Cartoon Network Announces Executive Producer Team for Broadcast Awards Event Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards

Cartoon Network today announced that veteran, award-winning television and special event executive producers Michael Dempsey and Steve Mayer will lead production of its first-ever broadcast awards event, Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards. As previously announced, Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards is a high-energy, multi-platform experience that will let viewers vote and honor their favorite sports stars and sports moments of the year. This first-of-its-kind, sports award event for kids, is created and produced in association with IMG Media, the production arm of global sports, entertainment and media company, IMG. The Sports Illustrated Group's SI KIDS franchise will be serving as the official media partner.

"The Cartoon Network audience expects a dynamic and unique awards show experience," said Rob Sorcher, chief content officer for Cartoon Network. "Michael and Steve bring the right mix of creativity, expertise and sense of humor to the Hall of Game Awards."

Michael Dempsey's television production career spans over two decades and includes over 150 television specials and series. Among his many recent Producer credits are The Do Something Awards; Kid's Inaugural: We Are the Future, Live & Loud Fridays; 46664: A Concert For Nelson Mandela that was shot on location in London; 2007 Taurus World Stunt Awards; and the VH1 Big Awards, which his company Dempsey Productions produced for four years. Other productions that Michael has produced are the 2004 and 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, G Phoria, the first ever televised video game award show, and MTV ICON tributes to Janet Jackson, Aerosmith and Metallica. In addition Michael has served as a producer on four MTV Movie Awards, The NFL Kickoff LIVE, and the Victoria's Secret Runway Show. In 2001 Michael produced the rating blockbuster, Michael Jackson's 30th Anniversary Celebration in which he received an NAACP Image Award. Michael also has directed four Ellen Degeneres Variety Specials, including her latest, Ellen's Somewhat Special Special, as well as three years of the Critics' Choice Awards, Billboards New Year's Eve LIVE and The ALMA Awards. Last summer Michael was on location in the Bahamas where he directed the classic competition series The Superstars for ABC. His latest directing came on the 2010 Teen Choice Awards.

Steve Mayer is an eight-time Emmy Award-winning executive producer at IMG Media (formerly Trans World International), the world's largest producer of sports programming. Mayer oversees all of IMG Media's New York-based production, which produces hundreds of hours of television each year. Mayer's producer credits include the Tony Awards Preview Show (CBS), Christmas at Rockefeller Center (NBC) and Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year (CBS), and he has been the producer of the New York City Marathon for the last eight years (NBC). Prior to his work at IMG, Mayer was well-known as a producer of live sports, having produced NBA, college basketball and Major League Baseball telecasts. He is also known for having produced three of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments and over 100 sports tournaments around the world.

Premiering in early 2011, Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards will give kids the chance to vote for their favorites in select categories via HallofGame.com. From the red carpet, to the never-before-seen stunts and surprises on stage, this unconventional celebration will be led by a celebrity host and feature icons from television, film, music and sports, as kids experience an evening of humor and fun at the most raucous and biggest sports awards show ever presented on television.

About Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 97 million U.S. homes and 166 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families. Nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

About IMG Media

IMG Media operates from over 30 offices worldwide and distributes content across all forms of media including TV, Audio, Fixed Media, Inflight and Closed Circuit, Broadband and Mobile. IMG Media Production generates 6000 hours of programming, over 200 projects in locations around the world. These include coverage of: New York City Marathon, Masters, PGA Championship, ATP and WTA Tennis, Professional Bull Riding, television and digital production for both Wimbledon and the R and A, Premier League Soccer Productions, Total Rugby for the IRB, Transworld Sport, FIFA Futbol Mondial and FIFA World Cup Preview Series. IMG Media also has produced entertainment specials such as: Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials, World's and Year's Funniest Commercials for TBS, Christmas in Rockefeller Center, and Boston Pops 4th of July Spectacular. IMG Media also maintains the world's largest sports archive with more than 250,000 hours of footage.