MIPTV Announces First Ever Medaille d'Honneur Recipients

PARIS, March 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- On the occasion of its 50^th anniversary, MIPTV will honour six renowned international television executives with the inaugural MIPTV Medaille d'Honneur awards, recognising outstanding contributions to the international television business and leading roles in developing the global TV community. Organised by Reed MIDEM, MIPTV will take place in Cannes, 8-11 April 2013.

The MIPTV 2013 Medaille d'Honneur awards will be presented by Reed MIDEM CEO, Paul Zilk, during the MIPTV 50th Anniversary Gala dinner on Wednesday 10 April, at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes.

The honorees to receive the MIPTV 2013 Medaille d'Honneur are:

Jan Mojto, CEO of Beta Film, one of the largest international licensors of film rights outside the U.S. A film producer and international distributor, Mojto was an executive at the Kirch-Group in charge of programming, the long-standing president of ACT (Association of Commercial Television in Europe) and the group's representative on several supervisory boards of leading networks throughout Europe until 2002. In 2003 he founded EOS Entertainment, the basis of today's group, which also comprises Beta Film, Beta Cinema, Kineos and Unitel Classica.

Armando Nunez, President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Global Distribution Group, oversees all of CBS Corporation's international and domestic distribution operations, including the licensing of programming from CBS Television Studios, CBS Television Distribution, CBS News, Showtime and one of the largest libraries of television programming worldwide across multiple media platforms. Nunez has expanded CBS's international presence with the creation of successful international channel ventures in the UK, EMEA, India and Australia as well as launched many successful local formats.

Armando Nunez Sr. is a renowned former executive at ITC/PolyGram and 20th Century Fox and an outstanding figure of the American entertainment industry. While he was Executive Vice President at ITC Entertainment, Nunez Sr. worked on many major productions such as "On Golden Pond," "Sophie's Choice," and "The Saint." He is also the father of Armando Nunez included above.

Masao Takiyama, Executive Officer, Senior Vice President, Television Networks, Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan (SPEJ), is the acclaimed producer and production designer of anime international hits "Tokyo Godfathers" and "Paprika". In 1998, Takiyama was highly influential in launching SPE's subsidiary company Animax, which became the first ever television network dedicated to anime. Masao Takiyama is the President and Representative Director of Animax, AXN Japan and Mystery Channel, each subsidiaries of SPEJ. He is also a member of Cool Japan Advisory Panel of Experts led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to develop creative industries in Japan and promote those industries abroad.

Nicolas de Tavernost is the Chairman of the Board of the French Groupe M6, comprising, around the flagship M6 channel, leading DTT channels W9 and 6 ter and pay TV channels Teva and Paris Premiere. In creating many brands, constantly innovating and diversifying activities (mobile, distance selling, football club), the Groupe M6 gained international recognition and is now considered one of the most dynamic audiovisual groups in Europe.

Sophie Turner Laing, Managing Director, Content, BSkyB, has overall responsibility for Sky's portfolio of entertainment and news channels including Sky 1, Sky News, Sky Arts, Sky Atlantic, Sky Living and Sky Movies, as well as Broadcast Operations, Network Planning and the Sky Creative Agency. In 1989, Sophie Turner Laing co-founded HIT Entertainment plc, one of the UK's most successful specialist distributors in children's programming. She is also Vice President of BAFTA and Governor of the National Film & TV School.

"With the inaugural MIPTV 2013 Medaille d'Honneur, we're delighted to honour six great industry personalities, highly recognised in their respective countries and by the international community, who have through their talent, leadership and passion, played a significant role in the global television industry," said Laurine Garaude, Director of Reed MIDEM's Television Division.

About MIPTV – Founded in 1963, MIPTV is the annual international market and creative forum for content on every screen. It brings professionals from the global TV and online content industry to Cannes, France, for four days of exhibition, conferences, screenings and networking. It is a key market for buying and selling content and early-stage content development. MIPCube constitutes a special programme exploring tech and creative approaches with the community re-inventing the content experience within MIPTV. The weekend prior to MIPTV, MIPDoc and MIPFormats constitute a two-day showcase for non-fiction and unscripted programming. In 2013, MIPTV celebrates its 50^th anniversary. www.miptv.com

SOURCE Reed MIDEM