December 10, 2009

CableFAX: 1. Britt's Bits: Glenn Britt

Glenn Britt
Title: CEO, Time Warner Cable
Age: 60
Education: AB, Economics, Dartmouth; MBA, Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth

Why Him? TV Everywhere is the talk of the industry and will probably be the biggest story (for good or bad) in ’10. Britt sparked cable to start thinking about authenticating paying subs as a way to preserve the business model while giving consumers what they want. That earns him our top spot this year. Already ahead of the pack with VOD innovations like Start Over and Look Back, Britt really started the authentication conversation more than one year ago — when no one was talking about it. Meanwhile, Time Warner Cable continues to be a top-performing MSO even after splitting from one-time parent Time Warner. Britt doesn’t run the largest MSO. And with Comcast schmoozing NBCU, that’s more true than ever. But he’s a humble genius whose ideas are taking hold as the industry struggles to navigate a changing multiplatform world. And TV Everywhere may just save cable’s skin.

Year Ahead:

Britt gets points for innovation but still faces tough telco and satellite competition, not to mention a tricky multiplatform balancing act with content owners.

When I Need to Recharge, I: Go to Hawaii and watch Time Warner Cable in my house.

Last Book Read: My Kindle

A Day Without Facebook is: Every day.

Trait I Most Admire in People: Intelligence — with the right amount of humility.

Three Things I’d Take to a Deserted Island: A very long cable connection, my Kindle and an iPhone.

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