ON OCTOBER 24, 2019
Featured panelists include Cris Abrego (CEO of Endemol Shine North America and Chairman, Endemol Shine Americas), Vernon Sanders (Co-Head of TV, Amazon Studios), Odetta Watkins (EVP, Current Programming Warner Bros. TV), Ryan O’Connell (Writer, Executive Producer and Star of “Special” on Netflix) Moderated by Karen Gray (EVP, Human Resources, A+E Networks Group)
HRTS and Easterseals Disability Services to Unveil New Member Guide to TV Industry Programs that Promote Inclusion, Equality, and Representation
September 18, 2019, LOS ANGELES, CA – Hollywood Radio and Television Society (HRTS), the entertainment industry’s premier information and networking forum, announced its upcoming Spotlight Breakfast: 2nd Annual How Inclusion, Representation, and Diversity Drive Innovation addressing what embracing inclusion, representation and diversity really means. The featured panelists include leaders in key roles across the TV and entertainment industry and include Cris Abrego, CEO of Endemol Shine North America and Chairman, Endemol Shine Americas; Vernon Sanders, Co-Head of TV, Amazon Studios; Odetta Watkins, EVP, Current Programming, Warner Bros. TV and member of the HRTS Board of Directors; and Ryan O’Connell, Writer, Executive Producer and Star of “Special” on Netflix; Karen Gray, EVP, Human Resources, A+E Networks Group, is moderator. The Spotlight Breakfast will be held on October 24, from 8:30-10:30 am at GSMA MWC19 Los Angeles. HRTS Board of Directors President Marc Korman, Partner and Agent, WME Agency, and HRTS CEO Melissa Grego announced the event details to members today.
HRTS also announced it will debut an informational guide of TV industry programs designed to promote inclusion, equality, and representation. Inspired by a question at the inaugural HRTS event last year about how to learn about the many industry programs, the guide is a directory of programs among HRTS Corporate Members as well as other industry programs. Easterseals Disability Services is the Presenting Sponsor of the HRTS Diversity and Inclusion Resource Guide. Event attendees will receive a printed copy of the guide, which will also be available to HRTS members online.
“The steps that have been taken to bring diverse voices and experiences in front and behind the camera have surfaced important conversations on how we measure progress, and how to ensure efforts are meaningfully sustained. We’re so pleased to welcome our esteemed colleagues to continue the discussion we began last year,” said Korman.
“HRTS is committed to being a resource to our members and the business community overall and the guide provides practical tools and information for members as they implement changes that positively impact their organizations,” added Grego.
The HRTS Spotlight Breakfast will address new questions emerging about representation; if there are better words to define our goals; how to quantify progress and whether stats match up with reality. The panel will also explore authorship and differences in promoting inclusion in scripted vs. unscripted.
This event is co-chaired by Paul Buccieri, President, A+E Networks Group and member of the HRTS Board of Directors; Kelly Goode, VP, Current Programming, Warner Bros. Television and member of the HRTS Advisory Council; and Dan Erlij, Co-Head, Partner, Literary Television Department, United Talent Agency and member of the HRTS Board of Directors.
Access to streamed and archived video of the luncheon will be available to HRTS Corporate and Individual Members on hrts.org.
The event is presented by A+E Networks and Easterseals Disability Services. The event partner is GSMA MWC19 Los Angeles in partnership with CTIA which is returning as event partner providing attendees with complimentary Silver Passes to MWC19 Los Angeles and a VIP Tour of the exhibition.
The event will be held at:
MWC19 Los Angeles
403A (on) Concourse Level 2 (C2)
Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 South Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
About A+E Networks Group:
A+E Networks®, LLC. is an award-winning, global media content company offering consumers a diverse communications environment ranging from linear channels to websites, gaming, watch apps and educational software. A+E Networks is comprised of A&E®, Lifetime®, HISTORY®, LMN®, FYI™, VICELAND™, H2™, History en Espaňol™, Blaze™, Crime + Investigation™, Military History™ and Lifetime Real Women®; as well as its own premium content production and development arm, A+E Studios™; film division, A&E IndieFilms®; online, mobile and app development division, A+E Networks Digital®; digital storytelling hub, 45th & Dean™; and A+E Networks Consumer Products™. A+E Networks is comprised of channels and branded programming, reaching more than 335 million households in over 200 territories. A+E Networks, LLC. is a joint venture of Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/aenetworks and Facebook at facebook.com/AENetworks/.
About Easterseals Disability Services:
For 100 years, Easterseals has been an indispensable resource for individuals with developmental disabilities or other special needs and their families. The services provided by Easterseals Southern California (ESSC) make profound and positive differences in people’s lives every day, helping them address life’s challenges and achieve personal goals so that they can live, learn, work and play in our communities. ESSC assists more than 13,000 people annually, providing adult/senior day services; autism therapy; child development/early education; employment services, veteran employment support and independent living options. Join us in changing the way the world defines and views disabilities at www.easterseals.com/southerncal and www.WeCelebrate.org.
About GSMA MWC19 Los Angeles:
Welcome to the era of Intelligent Connectivity – where speed, convenience, and intelligence converge, creating highly contextualized and personalized experiences, delivered when and where you want them.
MWC Los Angeles will convene the tech industry to explore how businesses can leverage Intelligent Connectivity through 5G, IoT, Immersive Content and Disruptive Innovation.
About HRTS
Since 1947, the Hollywood Radio & Television Society (HRTS) has been recognized as our industry’s premiere information and networking forum. Led by a Board of Directors comprising TV and media’s most distinguished leaders, HRTS incorporates participation from our Corporate Members, representing the top companies across the landscape. HRTS maintains our rich, 70-year tradition of providing an unparalleled forum for fostering conversation and community through regularly scheduled events, a thriving mentorship program and other initiatives in Los Angeles, New York City and around the world. More information on the HRTS Board Members, Corporate Members and calendar of events may be found at www.hrts.org.
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Media Contact:
Jennifer St. Clair for HRTS
press@hrts.org