ll Fly Away.

George Wendt
Best known for the role of Norm Peterson on the long-running TV series, Cheers, Wendt’s other television credits include Saturday Night Live, Seinfeld, The Simpsons and Frasier.

# # #

CONTACTS:

Eva Obadia                                      
International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences       
T: 1-212-489-6969                       
eva.obadia@iemmys.tv                      

Matt Biscuiti
The Lippin Group
T: 1-212-986-7080
matt@lippingroup.com

2007 INTERNATIONAL EMMY® WORLD TELEVISION FESTIVAL PRESENTS A PANORAMA OF PROGRAMMING FROM OVER 20 COUNTRIES

NEW YORK, November 1, 2007 – The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced today the line-up for its 2007 International Emmy® World Television Festival, to take place on November 17 and 18, at the Sofitel Hotel in New York.

A by invitation kick-off cocktail party hosted by Katherine Oliver, Commissioner, The Mayor’s Office of Film, Broadcasting & Theatre will launch the weekend of festivities at Gracie Mansion, on Friday, November 16. Home Box Office (HBO) will be hosting the closing cocktail on Sunday, November 18.

The Festival will feature the International Emmy® Nominee screenings and presentations during which the producers of the nominated programs discuss their program in the nine Emmy® categories including:  Arts Programming; Best Performance by an Actress; Best Performance by an Actor; Children & Young People; Comedy; Documentary; Drama Series; Non-Scripted Entertainment and TV Movie/Mini-Series.  All nominated programs will be screened over the two days of the Festival.

This year’s highlights also include a discussion on “How to Make Successful Drama Series” featuring CSI/Las Vegas producer, Steven Felder and a panel on “The Television of Tomorrow, Today”, featuring speakers from Joost, The BBC, Blinkbox, ABC News and Bravofact. A strand of panels on Socially Responsible Television with expert speakers from the BBC, Egyptian TV, Globo TV, Nigerian TV, Population Media and Sesame Workshop will also take place throughout the weekend.

“The International Emmy® World Television Festival is a unique platform for organizations wanting to promote themselves to the global television community with some 800 international media and entertainment professionals returning each year.” said Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, also President of Hearst Entertainment. 

International Emmy® Award Nominees will receive their medals at the Nominee Medal Ceremony organized each year at the Festival. The Academy will also present the Sir Peter Ustinov Young Scriptwriter Award, to Australian winner Felicity Carpenter for her script “Touching People”.

Liu Changle, Chairman & CEO of Phoenix Satellite Television is the 2007 Festival Chairman.

2007 Festival Sponsors include Hong Kong based Phoenix Satellite Television, Globo TV, Home Box Office, The Hollywood Reporter, Microsoft, Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting and Sofitel Accor Hotels.

Founded in 1969, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the largest organization of global broadcasters, with members from nearly 70 countries and over 400 companies. The Academy was chartered with a mission to recognize excellence in television programming produced outside of the United States, and it presents the International Emmy Award to programs in eleven categories: Arts Programming; Best Performance by an Actress; Best Performance by an Actor; Children & Young People; Comedy; Continuing News Coverage; Documentary; Drama Series; Interactive Channel; Interactive Program; Interactive Service; News; Non-Scripted Entertainment; TV Movie/Mini-Series.

The Academy is a unique, independent organization including the world’s leading entertainment and media professionals who come together to exchange ideas, discuss common issues and promote new strategies for the future development of quality global television programming. The International Emmy® World Television Festival to be held Saturday and Sunday, November 17 and 18, will feature unique screenings, panels and presentations from around the world. The International Emmy® Awards Gala, to be held November 19, in New York City attracts over 1,100 international figures in broadcast, entertainment and media. More information can be found online at www.iemmys.tv. 

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Media Contacts:

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Eva Obadia, Director, Marketing & PR
eva@iemmys.tv  1-212-489-6969

The Lippin Group
Don Ciaramella
don@lippingroup.com 1-212-986-7080

35TH INTERNATIONAL EMMY® AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Cannes/MIPCOM, October 8, 2007:  Nominations for the 35th International Emmy® Awards were announced today by The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences at a press conference at MIPCOM. There are 38 nominees in 9 categories. The full list of Nominees follows this release. Winners will be announced at a Black-Tie Ceremony on November 19, 2007 at the Hilton New York Hotel.

2007 nominations span over 16 countries with a record of 7 nominations for Brazil, 4 for Japan and 3 for South Africa. This is the first time ever that Colombia is nominated. There is a tie in the Best Performance by An Actor and Comedy categories with 5 nominees in each category. The competition took place with three rounds of judging over a period of 6 months, with participation from over 500 judges in 35 countries.

“The International Emmy® is the preeminent award to recognize creative and production achievements in the international television community.” said Academy President & CEO, Bruce Paisner also President of Hearst Entertainment. “No other award or event presents such a global showcase for excellence in television programming.”

In addition to the presentation of the International Emmy® Awards for programming, the Academy will present 2 special awards. The International Emmy® Founders Award will be presented to Al Gore for his role in launching cable/satellite channel Current TV and his ongoing effort to alert the world to one of the great challenges of our time, global warming. The International Emmy® Directorate Award will be presented to Patrick Le Lay, Chairman TF1 Group for guiding the growth of the TF1 brand from a traditional commercial television broadcaster to a multi-media organization that is a pioneer in many of the emerging new digital platforms.

The Academy also announced the nominees for the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) Award co-presented with UNICEF. ICDB was launched in 1994 to encourage broadcasters worldwide to create awareness for children’s issues.

This year’s sponsors are: Phoenix TV, Globo TV, Accenture, Microsoft, NBC Universal, Ascent Media, Reed MIDEM, Sofitel Hotels, Variety and Brightcove.  

2007 Semi-Final Judging Hosts are:  Absolutely Independent, BBC, Creative Business Wales, Eastern Multimedia Group, European Television Guild , France Television, HBO Latin America Group, Helion Pictures, Indiantelevision.com, International Music & Media Centre (IMZ), Koncern TV & Filmproduktion APS, Miami-Dade Mayor’s Office, Film & Ent, NRK, RAI Corporation, Sky News, Sony Pictures Television International, South African Broadcasting Corp, South Pacific Pictures and Telefilms.    

Founded in 1969, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the largest organization of global broadcasters, with over 500 members from nearly 70 countries and over 400 companies. The Academy was chartered with a mission to recognize excellence in television programming produced outside of the United States, and it presents the International Emmy® Award to programs in fourteen categories: Arts Programming; Best Performance by an Actress; Best Performance by an Actor; Children & Young People; Comedy; Current Affairs; Documentary; Drama Series; Interactive Channel; Interactive Program; Interactive TV Service; News; Non-Scripted Entertainment and TV Movie/Mini-Series.

The Academy is a unique, independent organization comprised of the world’s leading media and entertainment professionals and media leaders who come together to exchange ideas, discuss common issues and promote new strategies for the future development of quality global television programming. The International Emmy® World Television Festival to be held Saturday and Sunday, November 17 and 18, will feature unique screenings, panels and presentations from around the world. The International Emmy® Awards Gala, to be held November 19, in New York City attracts over 1,100 international figures in broadcast, entertainment and media. More information can be found online at www.iemmys.tv.  

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At Mipcom the International Emmy® Awards are located on stand 24.08

Media Contacts:

Eva Obadia, Director Marketing & PR
eva.obadia@iemmys.tv
T: 212-489-6969 
F: 212-489-6557
Cell: (1) 917-754-0085

The Lippin Group, Matt Biscuitti
matt@lippingroup.com
T : 212-986-7080

BBC WINS BOTH INTERNATIONAL EMMY® AWARDS NEWS CATEGORIES FOR ITS COVERAGE OF THE LEBANON CRISIS & THE IRAQ WAR

New York, September 25, 2007 – The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced today the 2007 International Emmy Award winners for its two News categories: Current Affairs and News.

BBC was presented with two Emmy Awards for its coverage from the Middle-East with Baghdad: A Doctor’s Story (produced by Guardian Films for BBC Two) -a riveting series of reports shot exclusively by an Iraqi doctor in a civilian emergency room, winning the Current Affairs Category and BBC News: Lebanon Crisis (produced by BBC News for the BBC), an extensive report on the Israeli/Lebanese hostilities from both sides of the border, winning the News category.

The International Emmys were presented to the winners by Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences during a black-tie event in New York City, on September 24.

“The BBC’s news coverage is a reference for journalists and news professionals worldwide,” said Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, also President of Hearst Entertainment. “The International Academy congratulates the teams behind these outstanding reports who risked their lives to bring the story to the television screen.”

Nominees for nine other International Emmy Awards categories will be announced October 8, at Mipcom, in Cannes, France.  Winners will receive their awards at the 35th International Emmy Awards Gala, November 19, in New York City.

Founded in 1969, The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the largest organization of global broadcasters, with members from nearly 70 countries and over 400 companies. The Academy was chartered with a mission to recognize excellence in television programming produced outside of the United States, and it presents the International Emmy Award to programs in eleven categories: Arts Programming; Best Performance by an Actress; Best Performance by an Actor; Children & Young People; Comedy; Current Affairs; Documentary; Drama Series; News; Non-Scripted Entertainment; TV Movie/Mini-Series.

The Academy is a unique, independent organization including the world’s television and media leaders who come together to exchange ideas, discuss common issues and promote new strategies for the future development of quality global television programming. Each year, the Academy produces the International Emmy World Television Festival and the International Emmy Awards Gala in New York City. The Festival screens quality programming from around the world, featuring leading international producers and directors who speak about their work. The International Emmy Awards Gala attracts over 1,100 international figures in broadcast, entertainment and media. More information can be found online at www.iemmys.tv.

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Media Contacts:

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Eva Obadia, Director Marketing & PR
eva@iemmys.tv
1-212-489-6969

The Lippin Group
Don Ciaramella
don@lippingroup.com
1-212-986-7080

2007 INTERNATIONAL EMMY® AWARDS NOMINEES FOR NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS CATEGORIES SPAN ASIA, EUROPE & LATIN AMERICA – FIRST NEWS NOMINATIONS EVER FOR HONG KONG, ROMANIA, RUSSIA & THE PHILIPPINES

New York, August 29, 2007 – The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced today the nominees for the 2007 News and Current Affairs categories. Winners will be announced at a Ceremony at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers in New York City on September 24, 2007. The international winners will be honored alongside their American news and documentary counterparts.

This is the first time ever that programs from Romania and The Philippines are nominated for an International Emmy® Award and the first time ever that programs from Hong Kong and Russia are nominated in the news category.

“The 2007 nominees are testimony to the diversity of international television news organizations which now reach a high standard of excellence,” said Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, also President of Hearst Entertainment. “The International Academy takes enormous pride in saluting the work of these outstanding news organizations and journalists from Asia, Europe and South America.”

The 2007 International Emmy Award News Nominees:

NEWS:

Bandila: The Subic Rape Case Promulgation
ABS-CBN
The Philippines

BBC News: Lebanon Crisis
BBC News for the BBC
United Kingdom

Jornal Nacional: Caravana JN – Elections
Globo TV
Brazil

Pro TV News: Tibetans at the Chinese Border
Pro TV
Romania

CURRENT AFFAIRS:

Baghdad: A Doctor’s Story
Guardian Films for BBC Two
United Kingdom

Hot Line: The Candelária Slaughter
TV Globo
Brazil

La Liga: The Path of the Cocaine Leaf
Cuatro Cabezas S.A.
Argentina

Special Reporter: Vyacheslav Grunskiy’s Studio – The Zone of Love
Vyacheslav Grunskiy’s Studio for TV channel Russia
Russia

Sunday Report: Give Us A Hand! Help Us Lie!
Television Broadcasts Limited
Hong Kong, China

Founded in 1969, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the largest organization of global broadcasters, with members from nearly 70 countries and over 350 companies. The Academy was chartered with a mission to recognize excellence in television programming produced outside of the United States, and it presents the International Emmy Award to programs in eleven categories: Arts Programming; Best Performance by an Actress; Best Performance by an Actor; Breaking News; Children & Young People; Comedy; Current Affairs; Documentary; Drama Series; Non-Scripted Entertainment; News; TV Movie/Mini-Series.

The Academy is a unique, independent organization including the world’s top television and media leaders who come together to exchange ideas, discuss common issues and promote new strategies for the future development of quality global television programming. Each year, the Academy produces the International Emmy® World Television Festival and the International Emmy® Awards Gala in New York City. The Festival screens quality programming from around the world, featuring leading international producers and directors who speak about their work. The International Emmy® Awards Gala attracts over 1,100 international figures in broadcast, entertainment and media. More information can be found online at www.iemmys.tv.

# # #

Media Contacts:

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Eva Obadia, Director Marketing & PR
eva@iemmys.tv
1-212-489-6969

The Lippin Group
Don Ciaramella
don@lippingroup.com
1-212-986-7080

RICK COTTON, EXECUTIVE VP AND GENERAL COUNSEL, NBC UNIVERSAL, TO CHAIR 35TH INTERNATIONAL EMMY® AWARDS GALA

New York, July 9th, 2007 – Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, announced today that Rick Cotton, Executive Vice-President and General Counsel of NBC Universal will serve as Gala Chair for the 35th International Emmy Awards which will take place on Monday, November 19, 2007 in New York City.

“Rick Cotton has been a steady supporter of the International Academy’s initiatives for many years now, and I am honored that he has agreed to be the Chair of our 35th International Emmy Awards Ceremony,” said Paisner.  “His extensive expertise with the international television business and intellectual property issues both in the U.S. and worldwide make him one of the most respected professionals in our industry.”

“The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is an extraordinary organization that brings together the leading lights of the international television business, and the awards gala is the premier global forum to recognize outstanding artistic achievements,” said Cotton. He added, “As we get ready to celebrate exceptional creative accomplishments, it’s important to note that these critically acclaimed productions rely on the efforts of everyone in this industry – from creators to distributors – to protect them from the growing threat of international piracy. I am pleased and honored to serve as this year’s Chair.”

Rick Cotton was named Executive Vice President and General Counsel of NBC Universal in August 2004. He supervises the NBC Universal Law Department, which provides legal advice to all NBC Universal business units for their ongoing operations and for new strategic plans and acquisitions. He also oversees NBC Universal’s Washington office, which is responsible for the company’s regulatory and legislative agenda at the FCC and in Congress. Cotton reports directly to Jeff Zucker, President and Chief Executive Officer of NBC Universal. In January, he was also appointed Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce-led Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP).

In addition to the presentation of the International Emmy Awards for programming, the Academy will present two special awards. Former US Vice-President Al Gore will receive
the International Emmy Founders Award for his role in launching cable/satellite channel Current TV and his ongoing effort to alert the world to one of the great challenges of our time, global warming. The International Emmy Directorate Award will be given to Patrick Le Lay, Chairman of the TF1 Group for guiding the growth of the TF1 brand from
a traditional commercial television broadcaster to a multi-media organization that is a pioneer in many of the emerging new digital platforms.

The semi-final judging of the International Emmy Awards is taking place around the world this summer, with finals held in September. Nominees will be announced at a press conference in Cannes at MIPCOM on Monday, October 8, 2007.  This year’s sponsors, to-date, include: Accenture, Ascent Media, GloboTV, Microsoft, NBC Universal, Phoenix-TV, Reed Midem, Sofitel Hotels and Variety.

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the largest organization of global broadcasters, with members from nearly 70 countries and over 400 companies. The Academy was chartered with a mission to recognize excellence in television programming produced outside of the United States, and it presents the International Emmy Awards to programs in fourteen categories: Arts Programming; Best Performance by an Actor; Best Performance by an Actress; Children & Young People; Comedy; Current Affairs; Documentary; Drama Series; Interactive Channel, Interactive Program, Interactive Service, News; Non-Scripted Entertainment and TV Movie/Mini-Series.

The Academy is a unique, independent organization including the world’s television and media leaders who come together to exchange ideas, discuss common issues and promote new strategies for the future development of quality global television programming. Each year, the Academy produces the International Emmy World Television Festival and the International Emmy Awards Gala in New York City. The Festival features programming from around the world, and presentations and panels from international producers and directors. The International Emmy Awards Gala attracts over 1,200 international figures in broadcast, entertainment and media. More information can be found online at www.iemmys.tv.  

# # #

Media Contacts:

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Eva Obadia, Marketing Manager
eva.obadia@iemmys.tv
1-212-489-6969

The Lippin Group
Don Ciaramella
don@lippingroup.com
1-212-986-7080