MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TELEVISION CEO’S CONFIRMED TO SPEAK AT SCREEN FOREVER CONFERENCE

22 September 2016: The chief executives of five of ’s television networks – Michelle Guthrie, Managing Director, ABC; Michael Ebeid, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, SBS; Peter Tonagh, Chief Executive Officer, Foxtel; Hugh Marks, Chief Executive Officer, Nine Entertainment; and Tim Worner, Chief Executive Officer, Seven West Media; are confirmed to speak at Australia’s premier screen industry conference, SCREEN FOREVER 2016, in a series of one-off In Conversation sessions.

“We’re delighted to bring together these powerful heads of Australia’s broadcasters to SCREEN FOREVER. This is an unrivalled opportunity to hear direct from the CEOs themselves – the leaders of the major investors, collaborators, and underwriters of and in our production industry,” said Matthew Deaner, CEO, Screen Producers Australia.

“Last Friday, Australian television turned sixty years old, an anniversary that allows us to look to the past as we discuss the future of television and the industry. Now in its 31st year, SCREEN FOREVER provides a landmark platform in bringing the industry together,” said Deaner. “The networks’ participation offers guests a comprehensive overview of the contemporary landscape, examining the goals, motives and forecasts for each broadcaster,” said Deaner.

Michelle Guthrie has been the Managing Director of Australian Broadcasting Corporation since May 2016 following a global career as a leading executive in the media industry in Australia, the UK, Asia and the US. In the early 1990s Guthrie worked in before joining News International in London to develop global pay TV businesses, including BSkyB. She returned to in 1998 as Director of Legal and Business Development at the fledgling Foxtel network before relocating to in 2000 for a series of senior roles with Star TV in Asia, developing brands in China, and Indonesia and becoming CEO in 2003. She left News Corp in 2007 and in 2011 was appointed as Google’s Managing Director for Agencies.

Tim Worner is the CEO at Seven West Media. The company includes the television network Seven, Pacific Magazines, The West Australian, the online joint venture Yahoo!7 and a string of regional radio stations. Worner joined the Seven Network in 1995. Since then his roles have included Head of Program Development, Head of Sport and Head of Infotainment. In 2003, he was appointed Director of Programming and Production where he was responsible for the programming of all three Seven channels (Seven, 7TWO and 7mate) and the network’s rapidly expanding production slate. Nine years later Tim was appointed CEO of the Seven Network and in July 2013 became CEO of Seven West Media.

Hugh Marks was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Nine Entertainment Co. in November 2015. A veteran of the Media and Production industry, he has almost twenty years’ experience as a senior executive in content production and broadcasting in Australia and overseas. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Marks had been an independent, non-executive director since February 2013, working with the Nine Network as legal counsel and as director of Nine Films & Television for seven years. Previously, he was Chief Executive Officer of the Southern Star Group, owned talent management agency RGM Artists and had ownership and management interests in a number of independent companies producing content for broadcast and pay TV. Before joining the Nine Entertainment Board, Marks was an authority member for the Australian Communications and Media Authority for over two years.

Michael Ebeid has been Managing Director of SBS for five years, since June 2011. He has nearly 30 years’ experience in senior management and executive roles in technology, telecommunications and media. Under Ebeid’s leadership, SBS has launched NITV and Food Network free-to-air, struck an exclusive deal with VICE, long-term rights agreements for the FIFA World Cup and Tour de France and deals for the English Premier League and A-League. Prior to SBS, Ebeid was Executive Director of Corporate Strategy and Marketing at the ABC for three years, following ten years as Commercial Operations Director at Optus Communications.

Peter Tonagh was appointed Chief Executive Officer at Foxtel Management in March 2016, following positions at Foxtel serving as Chief Operating Officer from 2011-2013, and Chief Financial Officer from 2004-2013. Prior to this, Tonagh was Chief Operating Officer of News Corp Australia from 2013-2015, and Chief Executive Officer from December 2015 until his appointment at Foxtel.

The 'In Conversation sessions are being hosted by Darren Davidson, Media Editor of The Australian and Virginia Trioli, ABC News Breakfast host.

In addition, all broadcasters including the Ten Network will have representatives participating in SCREEN FOREVER’S Domestic Partnerships Market at key events including the Industry Roundtables (the conference forum for shared meetings and conversations) and Ready Steady Pitch (the TV Pitching Market / speed-dating event that provides opportunities for pitching to television network executives) as well as the Meet The Buyer series, where Commissioning Editors, Programmers, and Controllers provide insights into their schedules, outline their production priorities and explain how Australian producers can best work with them.

SCREEN FOREVER 15 to 17 November 2016. Crown Conference Centre, Melbourne Australia. Registrations now open at www.screenforever.org.au @Screen_Producer / #SCREENFOREVER

- ends - Media enquiries: Miranda Brown – Miranda Brown Publicity | ph: 03 9419 0931 mob: 0411 568 781 | [email protected]