Rob King
Named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in 2014, King and his team settled into ESPN’s new 194,000-square-foot Digital Center 2 this summer. The new home for the SportsCenter and NFL studio programming is “an amazing facility that enables us to produce content seamlessly across linear, online mobile and social platforms,” he says. Good timing, too, given his view on live, mobile and social trends: “These aren’t merely topics, they’re audience expectations.”
What’s the definition of diversity in 2014, and how can the cable industry do better in the area of inclusiveness?
Thanks to personalized technology and the extraordinary amount of content available across every platform, Diversity is being constantly redefined, one person at a time. Our ability to capture real-time data about content consumption gives the cable industry some directional information about ways we need to stretch to meet the needs of this evolving audience: producing excellent mobile experiences, introducing new faces and voices, engaging with audiences on social platforms, delivering content faster and with better quality.
What’s been your company’s biggest innovation this year?
We launched our second Digital Center, the new home for the SportsCenter and NFL studio programming. It’s an amazing facility that enables us to produce content seamlessly across lineal, online mobile and social platforms.
Who has been your strongest mentor, and why?
I have been blessed with many mentors, but without a doubt, the two strongest I call Mom and Dad. My parents have achieved great things in their diverse careers, and they have encouraged my brother, my sister and me to work hard, stick to our values and expect good things to happen.
What qualities do you look for when making a new hire?
I like to find people who know a lot about things I don’t. . . People who can help me think more expansively. And I look for great teammates.
Name one emerging trend in cable we should all have our eyes on.
I’m still stuck on the emerging trends of the last several years: live, mobile and social. These aren’t merely topics, they’re audience expectations.
