International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences elects FanTrust Entertainment Strategies President

International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences elects FanTrust Entertainment Strategies President

Catherine Warren to join pre-eminent media Academy and producer of International Emmy® Awards

New York/Vancouver – March 31, 2008 – The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has elected FanTrust Entertainment Strategies President Catherine Warren to its membership. Catherine joins the world’s leading television and media decision-makers in promoting new strategies for the future development of quality global television programming, including interactive productions and broadcasting.

“The Academy is a catalyst for entertainment evolution and excellence and continues to set the bar for things like interactive television and digital media,” said Catherine, whose management consultancy FanTrust provides strategic advice to entertainment companies on digital financing, revenues, productions and audiences. “Joining this illustrious group of colleagues also offers unparalleled business relationships and intelligence for FanTrust and our clients on a global scale.”

In recent years, Catherine has also served as an international judge for the Interactive Emmy® Awards. Presented annually in Cannes, France, these Awards recognize outstanding achievements in interactive television, broadband, mobile and new media.

Canada is world-class when it comes to digital entertainment and so I am particularly honoured to be counted among the Academy’s Canadian members,” she said. Three out of the four 2007 International Interactive Emmy® Awards went to Canadian digital media, a sector which is thriving in large part due to significant financing from the Bell Broadcast & New Media Fund, where Catherine has served on the Board for eight years.

About The International Academy

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the largest organization of global broadcasters, with over 550 members from nearly 70 countries and over 400 companies. The Academy is a unique, independent organization comprised of the world’s leading television and media decision-makers who come together to exchange ideas, discuss common issues and promote new strategies for the future development of quality global television programming. The Academy organizes yearly, a series of events for its members and their guests which include board meetings, panels and presentations. The International Emmy® World Television Festival which traditionally takes place the weekend before the International Emmy® Awards Gala, features unique screenings, panels and presentations from around the world. The International Emmy® Awards Gala, held each November in New York City attracts over 1,000 international figures in broadcast, entertainment and media. www.iemmys.tv.

About FanTrust Entertainment Strategies

FanTrust provides broadcasters, TV & film producers, game companies and entertainment brands with strategies and tactics for digital media growth, including raising capital, distribution deal-making, revenue generation and cross-platform production and partnerships. FanTrust also helps technology distribution companies to package and provision for the media and entertainment industries. In essence, FanTrust serves as digital matchmakers, helping bridge different media and build innovative companies and IP. With a laser focus on the Fans, FanTrust helps clients capitalize on the digital audiences and committed consumers that interact with multi-platform content. www.FanTrust.com

About Catherine Warren

Founder and president of FanTrust Entertainment Strategies, Catherine Warren is a management consultant to the broadcast and digital media industry. Her work has influenced Fortune 500 clients, television and film producers, game companies, animation studios and telcos, providing them with new ways to captivate audiences, build revenues, secure funding and capitalize on innovation. Working in the United States, the United Kingdom, Western Europe and Canada for more than two decades, Catherine has published 25 books and magazine series for adults and children on science and computing as well as produced numerous award-winning Web sites and interactive broadcasts, including ORCA FM, the world’s first all-whales/all-the-time radio station (the original “pod”cast!) and the Gemini Award-winning CTVNews.com. A board member of the national the Bell Broadcast & New Media Fund since 2000, Catherine’s leadership includes identifying the winning concepts for broadcasting and awarding significant financing for TV programming, with $50 million invested to date in multimedia. She is also a new Board Member of the United Way Lower Mainland, Canada, elected June 2007. Catherine has a degree in physics from Reed College in Portland, Oregon and a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where she broke the story of multimedia on location
at M.I.T.

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To set up a media interview or for more information, please contact:
Brandi Sundby
FanTrust Entertainment Strategies Consultant
Tel: 778-896-0570 (Pacific Time Zone)
bsundby@fantrust.com