CableFAX: 79. Weather or Not: Debora Wilson
Debora Wilson
Title: President/CEO, The Weather Channel Companies
Last Year: #55
Age: 51
Education: George Mason U, BS, Business Admin
Why Her? Weathering an uncertain six months before Weather’s sale from Landmark to NBCU and the full-throttle launch of the network’s HD programming were all in a year’s work for Wilson. Weather’s already capitalizing on HD with new ratings winners such as When Weather Changed History.
Proud Moment: Opening of Weather’s $60mln HD production facility in Atlanta.
Silver Lining: Bad weather generally means good ratings, and Mother Nature’s wrath this year afforded Weather several victories. During Hurricane Gustav in Sept, Weather reached 65mln unduplicated viewers, surpassing ESPN and TBS during the three-day period.
Year Ahead: 
NBCU purchase should bring stability eventually, but there will be pain — Weather laid off 100 in late Nov.
Favorite Restaurant: Any small trattoria in the heart of Tuscany
Drink: A great glass of red wine
Music: Jazz (so who do you think picks the music for Local on the Eights!?)
Unnecessary Luxury I Like Most: Sleep
In ’09 I Resolve: Not to sell The Weather Channel (again)!
Best Business Advice Received: The harder you work the luckier you’ll get
My Company Is Preparing For The Future By: Always being in front of the next platform consumers will embrace to get their weather content – cable, Internet, mobile, ITV, HD
My Philosophy Of Life: Live as big a life as you can
The Trait I Most Admire In People: Genuineness
Hero: My wonderful parents