The day's highlight was the unveiling of a six and a half foot 40th anniversary cake at the entrance of the Palais de Festivals, where arguably one of the world's largest programming and TV markets is being held. Additionally, The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (International TV Academy) announced today that Greg Dyke, Director General of the BBC will receive the prestigious International Emmy Directorate Award at the 31st International Emmy Awards on November 24, 2003.

The announcement was made at the Palais de Festivals. The International Emmy Directorate Award is presented to organizations or individuals in management, administration, engineering, news, programming, and/or international relations for outstanding contributions over a period of time to the arts and sciences of international television.

"Greg Dyke is an exceptional leader in the global television industry with a vision to the future. His accomplishments personify the International Emmy Award, which recognizes excellence in global television. The International TV Academy is very pleased to honour his many contributions to the art and science of international television," said Fred Cohen, President of the International TV Academy.

This apart, the Academy also announced that the Emmy Founder's award will be presented to HBO for setting an example for the world in programming innovation and raising the bar for the industry in programme trends.

The International Emmy Founders Award celebrates the accomplishments of an individual or a company whose work is recognized throughout the world embodying the vision of the founders of The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, crossing cultural boundaries to touch our common humanity. This is primarily an award for creative achievement and is not necessarily presented annually. Previous winners of this award include, among others, Howard Stringer, CEO of Sony Corporation of America; Film on Four from Channel 4 - UK; John Hendricks, Founder and CEO of Discovery; Robert Halmi, Sr.; Bill Cosby; Jacques-Yves Cousteau; Sir David Attenborough and Jim Henson.

Switzerland's festival for entertainment television programming Rose D'Or announced a content partnership with British publisher C21 Media to enhance the conference's content and develop its publications division.

The big announcement of the day was BBC Worldwide's declaration that its TV export sales have risen 13 per cent in calendar year 2002 to $362 million from $322 million in 2001. On the whole, British Television exports, according to th British Television Distributors Association rose 6.6 per cent from $624 mllion in 2001 to $666 million in 2002.