SCANDINAVIA LEADS INTERNATIONAL INTERACTIVE EMMY® AWARDS AT MIPTV

Sweden Wins Interactive TV Service, Finland Wins Interactive Program and the UK Wins Interactive Channel

MIPTV-Cannes, April 8, 2007 — The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced tonight the winners for the International Interactive Emmy® Awards, organized for the third year in a row in Cannes, France in partnership with Reed MIDEM and hosted by British comedian Brian Conley (The Brian Conley Show, Let Me Entertain You).

Scandinavia led the evening with Finland’s children’s program Staraoke winning the Interactive Program category and Sweden’s participation drama The Truth About Marika winning the Interactive TV Service category, while the Interactive Channel award went to the United Kingdom’s WeDigTV.  Complete information on the winners follows this release.

“This year’s winners are an illustration of how technology is enhancing viewer participation and bringing an added value to television content,” said Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. ”We congratulate them on their achievements.”

The awards ceremony and dinner was attended by over 150 international executives from the television, broadband and mobile industries and sponsored by Alcatel-Lucent.


About the international academy

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 fifteen categories: Arts Programming; Best Performance by an Actor; Best Performance by an Actress; News; Children & Young People; Comedy; Current Affairs; Documentary; Drama Series; Interactive Channel; Interactive Program; Interactive TV Service; Non-Scripted Entertainment; Telenovela and TV Movie/Mini-Series.

The Academy is a unique, independent organization comprised of 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 1,000 international figures in broadcast, entertainment and media. More information can be found online at www.iemmys.tv.  


About reed midem

Reed MIDEM is a leading organizer of professional, international tradeshows. Reed MIDEM events have established themselves as key dates in professional diaries. The company hosts MIPDOC, MIPTV, MILIA, MIPCOM JUNIOR and MIPCOM for the television and new media industries, MIDEM for music professionals, MIPIM and MAPIC for the property sector and GLOBAL CITY for urban management specialists.

Reed MIDEM is a division of Reed Exhibitions, the world leader in the organization of some 420 public exhibitions and professional tradeshows.

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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
Cell: 917-754-0085

Jane Garton, Press Manager
Reed Midem
jane.garton@reedmidem.com

The 2008 international interactive emmy® awards winners

 

Interactive program

STARAOKE
Intervisio
Finland
Staraoke is an interactive crossmedia-concept, which combines a TV show for kids with a karaoke-type PC game and a web community. The Staraoke PC game is a singing game where the player controls the game character on the screen with the pitch of his/her voice. The software recognizes the pitch and gives points accordingly. Kids are instructed to download a demo of the Staraoke game from the show’s website, record their performance, and send the file to the show’s producers. Every third competitor of the Staraoke TV show is chosen from online submissions.

Interactive channel

WEDIGTV
The JD Project Limited
United Kingdom
WeDigTV is the world’s first TV2 network. TV2 is a platform which allows viewers to dictate the terms of their interactive video experience. By delivering seemingly linear broadcasts to the user that are in fact fully interactive, TV2 makes the format-type show compelling and relevant in an age of true video on-demand. In each show, the user is able to engage with the host and ultimately decide the fate of their experience within the show itself. WeDigTV brings the user as close as possible to being in the contestant’s chair without actually sitting there.

Interactive television service

THE TRUTH ABOUT MARIKA
Sveriges Television AB / The company P
Sweden
The Truth About Marika is a participation drama — a production created to enrich a drama series through the participation of viewers. The story takes place on television, national radio, the internet and mobile phone. Every week theories are discussed live in a show that has been enhanced with participatory content that exposes the truth about Marika in the end. Viewers are directly involved in the plot and its conclusion. Mobile phones become an important tool in the twilight zone between fiction and reality and bring the story out on the street into a fiction without limits.

 

LIU CHANGLE, FOUNDING CHAIRMAN & CEO, PHOENIX SATELLITE TELEVISION TO RECEIVE 2008 INTERNATIONAL EMMY® DIRECTORATE AWARD

Cannes-MIPTV, April 7, 2008 – Liu Changle, the media magnate who pioneered offshore broadcasting into mainland China, will be the 2008 recipient of the International Emmy® Directorate Award, announced Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The Award will be presented to Mr. Liu at the 36th International Emmy® Awards on November 24th, in New York City.

Launched in Hong Kong in 1996, Phoenix Satellite Television has rapidly expanded from a single general entertainment channel to an integrated multi-media group with 5 television channels broadcasting in Mandarin Chinese and covering over 150 countries around the world. The International Emmy® Directorate Award is given to organizations or individuals in management, administration, engineering, news, programming, and/or international relations for their outstanding contributions, over a period of time, to the arts and sciences of international television.

“One of Asia’s leading broadcast entrepreneurs, Liu Changle is the catalyst behind the wide-ranging success of Phoenix Television. In the last 12 years he has grown Phoenix into a multimedia empire and we are honored to be recognizing his accomplishments with our 2008 Directorate Award,” said Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO.

“This is definitely the most impressive and inspiring award I have ever been granted. To receive the International Emmy® Directorate Award from The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is not only a great honor for me personally, but it also represents the recognition by an authoritative international group of fellow television professionals of the achievements of Phoenix Satellite Television after 12 years of hard work. I am deeply touched and encouraged,” said Liu Changle.

Past recipients of the International Emmy® Directorate Award include:
Patrick Le Lay, Chairman & CEO, TF1 in 2007, Central European Media Enterprises (CME) and its Founder and Chairman, Ronald S. Lauder, in 2006, the UK’s ITV plc in 2005 (accepted by Charles Allen, ITV’s then Chief Executive), Dr. Herbert Kloiber, Managing Director, Tele-München Group (TMG), in 2004 and in 2003, Greg Dyke, former Director General of the BBC.


About Liu Changle and Phoenix Satellite Television

Liu Changle, born in Shanghai, China graduated from the Communication University of China in 1980. After graduation, he joined the Central People’s Radio Station and served in various positions from journalist, editor, and commentator to senior management executive.

In 1989, Liu launched his own business venture which has activities in the petroleum, real estate, trading, infrastructure, broadcasting and publishing sectors in China and internationally.

On March 31, 1996, Mr. Liu’s Today’s Asia Ltd. teamed up with Rupert Murdoch’s Star TV and China Wise International to establish the Phoenix Satellite Television Co Ltd.  He serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer ever since then. Phoenix went public in 2000 and is listed on the Hong Kong Growth Enterprise Market.

Phoenix Television is a Hong Kong-based Mandarin Chinese television broadcaster that aims to promote a free flow of information and entertainment within the Greater China region. Phoenix TV currently operates 5 channels, Phoenix Chinese Channel, Phoenix InfoNews Channel, Phoenix Movie Channel, Phoenix North America Chinese Channel and Phoenix Chinese News and Entertainment (PCNE) Channel. Phoenix’s business other than television broadcasting includes the ifeng website (www.ifeng.com) and the “Phoenix Weekly” magazine.


About The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

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 fifteen categories: Arts Programming; Best Performance by an Actor; Best Performance by an Actress; News; Children & Young People; Comedy; Current Affairs; Documentary; Drama Series; Interactive Channel, Interactive Program, Interactive TV Service, Non-Scripted Entertainment, Telenovela and TV Movie/Mini-Series.

The Academy is a unique, independent organization comprised of 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 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.  

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Media Contacts:

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Eva Obadia, Director Marketing & PR
eva.obadia@iemmys.tv
212-489-6969
In Cannes stand 14.11 cell phone +1 917 754 0085

The Lippin Group
Don Ciaramella
don@lippingroup.com
212-986-70804

DICK WOLF TO RECEIVE 2008 INTERNATIONAL EMMY® FOUNDERS AWARD

Cannes, MIPTV April 7, 2008 — Dick Wolf, one of television’s most prolific writer/producers and the architect of the Law & Order brand, will receive the 2008 International Emmy® Founders Award. International Academy President & CEO, Bruce L. Paisner, announced today that Mr. Wolf will accept the Award at the 36th International Emmy® Awards Gala, on November 24, 2008 in New York City. The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the largest organization of broadcasters in the world, with members from nearly 70 countries and over 400 companies, and each year presents the International Emmy® Founders Award to an individual or organization which crosses cultural boundaries to touch our common humanity.

“Dick Wolf’s classic television series have transcended cultural boundaries for the last 25 years. Law & Order is the longest-running drama series currently on American television and a major international success with brand licenses in more than 300 territories and localized versions in France, Russia and the UK,” said Paisner. “We are proud to be presenting him with the 2008 Founders Award in recognition of his creative accomplishments.”

Law & Order, just renewed for its 19th season on NBC, won the Outstanding Drama Series Emmy® in 1997 and is tied (with Cheers and M*A*S*H) for the consecutive Outstanding Series nomination record at 12. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is entering its 10th season on NBC and Law & Order: Criminal Intent is currently in its 7th season, with a unique dual USA Network/NBC broadcast window. Wolf’s illustrious credits also include television classics Hill-Street Blues, L.A. Dragnet, Miami Vice and more recently, the critically-acclaimed and multiple Emmy-Award winning (including Outstanding Made for Television Movie) HBO original movie Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.  

“This is a true honor,” Wolf said. “The world of television is becoming increasingly more global and I am grateful that The International Academy is recognizing the impact of the Law & Order brand around the world.”

Not only has Wolf left his mark on the small screen, he’s taken his talents to the big screen as well. He won an Academy Award in 2003 for Twin Towers, a documentary about two brothers, a policeman and fireman who lost their lives in the line of duty on September 11. Adding to Wolf’s many accolades; he received the ultimate in top honors when he received a star on Hollywood’s world-famous Walk of Fame in March 2007.


About The International Academy

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the largest organization of broadcasters in the world, with over 550 members from nearly 70 countries and over 400 companies. The Academy is a unique, independent organization comprised of the world’s leading television 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. The Academy organizes yearly, a series of events for its members and their guests which include board meetings, panels and presentations. The International Emmy® World Television Festival which traditionally takes place the weekend before the International Emmy® Awards Gala, features unique screenings, panels and presentations from around the world. The International Emmy® Awards Gala, held each November in New York City, attracts over 1,000 international figures in broadcast, entertainment and media. 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 fifteen 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; Telenovela; and TV Movie/Mini-Series. 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.obadia@iemmys.tv
212-489-6969
In Cannes stand 14.11 cell phone +1 917 754 0085

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