MIPTV to Honor Fox’s Marion Edwards, Germany’s Herbert Kloiber

SYDNEY – MIPTV will honor four top international TV executives next month.

They will be presented with the Medaille d’Honneur (Medal of Honor) at the TV market in Cannes on April 9.

The awards were created last year to mark the 50th anniversary of MIPTV, the global market and conference for television broadcasters, producers, executives and talent. They honor individuals who have made a lasting contribution to the international television industry.

This year’s honorees are Marion Edwards, president of International Television, 20th Century Fox Television Distribution, USA; Herbert G. Kloiber, chairman and owner of Tele Munchen Group, Germany; Konstantin Ernst, CEO, Channel One, Russia; and Tim Worner, CEO of Australia’s Seven West Media, the parent company of broadcaster Seven Network.

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In announcing the awards, MIP organizers said that Worner has been recognized for his career achievements and leadership at Australia’s leading listed multi-platform media business. Seven is the largest, and top-rated TV network in Australia and has emerged in recent years as one the biggest creators of Australia content and formats. Among them are current ratings blockbuster and reality series My Kitchen Rules and dramas A Place to Call Home and Winners & Losers.

“Tim Worner is one of the most respected chief executives in the global TV industry and for many years has been an icon of the Australian presence at MIPTV and MIPCOM. His contribution to developing and promoting compelling and successful Australian content to international screens underscores his impressive career pedigree,” said Laurine Garaude, director of Reed MIDEM’s Television division.

Said Worner: “I am truly honored to receive the MIPTV Medaille d’Honneur. This award recognizes not only the great people and great ideas in our company but also the extraordinarily competitive and creative Australian television industry.”

The other Medal of Honor winners are equally acclaimed in the international TV business. Herbert Kloiber, who just last month was named Chevalier of the Legion of Honor of France, is one of the world’s leading TV rights licensers and controls numerous broadcasting and production assets in German-speaking Europe. As head of Channel One in Russia, Konstantin Ernst has overseen phenomenal growth in the region while maintaining the network’s dominant position.

As head of Fox’s international TV operations, Edwards is one of the most powerful people in the global TV business and responsible for bringing small screen juggernauts such as Sleepy Hollow and the series reboot 24: Live Another Day to international audiences.