December 10, 2009

CableFAX: 42. The Maverick: Mark Cuban

Mark Cuban

Title: Pres/Co-Founder, HDNet
Age: Approaching dirt
Education: BA, Indiana U
Social Media Quotient: 10

Why Him? The billionaire owner of HDNet and HDNet Movies was at least as controversial in ’09 as ever, even though he’s got Comcast carriage now. If you believe the news reports, at any given time Cuban’s starting a sports league, launching a cable sports channel, buying the Dodgers or the Pirates, railing against up-converted SD or discussing ways to take down Google. But back to HDNet, the addition of Stephen Fry in America was a strong pick and at 78 years young Dan Rather isn’t slowing and his Dan Rather Reports rocks.

Trick or Tweet? Cuban tweeted negatively about NBA refs. The league fined him $25K. He paid and tweeted: ‘Can’t say no one makes money from Twitter now. The NBA does.’ Cuban’s Twitter followers grew immensely.

The Year Ahead:

As more HD sets get sold there’s only one way for HDNet to go.

Prediction for Cable in ’10: ITV finally takes hold; cable is one of the leaders. Pay VOD shows significant growth.

Admired Trait: Preparation

Best Business Advice: When you sit at the poker table you always look for the fool. If you don’t see him, it’s you.