Gerhard Zeiler, the president of international at Warner Bros. Discovery, has been announced as the opening keynote speaker for this year’s MIPCOM international television trade fair in Cannes. The event is scheduled to take place from October 16th to October 19th.
Zeiler, a veteran European media executive, previously received recognition at the conference in 2004 when he was the CEO of German media powerhouse RTL Group and was named MIPCOM’s personality of the year.
In his keynote address, Zeiler is expected to discuss how Warner Bros. Discovery has navigated its post-merger transformation and offer insights into the company’s global content and streaming strategy. Since taking on the role of president of international at WB in 2020, Zeiler’s responsibilities have expanded to include Discovery Inc. following the completion of the merger between Discovery and WarnerMedia in April 2022. He now has strategic oversight for Warner Bros. Discovery’s brands and shares responsibility for the company’s direct-to-consumer operations, including the streaming service Max, in over 220 international markets. Additionally, Zeiler oversees the company’s local theatrical productions and acquisitions, as well as country and region-specific networks and businesses across Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific regions.
Zeiler expressed his excitement about speaking at MIPCOM and emphasized the current period of transformation and disruption in the industry. He sees this moment as an opportunity to shape the media ecosystem for the next generation and plans to discuss how Warner Bros. Discovery is prioritizing storytelling, refining its approach, and driving agility and flexibility to emerge in a stronger position.
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Lucy Smith, the director of MIPCOM, highlighted the significance of Zeiler’s presence at the event, stating that with the industry going through a pivotal point and global companies reinventing themselves for a new era, Zeiler’s perspective as a creative leader will be invaluable. Smith also underscored Zeiler’s rare opportunity to share insights into the international strategy of one of the world’s largest and fastest-evolving studios.
MIPCOM 2023 is expected to attract key players from the global television industry to Cannes. Many major studios and independent giants, including Warner Bros. Discovery, Disney, Paramount Global Content Distribution, NBCUniversal International, Amazon MGM Studios Distribution, Banijay Rights, Fremantle, Fox Entertainment Global, Studiocanal, and ITV Studios, have already confirmed their attendance.
This year’s MIPCOM promises to be an essential platform for industry professionals to gather, network, and discuss the latest developments in the television landscape. With Gerhard Zeiler leading the opening keynote and sharing his extensive experience and insights, attendees can expect to gain valuable knowledge and guidance on navigating the evolving media landscape successfully. By focusing on storytelling, innovation, and adaptability, companies are better equipped to weather the storms of disruption and emerge stronger in this rapidly changing industry. MIPCOM provides an invaluable opportunity for executives to learn from industry leaders, exchange ideas, and forge new partnerships, ultimately driving the future of television.
