NEW YORK: The International Television Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which hosts the annual Emmy Awards, has invited and appointed Ronnie Screwvala CEO of United Television (UTV) onto its Board of Directors.
UTV, the media conglomerate promoted by him, has been a major player in the diverse fields of television, animation, motion picture and international co-productions. The company has attracted the blue chip of the investment community including Fox and News Corp as well as Warburg Pincus and more recently CDPQ of Canada. UTV has been involved in co-productions with US media majors. Over thirty per cent of UTV's client list is international and North American. The company, which is a major player in Indian television, has a presence in most of the major television markets.
UTV was founded in 1990 and it has grown into a pan Asian multi media company within a span of just ten years. Screwvala pioneered India's very first cable TV operation way back in June 1981 when there was no multi-channel environment. This scenario of first's was repeated when satellite channels entered India. Long before anyone in Asia thought it economically feasible or logistically probably, Ronnie founded United Studios (USL) South Asia's premier studio and animation complex, which has put India on the global map as a provider of world class graphics and animation
The International Emmy Awards honours the special skills and unique talents of companies who create TV programmes worldwide. India is fast becoming a major attraction for international majors, especially Hollywood, and Ronnie's appointment is a further endorsement to that.