Banff World Media Festival Names HBO 2016 Company Of Distinction

TORONTO, Sept. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The organizers of the 37^th edition of the Banff World Media Festival are thrilled to announce that the world's most successful pay-TV service HBO will be honored as its esteemed Company of Distinction at the annual event which takes place June 12-15, 2016 at the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel in Banff, Alberta. With the designation, BANFF proudly announces that Richard Plepler, Chairman and CEO of HBO, will deliver the Company of Distinction Keynote.

BANFF's Company of Distinction program is used as an opportunity for the Festival to pay homage to a prestigious company demonstrating significant leadership in the world of screen-based entertainment. As 2016's Company of Distinction, HBO's executives, producers and talent will be featured throughout the four-day event. The program was started in 2013 honoring CBS Corporation, followed by Lionsgate Entertainment in 2014 and A+E Networks in 2015.

HBO is the innovative, premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. providing two television services, HBO and Cinemax, to approximately 122 million subscribers globally.  HBO also launched in the U.S. this year the standalone streaming service HBO NOW for broadband-only consumers wanting access to HBO programming. HBO and Cinemax programming is sold to over 150 countries globally. HBO received 43 Primetime Emmy® Awards, the most of any network for the 14th year in a row, and the most in HBO history, at the 67th Annual Primetime Emmy® Awards.  

In Canada, all episodes and seasons of HBO's on-air titles are available on HBO Canada, a pay-TV network which is a joint venture between Bell Media and Corus Entertainment; additionally, HBO's complete off-air catalogue is available on CraveTV, Bell Media's leading video-streaming platform. 

"It is an honor to announce HBO as this year's Company of Distinction and to announce that Richard Plepler will deliver the Company of Distinction Keynote," commented Ferne Cohen, Executive Director of the Banff World Media Festival. "HBO is the epitome of a high quality premium content juggernaut who are cutting-edge and have their finger on the pulse of where the industry is heading in cable and digital content and services. We know our delegates will share in our excitement to hear from Mr. Plepler and his team from HBO throughout BANFF 2016."

"I have such great respect for the BANFF Foundation and the prestigious Banff World Media Festival," said Plepler.  "We are humbled by this recognition and I'm honored to appear and receive it on behalf of all those who work tirelessly to continue to make HBO shine so brightly.  It has been a very exciting year for all of us so thank you to the organizers and Board of Directors for this acknowledgment."   

About HBO
Whether measured by awards, critical acclaim, subscribers, profitability or viewers, Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. and the world's most successful pay TV service, providing the two television services – HBO^® and Cinemax^® – to approximately 122 million subscribers worldwide. The services offer the popular subscription video-on-demand products HBO On Demand^® and Cinemax On Demand^®, as well as HBO GO^® and MAX GO^®, HD feeds and multiplex channels. HBO NOW, the network's internet-only premium streaming service, provides audiences with instant access to HBO's acclaimed programming in the U.S. Internationally, HBO branded television networks, along with the subscription video-on-demand products HBO On Demand and HBO GO, bring HBO services to over 60 countries. HBO and Cinemax programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide.

About the Banff World Media Festival
The Banff World Media Festival is the world's largest and most important gathering of entertainment industry and digital media executives dedicated to media content development, production, broadcast and distribution within TV and digital media. BANFF provides a platform for the evolving media industry to develop its creative and business objectives – it serves as the leading destination for co-production and co-venture partners and is an unparalleled marketplace for over 2,000 international decision-makers to connect with new partners, learn from industry leaders and execute new business deals. The 37th annual BANFF World Media Festival will take place June 12-15, 2016 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Canada.

SOURCE Banff World Media Festival

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