Zeiler will accept the Emmy at the 54th International Emmy Awards gala on Monday, November 23, 2026, in New York City.
Gerhard Zeiler, illustrious Austrian media executive and current President of International for Warner Bros. Discovery, will receive the 2026 International Emmy Directorate Award. Zeiler will accept the Emmy at the 54th International Emmy Awards Gala on Monday, November 23, 2026, in New York City.
“Gerhard Zeiler has built and led some of the world’s most influential media businesses, helping shape the international television industry through periods of profound change. Throughout his career, his commercial acumen has been grounded in a deep appreciation for the creative talent and storytelling that define our business,” said Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. “The Academy looks forward to honoring him with the 2026 International Emmy Directorate Award.”
“I am deeply honored to be recognized by the International Academy with the International Emmy Directorate Award. My passion for media began before I can even remember, and from a young age I understood the power of television to bring people together and open a window into different cultures and ideas. The role of media in connecting the world requires a deep understanding of distinct cultures – global trends and local nuances alike – and I feel very fortunate to have had a career filled with learnings and perspectives across the world on what makes compelling television. This is an industry like no other, driven by passion, ambition, and the desire to create stories that audiences can connect with. I receive this recognition with great appreciation for the colleagues, partners and creative talent who have inspired that journey,” said Gerhard Zeiler, President of International, Warner Bros. Discovery.
Most recently, as President of International for Warner Bros. Discovery, Zeiler supported strategic partnerships that paved the way for HBO Max’s expansion from a single market to more than 130 countries in just over three years. Since his appointment, he has led the company’s international business through a period of significant transformation. Following the 2022 merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, he oversaw the integration of two vast media businesses, bringing together WarnerMedia’s international operations with Discovery’s substantial global footprint. In doing so, he aligned regional leadership, content distribution, and streaming strategy across global markets.
Following senior leadership roles at Austria’s public broadcaster, ORF, Zeiler joined German commercial broadcaster, RTL, where he transformed the company from a collection of national channels into a more integrated international media company with a strong base of global content production. Under his leadership as CEO, RTL underwent a period of significant international, financial, and creative growth, establishing it as Europe’s leading entertainment network and a global formats powerhouse, notably by successfully exporting to the U.S. market Idols, Got Talent, and The X Factor. Zeiler went from leading Television, to leading the Group, to serving on the Bertelsmann Board for eight years before joining Turner Broadcasting System.
In 2012, at Turner (under Time Warner Inc.), Zeiler expanded the company’s international operations, fortifying its regional sports and pay-TV businesses. He then reshaped WarnerMedia’s commercial model by unifying affiliate and advertising sales. In 2020, he was appointed President of WarnerMedia International, positioning him to lead the company’s international business through its current chapters of transformation.
As previously announced the Academy will also present its International Emmy Founders Award to Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer of Netflix.
