Gerhard Zeiler, president of international at Warner Bros. Discovery, will receive the 2026 International Emmy Directorate Award, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced Thursday.
Zeiler will accept the award at the 54th International Emmy Awards Gala on Nov. 23 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,” said Bruce L. Paisner, president and CEO of the International Academy. “Throughout his career, his commercial acumen has been grounded in a deep appreciation for the creative talent and storytelling that define our business.”
Zeiler has been a familiar face on the global television scene for more than three decades, holding senior positions at broadcasters and media companies, including as secretary general of Austria’s public broadcaster ORF, CEO of leading European broadcaster RTL Group, and as President of Turner Broadcasting System’s International group.
In 2020, Zeiler was appointed president of WarnerMedia International. Following the 2022 merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, he oversaw the integration of the two companies’ international operations, including regional leadership, content distribution and streaming strategy.
In his current role at Warner Bros. Discovery, Zeiler has been involved in the company’s international expansion of HBO Max, which has grown from a single-market service to availability in more than 130 countries in just over three years.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized by the International Academy with the International Emmy Directorate Award,” Zeiler said. “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.”
Zeiler added that the international nature of the television business requires an understanding of “distinct cultures — global trends and local nuances alike.”
The International Academy will also present its International Emmy Founders Award at this year’s ceremony to Bela Bajaria, chief content officer at Netflix.
The International Emmy Awards recognize television programming produced outside the U.S. across categories including drama, comedy, documentary, news, non-scripted entertainment, sports documentary, telenovela and TV movie/mini-series, as well as performances and kids programming.
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