Bruce Paisner Reelected President of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

NEW YORK -- Bruce L. Paisner was re-elected today as President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for a second two-year term beginning in January 2006. He re-appointed Fred M. Cohen to serve with him as Chairman. Paisner is also President of Hearst Entertainment, Inc. and a Vice President of The Hearst Corporation.

During the last two years, the International Academy has expanded considerably, adding several hundred new members, creating new Best Actor/Best Actress Emmys, launching an interactive Emmy competition in partnership with Reed Midem, forming a joint venture with the Council on Foreign Relations to examine important international news topics, and launching the World Television Festival in New York.

Last June, the Academy organized International Academy Day in Mexico, the first time a major Academy event has been held outside the U.S. International Academy Day consisted of panels, meetings and presentations about subjects of particular interest to the Academy's members in the region and a broader audience of other Latin American television professionals. Sari Bermudez, Mexico's Minister of Culture, gave the keynote speech. The next International Academy Day is being planned for next year in China.

Highlights of major initiatives include:

--The International Interactive Emmy Awards at MIPTV 2006. The Best Interactive Program, Channel and Service Awards as well as a Pioneer Prize, recognizing a professional in the interactive field for his/her innovative contribution, will be presented for the first time at a Black tie event on April 5, 2006 in Cannes, France.

--The "Views from the Foreign Newsroom" panel series co-sponsored by the International Academy in association with the Council on Foreign Relations. In 2005, "Perspectives from the Middle-East" featured leading international journalists from Al-Jazeera, CNN and Al-Arabiya.

--The World Television Festival to be held Saturday & Sunday, November 19 and 20 at the Sofitel Hotel in New York will feature screenings, panels and presentations of the best television in the world as well as sponsored special events.

As president of Hearst Entertainment, Paisner's responsibilities include oversight of Hearst's reality programming and distribution of its TV movie library. Hearst produces nearly 100 hours per year of reality programming, primarily for the major cable networks including "Modern Marvels" on The History Channel; and "Tabloid Wars," a new series for Bravo. Paisner is also involved in Hearst's interests in U.S. and international cable television networks, television production, newspaper syndication, and merchandise licensing.

Paisner joined Hearst in 1981 as president of King Features Entertainment, responsible for marketing Hearst's library of animated cartoons and acquiring distribution rights to TV movies. He was named a vice president of The Hearst Corporation in 1989. From 1973-1980, Paisner was president and chief executive officer of Time-Life Films, Inc. and a vice president of Time Incorporated. He served as assistant to the chairman of the board and, in 1970, became general manager of Time-Life Video.

He began his media career in 1964 as a correspondent for Life magazine in New York and Washington, D.C. After attending law school, he rejoined Time Inc. in 1968. Paisner serves on the boards of directors of Lifetime Entertainment Services, A&E Network, The History Channel, Cosmopolitan Channel Iberia and Cosmopolitan Channel Latin America. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the largest organization of global broadcasters, with over 500 members from nearly 70 countries and over 400 companies. It was chartered in 1969 with a mission to honor and encourage excellence in television programming outside the United States by presenting the International Emmy Award. The International TV Academy is a unique, independent organization including the world's top television and media leaders who come together to exchange ideas, discuss common issues, and promote new strategies for the future development of quality global television programming.

Hearst Entertainment & Syndication is a division of The Hearst Corporation (www.hearst.com), one of the nation's largest diversified communications companies. Its major interests include magazine, newspaper and business publishing, cable networks, television and radio broadcasting, Internet businesses, television production, newspaper features distribution, and real estate.