MUMBAI: Anne Sweeney, who is responsible for all of The Walt Disney Company’s non-sports, cable and satellite and broadcast properties globally including the ABC Television Network, Touchstone Television and the Disney ABC Cable Networks Group, will kick off this year’s annual Promax&BDA conference.

The conference is scheduled to be held in New York from 21-23 June, 2005.

Anne Sweeney

The announcement was made by Promax&BDA CEO Jim Chabin.

Named one of the “50 Most Powerful Women In Business” by Fortune and one of “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” by Forbes, Sweeney is co-chairman of Media Networks, The Walt Disney Company and president of Disney-ABC Television Group.

Sweeney gave the opening address on 29 March, officially opening the 50th annual Promax&BDA conference, which attracts the world’s top marketing, design and promotional executives.

George W Bodenheimer

Following her address, Sweeney will present the Television Century Award to ESPN, Inc. president and ABC Sports chairman George W Bodenheimer.

Bodenheimer, who first joined ESPN as a sales and marketing executive more than 25 years ago is credited for playing an instrumental role in the development of ESPN into one of the world’s premier brands with more than 40 business entities and counting. In his dual role as chairman of ABC Sports, Bodenheimer is also in charge of growing the network’s tradition of presenting premier sports programming including Monday Night Football as well as the NBA Finals, Stanley Cup playoffs, the BCS Championship, World Cup Soccer, The British Open, and US and World Figure Skating Championships, among other marquee sporting events.

Pat Mitchell

Also to be honored with Television Century Awards during the Promax&BDA conference are Public Broadcasting Service president and CEO Pat Mitchell and television journalist Bill Moyers.

Under Mitchell’s leadership PBS has energised and rejuvenated its programming and strengthened its commitment to serve the American public. Mitchell brings to the post a distinguished background as a former network correspondent, award-winning producer television executive and college-level education.

After spending a few years as the publisher of Newsday, Moyers embarked on a 35-year career of producing hundreds of hours of television interviews for various series broadcast primarily on PBS. Over the years, Moyers earned more than 30 Emmy awards and 10 Peabody awards for his work creating shows like A Walk Through the 20th Century, The Power of Myth (with Joseph Campbell), A World of Ideas and Healing and the Mind.

Mitchell and Moyers will receive their Television Century Awards on 23 June during a session hosted by PBS filmmaker Ken Burns.

"We are thrilled with the opportunity to hear from Anne Sweeney, and delighted that she could be the one to present George Bodenheimer with the prestigious Television Century Award. And it is equally fitting that Ken Burns present Pat Mitchell and Bill Moyers with their Television Century Awards. Each of these individuals contributed to the success of their respective networks while also making an indelible impact on the landscape of television, each in a very unique way. Their stories and experiences inspire, enlighten and empower our membership and we are deeply honored by their participation and support," said Chabin.

As previously announced, other invited speakers at this year’s Promax&BDA Conference include lifestyle, media and branding icon Martha Stewart; TV host and commentator Ron Reagan; author/lawyer/activist Robert F Kennedy, Jr.; NBC Universal president Jeff Zucker; PBS filmmaker Ken Burns; President HBO Documentary and Family Shelia Nevins; Selected Master Planner of the World Trade Center Daniel Libeskind; David Rockwell of the Rockwell Group Design; Author/Mythologist Jean Houston and Deepak Chopra, the renowned physician, author and world leader in the field of mind-body medicine, among other notables.

Promax&BDA is a global, non-profit association dedicated to advancing the role and effectiveness of promotion, marketing and broadcast design professionals in the electronic media.