Mark Silverman
Title: President, Big Ten Network
Number of Years in Cable: 22
Education: BA, UCLA; MBA, University of Michigan
Best Advice in 7 Words or Less: Never make the same mistake twice.

Why Him? Since its launch in 2007, Big Ten Network’s ratings, ad sales and programming have enjoyed an upward climb. Indeed, Silverman’s focus on the net’s constant self-improvement continues to pay off. Ratings for BTN Football Saturday in 2012 were up 18% in the Adult 18-49 demo, and Big Ten Conference basketball was up 27%. The network is on top of digital as well. Its mobile app, BTN2Go is massively popular and distributed by most MSOs. Up next is Comcast, says the network, which will expand its reach even further. Look for more great things from Silverman.

Beatles or The Rolling Stones: Neither, I prefer The Who.

On a Saturday afternoon, you can find me… on Football Saturdays, I move back and forth between my office, our studio, the green room, our control room, our programming department, our affiliate relations department, and our communications department. And occasionally I’m able to get out to a Big Ten Football game.

Film festival or music fest? I’m still stuck in the ’80s musically and am much more of an independent film festival guy from my early days working with Miramax.

My favorite Cable Show memory: Hosting Big Ten basketball coaches Tom Izzo, Thad Matta, Bruce Weber and Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez at the 2007 Cable Show prior to the BTN launch and watching the lines of people form to meet them and ask about how they could get BTN.

The biggest lesson I learned from my kid(s) this year was… People really can watch TV, text on their phone, play games on their computer, and do their homework—all at the same time. ?

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