MUMBAI: The television trade event for children‘s content MipJunior, organised by Reed Midem and taking place from 6-7 October in Cannes, will have a keynote address by Turner Broadcasting System Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media division president, COO Stuart Snyder.

Known as the driving force behind Turner Broadcasting‘s Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Adult Swim, and celebrating Cartoon Network‘s 20th Birthday, Snyder will speak at MIPJunior on the state of the kids business today and moving forward. He will also feature examples from the network‘s experiences and evolution over the past 20 years.

Reed Midem director of the television division Laurine Garaude said, "We‘re delighted to welcome Stuart Snyder at MIPJunior this year, which will mark both Cartoon Network and MIPJunior‘s 20th anniversaries. Our new Digital Kids programme, alongside the Co-production Exchange and the Licensing Marketplace, will reinforce MIPJunior‘s role as the world‘s leading event for kids programming, with more than 1,000 kids‘ programmes presented this year."

Snyder said, "I look forward to connecting with many of our international partners and discussing our ever-changing business and its future."

MUMBAI: International television executive Gerhard Zeiler will join Turner Broadcasting System International, the company?s global portfolio of branded television networks and related businesses, as president.

Prior to this, Zeiler served as the CEO of RTL Group, a division of Bertelsmann AG and Europe?s largest television production and broadcast company.

In his new role, Zeiler will have executive oversight for all entertainment and kids networks and media services offered outside of North America; the distribution and commercial operations of CNN?s international services; all of Turner Broadcasting?s international joint ventures; and all licensing and merchandising activity.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. chairman and CEO Phil Kent said, ?We are delighted that Gerhard is joining us and look forward to the leadership, perspective and wealth of international television experience he will bring to one of the most successful and most strategically important areas of our company. His programming success; entrepreneurial experience within a big company; ability to run multiple lines of business; deep understanding of the digital landscape and opportunity; relationships across the media landscape; and passion for the television business are a strong addition to our executive committee and the company overall. We all look forward to working with him to extend our core brands, target and develop new markets and build scale around the world.?

Zeiler, who will report to Kent, will lead a 3,800-person division across Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.

Zeiler said, ?As a longtime observer of Turner?s networks, I am keenly aware of their strength with consumers and the company?s profile in the international business community. This move is an opportunity to help grow some of the most valuable media brands in the world and develop new businesses alongside people I admire, like Phil and colleagues across Time Warner I have known and worked with over the years. This is an exciting time for our industry and for Turner Broadcasting, and I believe in our ability to lead and succeed.?

As RTL CEO, Zeiler was a member of the executive board of Bertelsmann AG. Under his leadership, RTL expanded its international television footprint across Western Europe and into Croatia; brought the hit shows American Idol and America?s Got Talent to the U.S. market; and grew its holdings to 41 channels and 34 radio stations in 10 countries.

He started his career as a journalist and later spokesman for two Austrian Chancellors. After serving as secretary general of Austria?s public broadcaster, ORF, he became CEO of Tele 5. He returned to his native Austria to lead the ORF as Director General. In 1998 Zeiler was named CEO of RTL.

Among his many professional honours, Zeiler is the first non-American to receive the prestigious Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award from NATPE. In 2004, he was named Media Personality of the Year at Mipcom in Cannes.

MUMBAI: Turner Broadcasting System chairman, CEO Phil Kent will be the opening morning keynote speaker at Natpe |Content First, the US based marketplace for buyers and sellers.

The announcement was made by Natpe president, CEO Rick Feldman. Natpe will take place at Miami Beach from 23 - 25 January 2011 at the Fontainebleau Resort, bringing together industry professionals from around the world to conduct business, identify new opportunities and discuss new models for the future.

Feldman said, "Phil has a broad portfolio. Because of all the content that Turner creates and distributes here and around the world, Phil is in a unique position from which to view the present and the future. He can speak to the creative and business challenges and can also speak to the vast global, multiplatform opportunities which are dramatically changing our business."

Kent oversees a portfolio of domestic and international news, entertainment and animation, young adult and kids networks and businesses including CNN/US, CNN International, CNN.com and HLN; TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies and truTV; Cartoon Network, and Adult Swim; and Turner Sports.