Le Lay to Receive International Emmy Directorate Award

CANNES, April 16: At a press conference in Cannes today, The International Academy of Arts & Sciences announced that TF1 chief Patrick Le Lay will receive this year’s International Emmy Directorate Award, and that the 2008 International Academy Day will take place in Brazil, in association with TV Globo.

Le Lay is currently chairman and CEO of the market-leading French broadcaster (he is set to give up the CEO role to Nonce Paolini, pending approval by the TF1 board this week.) He will receive the honor at the 35th International Emmy Awards on November 19 in New York City. The announcement was made today by Bruce Paisner, the president and CEO of the International Academy. “Under Patrick Le Lay’s watch, TF1 has become a powerful and diversified media company,” Paisner noted. “He has guided the growth of the TF1 brand from a traditional commercial television broadcaster to a multimedia organization that is a pioneer in many of the emerging new digital platforms. We are pleased to recognize his accomplishments with our 2007 Directorate Award.”

Past recipients of the Directorate Award include CME founder and chairman Ronald S. Lauder last year, ITV in 2005 and Dr. Herbert Kloiber, the MD of Tele-München Group in 2004.

Paisner also announced plans for the International Academy Day, which is moving to Brazil for its third annual event, from May 6 to 9, 2008. The organization began the initiative in Mexico in 2005, and then held it in Beijing last year. Set for Rio de Janeiro, the 2008 International Academy Day will be hosted and organized by TV Globo and Roberto Irineu Marinho, the president of TV Globo’s parent company. The conference program will explore the South American television industry with a slate of panels and keynotes. Participants will include International Academy members, government officials and TV executives and producers from the region. “We are looking forward to using the International Academy’s convening power to shine the spotlight on South America’s vibrant television industry,” Paisner said. “As the region’s premier broadcaster and producer, TV Globo is the perfect partner to host this event and introduce international television professionals in attendance to the various available business opportunities.”

Today’s press conference also saw the presentation of medals to the nominess for this year’s International Interactive Emmy Award, which will be presented here in Cannes this week at a gala ceremony.