Elisabeth Murdoch Tapped for MIPTV Keynote

PARIS, January 29:
Elisabeth Murdoch, the CEO and chairman of independent British production
outfit Shine, will deliver the keynote speech at the 45th MIPTV
featuring MILIA on Monday, April 7.

In her speech, titled “Creativity
Without Borders,” Murdoch, the chair of the Shine Group of companies, will
explain why creativity forms the foundation of her beliefs and is the catalyst
to success.

Founded by Murdoch in
2001, Shine is responsible for such programming as the Emmy Award-winning Sugar
Rush, Masterchef Goes Large, The Story of Light Entertainment and the Greatest Britons Awards. At the end of 2006, Shine became the Shine
Group and the fourth largest producer in the U.K., following the acquisitions
of leading drama producers, Kudos, responsible for Spooks, Tsunami, Hustle and Life on Mars; entertainment producers Princess Productions,
whose slate includes The Friday Night Project and The Wright Stuff; and leading factual producers Firefly, whose
catalogue includes Anatomy for Beginners and Kill It, Cook It, Eat It.

Shine recently entered
into exclusive negotiations to acquire leading U.S. producer and distributor
Reveille, which is behind hit
series like Ugly Betty, The
Office: An American Workplace and American
Gladiators. The deal is expected
to be completed in February.

Before setting up Shine,
Murdoch was the managing director of BSkyB Networks, where she was responsible
for all of the networks non-sport output and the group's consumer marketing
division. Prior to arriving in the U.K., she owned and operated two NBC
affiliate stations in the U.S.

Murdoch commented: “I’m
delighted to be asked to give a keynote speech at MIPTV. Encouraging creativity
is central to the Shine Group’s expansion, both at home and internationally. It
is a precursor to commercial success for us all and has the power to transcend
all geographical and cultural borders. I’m looking forward to exploring how we
as an industry can create the right conditions for it to thrive.”

This year’s MIPTV
featuring MILIA will be held in Cannes from April 7-11. MIPTV featuring MILIA's
2008 conference program is entitled "Audiences on the move," with the
latest global developments in TV programming, advertising, broadband
distribution, telco-media convergence, mobile media and social networking to be
the main themes.

—By Irene Lew