HOLLYWOOD RADIO AND TELEVISION SOCIETY (HRTS) TO HONOR BELA BAJARIA AT ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY GALA EVENT DECEMBER 7
The Gala to Benefit the Newly Formed HRTS Foundation
Los Angeles, CA (October 3, 2022) The Hollywood Radio and Television Society is pleased to announce it will honor Bela Bajaria, Head of Global TV at Netflix, at its 75th Anniversary Gala that benefits the newly-formed HRTS Foundation. The Gala will be held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on the evening of December 7, gathering members of the entertainment community working at all career levels. HRTS will unveil additional details and presenters in the coming months. For information on becoming a sponsor or purchasing tables or tickets, please visit: https://hrts.org/tickets-sponsorships/
“We are delighted to highlight Bela’s work and the impact she’s had on the industry and on HRTS. She’s broken down barriers and created meaningful pathways for increased diversity and representation in front of and behind the camera,” said Odetta Watkins, HRTS Board President, HRTS Foundation Board Member and Head of Drama Series, Amazon Studios. “She consistently utilizes her success to open doors for the next generation of leaders.”
“Bela is an inspiring leader and a true force within the industry,” said Philippe Maigret, President of The HRTS Foundation, HRTS Board Member and President, ITV Studios America.
“The Gala represents the culmination of plans and initiatives throughout 2022 that mark the next chapter of HRTS, with an increased focus on mentorship, education, and community support for all levels of individuals working in entertainment,” said Melissa Grego, CEO of HRTS and Chairperson of The HRTS Foundation. “We are so grateful to Bela for her many contributions to HRTS as we continue to grow our impact, and can’t wait to celebrate with her.”
The HRTS Foundation, developed by the HRTS Board of Directors, is a stand-alone 501(c)(3) charitable organization that expands upon the mission and legacy of the industry’s leading networking, education and mentorship organization. The Foundation’s first initiative is The HRTS Foundation Fellowship Program, which matches HRTS Fellows with an HRTS executive “sponsor.” The sponsor will provide support, guidance and introductions to people, companies and inner workings of the TV and entertainment industry. Fellows will also receive a guaranteed spot in the HRTS Mentorship Program and membership along with other opportunities to benefit from the organization. The inaugural sponsors of The HRTS Foundation include Lionsgate, Netflix, Universal Studio Group and Weintraub Tobin. The HRTS Foundation will announce and introduce the first class of HRTS Fellows at The Gala. Applications for The HRTS Fellowship Program will be accepted until October 15, 2022 on the HRTS website at https://hrts.org/the-hrts-fellowship-program/.
Bela Bajaria was named Head of Global TV for Netflix in 2020, overseeing all scripted and unscripted series around the world. Bajaria leads the team for all of television, responsible for hit series including Squid Game, Bridgerton, The Witcher, La Casa De Papel, Never Have I Ever, Cobra Kai, Lupin and Indian Matchmaking.
Prior to joining Netflix in 2016, Bajaria was President of Universal Television, where she made history as the first woman of color to oversee a studio. Earlier, she held two key posts simultaneously: Senior Vice President, Cable Programming for CBS TV Studios, and Senior Vice President of Movies and Miniseries for CBS Network.
Bajaria was the first person of color to serve as President of HRTS and was the second woman to serve in the role in the then 67-year history of the organization. She has been honored by THR’s Women in Entertainment list, Variety’s LA Women’s Impact Report, named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2022 and named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in 2020 and 2021. She currently serves on the HRTS Board of Directors, LA Board of Governors for the Paley Center, the Board of LA’s Saban Community Clinic and the Board of Trustees for Meridian International Center. Bajaria has been honored by the “I Have a Dream” Foundation of LA, The March of Dimes Foundation and received the Industry Leadership Award from the LA Indian Film Festival.
For more information on the Foundation, please go to hrts.org/the-hrts-foundation/
About HRTS
Led by a Board of Directors comprising TV and entertainment’s most distinguished leaders, Hollywood Radio & Television Society is the premier networking, education and mentorship association in the industry. Our membership community includes 60+ Corporate Members and 2100+ individual members, representing the top companies across the landscape. We build on HRTS’ rich, 75-year tradition of providing an unparalleled forum for conversation and community through events, our best-in-class mentorship program and other initiatives for professionals at all career stages — from student to C-suite — in Los Angeles, NYC and around the world.