PRESS RELEASE: Disney/ABC's Anne Sweeney Named MIPCOM 2011 Personality of the Year

Disney/ABC Television Group president Anne Sweeney has been named Mipcom 2011's Personality of the Year by event organizer Reed Midem.

Sweeney, who is also Disney Media Networks co-chair, becomes the first woman to receive the accolade, which will be presented at an industry gala in Cannes on Wednesday October 5. She will also give a Media Mastermind keynote address.

Read the press release below:

Anne Sweeney Named MIPCOM 2011 Personality of the Year

Marks the First Time a Female Media Executive Has Been Recipient of the Honor

Disney/ABC Television Group President to Give Keynote Address

3-6 October 2011, Palais des Festivals, Cannes

PARIS, July 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Reed MIDEM has named Anne Sweeney, Disney/ABC Television Group (DATG) President and Disney Media Networks Co-chair, MIPCOM 2011 Personality of the Year, making her the first woman ever to receive the accolade. She will accept the award on Wednesday 5 October, during a gala dinner for industry executives. The 27th annual MIPCOM, the world's entertainment content market, will be held on 3-6 October 2011 at the Palais des Festivals, in Cannes, France.

Anne Sweeney will give a keynote address on Wednesday 5 October, as part of MIPCOM's Media Mastermind series of presentations.

Named the 'Most Powerful Woman in Entertainment' by The Hollywood Reporter, one of the '50 Most Powerful Women in Business' by Fortune and one of 'The World's 100 Most Powerful Women' by Forbes, Anne Sweeney is responsible for The Walt Disney Company's entertainment and news television properties globally.

"We are extremely pleased to honor Anne Sweeney as our MIPCOM 2011 Personality of the Year in recognition of her unparalleled contributions to the global entertainment industry," said Paul Zilk, Chief Executive of Reed MIDEM. "Of special note is her contribution to the expansion of Disney's portfolio of channels, brands and programming worldwide, as well as her visionary leadership in fostering content on emerging digital platforms."

"I am so very honored to be the recipient of MIPCOM's 2011 'Personality of the Year,' said Anne Sweeney. "However the accomplishments which have led to this honor are not mine alone. They are the result of the tireless efforts of so very many talented colleagues. This event will allow me to acknowledge and celebrate everyone on the Disney/ABC Television Group and Disney Media Distribution teams, who not only create some of the most acclaimed and popular programming around the globe, but also continually develop new, innovative distribution methods that meet the ever-evolving needs of consumers."

In 2005, Anne Sweeney led the industry into the digital era when the Disney/ABC Television Group became the first media company to put television content on new platforms. The Group was the first to leverage iTunes, the first to introduce an ad-supported full episode player online and the first to deliver a network video application for the revolutionary iPad. Internationally, the division was responsible in recent years for groundbreaking, advertising-supported VOD deals for network series with a variety of distributors. All were first-ever deals of their kind in their respective markets and helped establish DATG as a leading innovator in the global distribution marketplace.

Anne Sweeney joined the Walt Disney Company in February 1996 as President of Disney Channel and Executive Vice President of Disney/ABC Cable Networks. Previously, she was Chairman and CEO of FX Networks since 1993. Before joining Fox, she spent 12 years at Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite, in various executive positions.

Anne Sweeney is active in organizations both within and outside the television industry and is a board member of A&E Television Networks, the Paley Center for Media, the American Institute and the Special Olympics.