HRTS, Television Academy Present Post-Upfronts Panel on June 23

Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Radio & Television Society (HRTS) and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences will present “State of the Industry” Newsmaker Luncheon on June 23 at the Beverly Hilton (9876 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills).

Panelists taking part in the discussion include Leigh Brecheen, partner, head of television, Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal LaViolette Feldman Schenkman & Goodman, LLP; Paul Lee, president, ABC Family; Steve Mosko, president, Sony Pictures Television; Chris Silbermann, president, International Creative Management; Kevin Reilly, president of entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company; Tim Spengler, president, Initiative USA; and Kim Masters, editor-at-large, The Hollywood Reporter to moderate.

“On the heels of the Upfronts, the return of the ‘State of the Industry’ Newsmaker Luncheon will give our panelists the opportunity to assess the current business climate in television and offer their perspectives on the upcoming season,” said Kevin Beggs, president, HRTS. “Additionally, we’re pleased to be working with the Television Academy once again and look forward to a lively discussion.”

“This is an exciting time to take stock of overall trends and changes occurring in television,” commented John Shaffner, Chairman and CEO of the Television Academy. “This panel will certainly offer insight into the challenges that are impacting networks, cable nets, production companies, and ultimately everyone involved in the television industry.”

A partner in the prestigious law firm since 1992, Leigh Brecheen represents top writers, directors and actors as well as leading television production companies, talent management organizations and multimedia companies. Among her clients are on camera talent Jenny McCarthy, John Oliver and Conan O’Brien, as well as writers, directors and producers Jon Cassar (24), Sherry Bilsing and Ellen Plummer (Friends, Joey), Martha Williamson (Touched by an Angel), Brent Friedman (Mortal Kombat II, Tomb Raider, Afterworld), Richard Thomas (Jerry Springer: The Opera), Rob Lieberman (Dead Zone), Bob Cooper (Medical Investigation) and Robert Lantos, Serendipity Point Films (Eastern Promises, Being Julia, The Statement, The Sweet Hereafter). In addition, she has handled cutting-edge deals for firm clients such as Imagine Television, Larry Gordon, Charlie Sheen and Lorenzo Di Bonaventura. On the company side, Brecheen’s clients include UK-based comedy management and production company Fremantle Media Enterprises (American Idol), Avalon Management (Jerry Springer: The Opera), Bayonne Entertainment (American's Best Dance Crew, Millionaire Matchmaker, Bridezilla), Hasbro Toys, and Evolution Entertainment.

Since joining ABC Family in 2004, Paul Lee serves as the network’s president and oversees its marketing, programming, operations and creative direction. Lee has spearheaded an ambitious slate of original and acquired programming that reflect today’s families and relationships, while maintaining Lee’s mission to represent “A New Kind of Family,” with relatable programming that is about family, not for family. Under Lee’s direction, the network has shown five years of consecutive growth, is ad supported cable’s #1 destination for original movies, has the #1 event on cable with “25 Days of Christmas” and launched the highest rated original series in the history of the network The Secret Life of the American Teenager in July 2009. Lee’s aggressive strategy in acquiring theatricals and producing original telefilms that connect with the Millennial audience has also been key to the network’s recent success. Understanding the significance of the web to the Millennial audience, Lee has pushed for creativity and innovation on the network’s websites. His efforts were realized at the 2007 Emmy® Awards, when ABC Family took home the prize for Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Television for the alternative reality game supporting the miniseries, Fallen. The following year (2008), Kyle XY Collective was nominated in the Emmy® category of Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media.

As president, Sony Pictures Television (SPT), Steve Mosko oversees all television operations for Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) worldwide. Under his aegis are programming and production, distribution, advertiser sales and channels. SPT is producing the most broadcast primetime series at the studio in a decade, has critically acclaimed high-profile programs on 13 different networks and syndication hits such as Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy! and The Dr. Oz Show. SPT is also a leader in local language scripted and unscripted productions around the world, and operates with 122 channel feeds available in more than 140 countries, reaching almost 438 million households worldwide.

Chris Silbermann is the president of International Creative Management (ICM), a talent and literary agency representing clients in the fields of publishing, motion pictures, television, music, theater, corporate branding and digital media. He assumed the post of president in August of 2007, a year after ICM’s acquisition of The Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann Agency, where he was a managing partner. In addition to overseeing the careers of many of the most successful clients of the agency in film, television, branding and music, Silbermann is involved in all aspects of the day-to-day management of the agency, which encompasses a team of more than 150 agents in Los Angeles, New York and London.

Kevin Reilly is president, entertainment for Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) and is responsible for driving the company’s creative vision, developing new strategies for growth and overseeing all primetime series and late-night program development for television’s No. 1 network. Throughout his career as a creative executive, Reilly has developed and supervised some of the decade’s most successful and critically celebrated TV series. Most recently, he launched critically-acclaimed new musical comedy phenomenon Glee – the #1 new comedy among adults 18-49 this season - and boosted FOX’s animation lineup with Seth MacFarlane newcomer The Cleveland Show, television’s #1 new comedy among teens. Prior to that, he introduced and oversaw popular hits such as Fringe and Lie to Me at FOX; as well as The Office, The Biggest Loser, Heroes, and multi-award winning Tina Fey sitcom 30 Rock, during his tenure as president of entertainment at NBC. Prior to that, Reilly served as president of entertainment for fledgling cable network FX, where he helped redefine the basic cable business by branding the network with an aggressive slate of original quality programming including, Nip/Tuck, Rescue Me and the Emmy award-winning series The Shield.

Tim Spengler oversees Initiative’s U.S. and Canadian operations. He is a member of the Initiative Worldwide leadership team, reporting to Worldwide CEO Richard Beaven, and has joint responsibility for MAGNA - Interpublic Group’s media intelligence and negotiating arm.

Under Spengler’s leadership, Initiative has received RECMA’s prestigious A-rating for the second year in a row and continues to be recognized as one of the most innovative media companies in the U.S. He has shepherded more than 15 new clients into the agency’s portfolio since 2009. Two of these client assignments include MillerCoors and Merck, where he leads their bespoke Interpublic offerings: “MC Media” and “Merck Performance Network”. In addition to new business success, he has led the agency’s digital transformation, adding capabilities in both buying and creative services through newly created entities such as Amphibian and H+I.

Kim Masters is an award-winning journalist who has recently been named editor-at-large for The Hollywood Reporter where she will assume her position this summer. Masters currently covers the entertainment business for The Daily Beast website. She is also the host of “The Business,” a weekly public radio program about the business of entertainment. Masters has contributed to various acclaimed publications including Vanity Fair, Washington Post's “Style” section and served as a contributing editor at Time. Her work has also appeared in The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times. She is the author of The Keys to the Kingdom: The Rise of Michael Eisner and the Fall of Everybody Else and co-author with Nancy Griffin of Hit & Run: How Jon Peters and Peter Guber Took Sony for a Ride in Hollywood.

The “State of the Industry” Newsmaker Luncheon is chaired by Kevin Beggs, president of television, Lionsgate Television and president, HRTS. VIP Reception opens at 11:30 a.m.; lunch and panel at 12:00 p.m. Tickets: HRTS Individual Member: $105/member; Table of 10: $1,050. For reservations or information on non-member tickets, please call (818) 789-1182 or visit www.HRTS.org, which will also stream the panel live.

The 2009-2010 HRTS Newsmaker Luncheon Season is sponsored in part by PricewaterhouseCoopers and The Lippin Group.

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Press Contacts:

HRTS:
Michael Samonte/Pam Golum
The Lippin Group/LA
323.965.1990

Academy of Television Arts & Sciences:
Chris DiIorio
PMK•BNC
310.854.4866