INTERNATIONAL EMMY® WORLD TELEVISION FESTIVAL TO CELEBRATE 40th INTERNATIONAL EMMY® AWARD NOMINEES NOVEMBER 17 & 18

TALK SHOW AND GAME SHOW HOST KNOWN FOR LIVE WITH REGIS & KELLY AND WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE JOINS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

New York, November 6, 2012 – The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced today that American television icon Regis Philbin, who started his on-air career as a talk-show host in the sixties, will host the 40th International Emmy Awards Gala, on November 19, in New York City. Philbin joins the 40th Anniversary celebration which includes the presentation of special Founders Awards to two global television legends, actor/director Alan Alda and writer/producer Norman Lear.  Both Mr. Alda (M*A*S*H) and Mr. Lear (All in The Family) had programs in distribution in 1972, the year of the first International Emmy Awards Gala.

“Regis Philbin brings great credibility to the role of our 40th anniversary Gala host,” said Academy President & CEO, Bruce L. Paisner. “After all, he was part of the television landscape when we started the Gala in 1972. He was and continues to be, one of the most successful talk show impresarios in the history of television. “
 
During the Gala, the International Academy will present Emmys in nine program categories as well as two special awards. GleeCreator Ryan Murphy, will receive the 2012 International Emmy Founders Award while Korean Broadcasting System President & CEO, Dr. Kim In-Kyu,will receive the 2012 International Emmy Directorate Award.
 
Since Philbin first stepped in front of the camera more than 50 years ago, he has ambitiously tackled talk shows, game shows and even the literary world, winning a slew of notable awards along the way. Recently, he and co-host Kelly Ripa were honored as co-winners of the 2011 Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host for “LIVE! with Regis and Kelly.” In May 2001, Philbin was presented with the Daytime Emmy as Outstanding Talk Show Host for “Live with Regis,” and another Emmy award as Outstanding Game Show Host for “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.” In September 2011, he broke his own existing Guinness World Record for Most Hours on Camera on U.S. Television, setting a new mark of 16,746.50 hours accumulated over his illustrious career. Currently in its 24th season in national syndication, “LIVE! with Regis and Kelly” originated in 1983 and quickly became the number one show in the market. In January of 2011, Philbin announced that he will step away from LIVE to take on new adventures in the entertainment world.  His last day on the program was November 18, 2011. Philbin took his daytime success to nighttime with ABC’s ratings juggernaut “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” in 1999.  In August 2009, ten years after making television history, the network brought back a special 11-episode anniversary run of the blockbuster game show with Philbin at the helm. Although best known for his broadcasting career, music has also been a lifelong passion for Philbin. His music credits include several albums of timeless standards and a musical act that he has been performing for over 25 years with his wife Joy. Currently Regis is touring the country with the paperback edition of his book, “How I Got This Way”, which details the people who have inspired him and had an impact on his life.

About the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 
The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is a membership based organization comprised of leading media and entertainment figures from over 50 countries and 500 companies from all sectors of television including internet, mobile and technology. The Academy’s yearly schedule of events includes the prestigious International Emmy® Awards Ceremony held in New York, The International Digital Emmy® Awards at MIPTV and a series of industry events such as Academy Day, the International Emmy® World Television Festival and Panels on substantive industry topics. The Academy was chartered with a mission to recognize excellence in television produced outside of the United States and it presents The International Emmy® Awards in the following fifteen categories: Arts Programming; Best Performance by an Actress; Best Performance by an Actor; Current Affairs; Children & Young People; Comedy; Digital Program: Children & Young People; Digital Program: Fiction; Digital Program: Non-Fiction; Documentary; Drama Series; News; Non-Scripted Entertainment; Telenovela; TV Movie/Mini-Series.  For more information go to  www.iemmys.tv.  

MEDIA CONTACTS
  
The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Eva Obadia,  
Communications Director
Tel: +1-212-489-6969
eva.obadia@iemmys.tv  

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