Warner Bros. Discovery International president Gerhard Zeiler to give opening keynote at MIPCOM CANNES

Mumbai: MIPCOM CANNES has announced that Warner Bros. Discovery International president Gerhard Zeiler, will give the opening keynote in Cannes at the 39th edition of the International Co-Production & Entertainment Content Market (16-19 Oct). The keynote will be presented as a fireside chat in the Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes on Monday 16 October at 11.15.  

A revered and accomplished executive on the international stage, Zeiler’s keynote comes almost 20 years after being honoured as MIPCOM’s Personality of the Year in 2004 when CEO of RTL Group.

Zeiler is expected to share insight into Warner Bros. Discovery’s transformation post-merger as well as lay out the company’s worldwide content and streaming strategy. Zeiler’s responsibilities for Warner Bros. Discovery spans strategic oversight of brands and joint responsibility for direct-to-consumer activity (including streaming service Max) across more than 220 markets; he is also responsible for local theatrical production, acquisitions, and country and region-specific networks and businesses in Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. Originally appointed to the role in 2020, Zeiler’s remit extended to Discovery Inc. 's footprint in April 2022 following the close of the Discovery/WarnerMedia merger.

“We could not have a more relevant creative leader to be our opening Media Mastermind Keynote,” said Lucy Smith, Director of MIPCOM CANNES. “…with the industry at a pivotal point and global companies re-inventing for a new era. His presence at MIPCOM CANNES is a rare opportunity for entertainment execs to go inside the international strategy at the heart of one of the world’s biggest and fastest-evolving studios. A valued and hugely respected contributor to the market over several decades, his perspective on weathering such storms will be invaluable. We look forward to welcoming Gerhard Zeiler warmly to the Croisette in October.”  

Zieler said, “Our industry is facing heightened disruption and undergoing a process of transformation. These are times of change but it’s also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to architect the media ecosystem for the next generation. I’m looking forward to speaking at MIPCOM about how WBD is putting storytelling first and refining and innovating to drive agility and flexibility to emerge in an even stronger position.”

More than 250 exhibitors from over 40 countries are confirmed to date for MIPCOM CANNES - the mother of all entertainment content markets – in 2023. Riviera exhibition halls and outdoor Croisette beach exhibition areas are sold out with an initial exhibitor line-up comprising major studios, production and distribution groups (including All3Media International, Amazon MGM Studios Distribution, Banijay Rights, BETA Film, FOX Entertainment Global, NBCUniversal International, Paramount Global Content Distribution, Federation Studios, France tv distribution, Fremantle, Global Screen, ITV Studios, The Mediapro Studio, Mediawan, Movistar+, Red Arrow Studios International, STUDIOCANAL, The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Discovery and ZDF Studios amongst many others).

MIPJUNIOR also returns to the JW Marriott in the weekend heading into MIPCOM CANNES (13-15 Oct) with a brand-new half-day pre-opening programme beginning at 14.00 on Friday (13 Oct).

The week-long MIPCOM CANNES conference programme helps define the TV industry year with keynotes from leading global players and thought-leaders, screenings of highly anticipated series and exclusive research presentations.

Conference programme schedule: here.