12 | THE DREAM TEAM
Why Them? NBCU upped its affiliate team this year, snagging Budill from Cablevision. He reports to Bond, who oversees the company’s overall distribution strategy. Last year was a big one with Bond spearheading the distribution of NBCU’s Olympics packages, and that meant overseeing negotiations with more than 150 distributors that streamed more than 3500 programming hours during the Games. How does Bond unwind? Painting on a unique canvas—surfboards. With Budill on board, NBCU secured several multiyear carriage deals, including with DISH, Verizon, Mediacom and Suddenlink. There’s another good reason to have Budill at the negotiating table (or better yet, dinner table) with you: He’s saved multiple people with the Heimlich maneuver.
Bond
Apple or Samsung? Apple
Beatles or The Rolling Stones? Rolling Stones
The one thing I’d do differently if I could go back to high school: More partying
On a Saturday afternoon, you can find me… hiking, fishing or surfing.
This is the hobby I’ve been itching to try, but haven’t found time: Music
My peers would be surprised to learn that I… paint as a hobby.
Film fest or music festival? Film fest
Favorite decade? ’20s
Favorite airport? Hayden in Colorado
I watch the majority of programming on this device: iPad
Favorite vacation spot? My house.
The biggest innovation in cable over the last year: Comcast’s X1
Budill
I consider this person my mentor, and here’s why: Marc Lustgarten—the most talented negotiator I’ve ever seen.
Celebrity, sports figure or politician I’d most want to have dinner with? Vince Lombardi
The TV show title that most resembles my life is… “Modern Family”
Favorite business and/or motivational book? When Pride Still Mattered by David Maraniss ?
