MUMBAI: Reed MIDEM has named Disney/ABC Television Group (DATG) president and Disney Media Networks co-chair Anne Sweeney as the MIPCOM 2011 Personality of the Year, making her the first woman ever to receive the accolade. Sweeney will accept the award on 5 October, during a gala dinner for industry executives. The 27th annual MIPCOM, the world’s entertainment content market, will be held on 3-6 October 2011 at the Palais des Festivals, in Cannes, France.
Sweeney, who is responsible for The Walt Disney Company’s entertainment and news television properties globally, will give a keynote address on 5 October, as part of MIPCOM’s Media Mastermind series of presentations.
“We are extremely pleased to honour Anne Sweeney as our MIPCOM 2011 Personality of the Year in recognition of her unparalleled contributions to the global entertainment industry. Of special note is her contribution to the expansion of Disney’s portfolio of channels, brands and programming worldwide, as well as her visionary leadership in fostering content on emerging digital platforms,” said Reed MIDEM CEO Paul Zilk.
“I am so very honored to be the recipient of MIPCOM’s 2011 ‘Personality of the Year.’ However the accomplishments which have led to this honor are not mine alone. They are the result of the tireless efforts of so very many talented colleagues. This event will allow me to acknowledge and celebrate everyone on the Disney/ABC Television Group and Disney Media Distribution teams, who not only create some of the most acclaimed and popular programming around the globe, but also continually develop new, innovative distribution methods that meet the ever-evolving needs of consumers,” said Sweeney.
In 2005, Sweeney led the industry into the digital era when the Disney/ABC Television Group became the first media company to put television content on new platforms. The Group was the first to leverage iTunes, the first to introduce an ad-supported full episode player online and the first to deliver a network video application for the iPad. Internationally, the division was responsible in recent years for groundbreaking, advertising-supported VOD deals for network series with a variety of distributors. All were first-ever deals of their kind in their respective markets and helped establish DATG as a leading innovator in the global distribution marketplace.
