MARKUS SCHÄCHTER, DIRECTOR GENERAL ZDF TO RECEIVE 2009 INTERNATIONAL EMMY® DIRECTORATE AWARD

Network Honored by Academy as Germany Commemorates Federal Republic’s 60th Anniversary

 

New York, July 9, 2009 – Prof. Markus Schächter, Director General of German public-service broadcaster ZDF, one of Europe’s largest and most respected broadcasters, will be the 2009 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 Prof. Schächter at the 37th International Emmy® Awards on November 23rd, in New York City.
 
Prof. Schächter was selected by the Awards Committee both because of his outstanding leadership of ZDF for the last 7 years and to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the founding of The Federal Republic of Germany. Over the last 25 years, he has been instrumental in positioning ZDF as a leader both in the highly competitive German television market and throughout the world. He also provided leadership for ZDF’s participation in the digital transformation. The International Emmy® Directorate Award is given to organizations or individuals for their outstanding contributions, over a period of time, to the arts and sciences of international television.
 
“ZDF’s global reputation as a provider of high-quality television is testimony to Markus Schächter’s vision for his channel – to combine excellence in programming with audience success,” said Bruce L. Paisner. “As Germany celebrates this 60th Anniversary, The International Academy is pleased to be recognizing his outstanding achievements with our 2009 Directorate Award.”
 
ZDF Director General Markus Schächter said in Mainz, Germany, “It is a great honor to receive this reknowned international award. I take it as a recognition of the success that we have achieved in the national as well as the international marketplace. The Directorate Award is a reward for the performance of the ZDF employees who work with dedication and expertise every day to maintain ZDF as one of the leading national and international players.”

Past recipients of the International Emmy® Directorate Award include:
Liu Changle, Founding Chairman & CEO, Phoenix Satellite Television, in 2008; Patrick Le Lay, Chairman & CEO, TF1, in 2007; Central European Media Enterprises (CME) and its Founder & 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 Prof. Markus Schächter and ZDF
Prof. Schächter’s career at ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen) spans over 25 years, with a succession of key roles in production, programming and management. He was elected Director General by ZDF’s governing body, The Television Council, in 2002 and has since overseen the group’s operations which include the main channel, as well as cable and satellite channels 3sat, ARTE, Kinderkanal and PHOENIX and digital bouquet ZDF vision. Especially strong in news and current affairs, documentaries and TV-Movies, ZDF is a leader in the highly competitive German TV market and one of the world’s most important providers of factual programming.
 
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.

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