Mac Budill

Title: EVP, Programming, Cablevision Systems Corp
Age: 46
Education: BA, Yale; MBA, Harvard

Why Him? Budill may be the cable industry’s longest-tenured "gatekeeper," and that’s some gate, the nation’s largest single cable system. It also happens to be a gate operating in the largest market, the New York Metropolitan area. This is critical because Budill’s bevy of VOD, SVOD and HD deals and linear programming agreements and extensions not only help maintain Cablevision’s industry-leading digital penetration rate, now exceeding 94%, but along with free HD and international programming constitute key differentiators against phone company and satellite competitors. On Budill’s watch Cablevision has been more successful than most in thwarting the competitive incursion, earning Cablevision our Competition Award last summer.

Shhhh: Budill makes our list while working in a function Cablevision typically doesn’t discuss publicly, so his reputation precedes him. Who are we to argue?

The Year Ahead:

Mixing smarts and a sense of humor, Budill quietly will keep Cablevision’s content cabinet fully stocked.

Drink of Choice: I still appreciate a good Zima.

Last Book Read: Girl, Naked by Nick Hornby

Trait I Most Admire in People: The ability to disavow previous statements and beliefs.

Three Things I’d Take to a Deserted Island: A copy of The Hangover, a volleyball and those really skinny jeans that some people can wear.

If I Were a Mad Men Character, I Would be…: Achilles the janitor.

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