Cfax 100

The wait is over. Our annual CableFAX 100magazine is out. If you need a peek before your copy arrives in the mail, view it online at: www.cable360.net/cablefaxmag/www.cable360.net/cablefaxmag/. In a twist, we thought we’d actually try to keep the list to 100 people—give or take a few—this year. Thank you to all who gathered at the National Press Club Tues for our CableFAX Magazine Event luncheon honoring the 100, the Top Women in Cable and our new 20-to-Watch list. One of the highlights came shortly after ESPN‘s Sean Bratches said colleague Rosa Gatti (who was being honored with our Community Service Award) had touched "thousands if not millions, and that’s not an overstatement." SNY pres Steve Raab drove that point home when accepting honors as a top regional player. More than 20 years ago, he was trying to get his foot in the door of sports, but no one was returning his calls. Someone passed along Gatti’s phone number. Although you probably don’t remember, "you were good enough to talk with me, Rosa… I’m one of the millions," Raab said. There were lighter moments as well, including when Time Warner Cable chief evp, programming officer Melinda Witmer poked fun of her Gatekeeper of the Year Award. She wondered who the Keymaster was and how she was supposed to save the industry from a 100ft tall Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (We love "Ghostbusters" too, Melinda). Other special honors included Discovery Nets for "Reinvention of the Year," Comcast for the Diversity Award and USA for Rebranding of the Year. Outgoing Cable Positive chief Steve Villano was on hand after just announcing that he won’t renew his contract when it expires in July. "I didn’t do any of this alone," he said, pointing to the work of industry execs and the CP team. "The organization is ready to move into a whole new era." Several speakers referenced the economy and belt-tightening, so thumbs up to Tennis Channel/Ovation‘s Ken Solomon, who reminded us all that things could be worse—"after all, we could be building cars."