Bob Rose

Title: EVP Distribution, CBS Sports Network

Years in Cable: Half my life

Education: BA Journalism/Communications, University of Wisconsin

Best Advice in 7 Words or Less: Sleep with your Blackberry or iPhone.

Why Him: It’s been a winning season for CBS Sports Network, which graduated in April from 24/7 college sports to coverage of all sports (shedding its College Sports moniker), including football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse and hockey. Available in 98 million homes, Rose’s network televises 2,000-plus hours of live programming, including exclusive rights to home Army, Navy and Air Force games. According to Nielsen, ratings are up 57% since 2009 and 107% since 2007.

All For One: In August, CBS Sports Network added Cable One to its roster of carriers, adding 690,000 households in 19 states.

Year Ahead: In November Rose announced a two-year agreement with the National Lacrosse League for CBS Sports Net to air 2012 and 2013 season games, including eight regular- and post-season matches beginning in April. The Saturday night HD telecasts mark the first primetime weekly TV package in Lacrosse league history.

Favorite meal I can also prepare myself: Saturday morning breakfast: crisp bacon, cheddar cheese eggs, 7-grain toast… works for dinner, too
 
Favorite “going out” town: New Orleans, hands down (I’m glad my daughter chose Tulane)
 
One thing I tell my kids about success in life: Be forward-looking and imaginative.
 
Worst thing I’ve heard in a meeting: I was relentless in my effort to get a launch. To shut me up, the client said, “Bob, my dog just died.”
 
Acts I would actually pay to see live: U2, Coldplay, Springsteen, Linkin Park
 
Favorite business and/or motivational book: “Outliers,” “The Story of Success,” Malcolm Gladwell
 
Favorite sports team: Cleveland Browns (I’m stupidly loyal)
 
Favorite iPad app: New York Times. I’m not a tree hugger, but come on…
 
This incident from my youth taught me an important lesson: Adversity makes us stronger. After a family divorce in first grade, I was ending my first week of second grade, pulled off the school bus and asked to go to the principal’s office. Mrs. Van Deusen told me I was being sent back to repeat first grade. I guess it was a lack of focus due to issues at home. I was humiliated, confused and my confidence was shot. I felt like a complete failure; after all, I didn’t pass first grade. Over time, I must have used the setback as a tool to never lose focus. To this day, I utterly fear failure. Five years later, when I was selected by my sixth grade teacher to run for school president, the dots of life connected for me. I had actually become a popular kid, leader and my confidence was soaring. I should have won that election, but they rejected a great marketing tactic… that’s a story for the next CableFAX 100.
 
When I look at my cable set-top box, I can’t help but think: Why are HD channels located in the 700s? Pressing three different digits on the remote control is difficult. I rarely get it done on the first try. ?

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