Above It All
Each year, we salute those whose supreme executiveness or extreme moguldom elevates them far above mere mortals toiling in the trenches of the CableFAX 100. Shall we fly too close to the sun by daring to list these Gods of the Business Arena? Yes. Yes we will.
Glenn Britt [TIME WARNER CABLE]
As the chairman/CEO of publicly traded Time Warner Cable, it’s high time that Britt graduated from the 100 and entered the vaunted halls Above it All.
Chase Carey [NEWS CORP]
Carey’s still “da man” who Rupert depends on for just about everything. As succession plans continue to evolve, we’re curious where he’ll end up. He knows where the bodies are buried.
John Chambers [CISCO]
This telecom equipment powerhouse has had its ups and downs, but one thing stays the same: Chambers’ operational prowess and boundless optimism.
Philippe Dauman [VIACOM]
Despite carriage fights and ratings problems at cable flagship Nickelodeon, Viacom has shown recent signs of strength and resilience. And so has Dauman.
Charles & James Dolan [CABLEVISION]
Bold organizational moves by this family duo in the wake of several executive departures suggest that people who count Cablevision out do so at their own peril.
Charles Ergen [DISH/ECHOSTAR]
Carriage disputes. A fight over Sprint. Shaking things up with The Hopper. Yep, it’s just Charlie being Charlie. And we love it.
Randy Falco [UNIVISION]
Whether investing in new nets like El Rey or influencing a fast-growing Hispanic population, Univision wields enormous power. And as pres/CEO, so does Falco.
John Hendricks [DISCOVERY]
It’s hard to know where to begin with this cable legend who built one of its biggest brands—yet continues to innovate. Don’t expect a retirement party any time soon.
Bob Iger [DISNEY]
Whether it’s using TV to promote movies and theme parks (or vice versa), Iger runs a ridiculously synergistic ship that keeps sailing faster and farther.
James Cox Kennedy [COX]
Cox Communications is only one of the multi-billion dollar family assets this scion oversees. Good thing for him that Pat Esser makes his life a lot easier.
Greg Maffei [LIBERTY MEDIA]
If John Malone’s the brains behind Liberty Media, Maffei’s the brawn. He makes deals happen, and prints a ton of money for shareholders in the process. And yes, he’s whip smart too.
John Malone [LIBERTY MEDIA]
With J.J. Abrams re-igniting the Star Wars franchise, cable execs know one thing: Malone might be Darth Vader. But he’s our Darth Vader.
Les Moonves [SHOWTIME/CBS SPORTS]
Between CBS’s continued ratings power and Showtime’s “Homeland”-fueled buzz, it’s hard to imagine anyone more fun to be than Les Moonves. Well, maybe Frank Gallagher from “Shameless”… but we digress.
Rupert Murdoch [NEWS CORP]
Who will succeed this guy? We don’t know, but at 82 years young, Murdoch isn’t going anywhere—especially after shepherding a successful split into 2 companies (News Corp and 21st Century Fox).
Peter Rice [FOX NETWORKS GROUP]
As chairman, this low-key but powerful exec calls all the shots when it comes to Fox’s broadcast and cable assets (excluding Fox News, of course). It’s a huge pool that includes sports, international and myriad investments and partnerships.
Brian Roberts [COMCAST]
What can we say? He’s Brian Roberts, right? Here’s to an always humble yet visionary leader who remains the Top Dog in Cable. And likely to remain there for years to come.
Lowell McAdam [VERIZON]
On one hand, this guy’s trying to beat cable with Verizon FiOS. On the other, he’s partnering with cable on wireless. Can you say frenemies? He can.
Randall Stephenson [AT&T]
Helming AT&T since 2007, Stephenson’s the reason cable faces U-verse in several markets. He’s also the one who smartly partnered with Apple on the iPhone early on. Call him a Bellhead, but he’s got talent.
Michael White [DIRECTV]
DirecTV may not have broadband, but it’s got Michael White in its corner. And this is one CEO who can’t wait for cable ops to get frustrated with sports costs and ditch video. He can dream.
Oprah Winfrey [OWN]
OWN remains a work in progress, but improved ratings, a decidedly Oprah-esque “Super Soul Sunday” lineup and a new mega-deal with Tyler Perry means this billionaire still has a few tricks up her sleeve.