The Gatekeepers, Part 2

Name: Mac Budill
Title: EVP, programming, Cablevision

Name: Melani Griffith
Title: VP, programming, Insight
Age: 36
Years in Industry: 12
Years left in Industry: “Excellent question…”

Name: Italia Commisso Weinand
Title: SVP, programming & HR, Mediacom
Age: “A great trivia question.”

Why Them? Simple. They are the content gatekeepers at 3 important mid-sized MSOs, and every programmer wants to stay on their good sides. Budill holds court to those trying to break into the top media market in the U.S.: New York City. Griffith is so well loved, you’d hardly know she has to say “no” so often. And Commisso Weinand tows the line at Mediacom where brother and CEO Rocco Commisso fights every day to hold down content costs.  MG

Melani Griffith

The cable industry’s biggest challenge in 2008 is: “Getting ready for February 2009.”
Person I most admire in the cable industry and why: “Kim Martin because in the nicest way possible, she doesn’t take ‘no’ for an answer and she does whatever she sets her mind to doing always with great success.”
In my free time, I like to: “Travel, read and surf.”
Favorite song: “These are Days” – Natalie Merchant
Favorite TV show: “Army Wives”
Favorite sports team: “UCLA men’s basketball team.”
I wish cable would: “As an industry move to Montreal, CA”
Favorite piece of tech: “DVR”
My perfect vacation goes like this: “Sailing and surfing around Costa Rica”

Italia Commisso-Weinand

I knew the cable industry was for me when: “People treated you like family and the decision you made one week was rethought the next week.”

The cable industry’s biggest challenge in 2008 is: “Digital transition and turning the potential black eye to the industry to a growth opportunity.”
Defining career moment: “Moving from Comcast and reinventing myself at Mediacom.”
Person I most admire in the cable industry and why: “Rocco for the courage he continues to exhibit in keeping programming costs in check. And Cablevision for transforming their brand and executing all of their new technology deployment brilliantly.”
Top personal achievement in 2007: “Returning to my birthplace and realizing that 20 years elapsed since my last visit!”
Person (other than my current boss) who I’d most like to work for: “I already have too many bosses.”
In my free time, I like to: “Cook (can’t you tell), Garden, spending time with my son visiting museums.”
My most embarrassing cable moment was: “30 years in the industry, and you want me to pick one moment?”
Favorite restaurant: “Del Posto – New York”
Favorite city: “Florence, Italy”
Favorite line from a movie or TV show: “Frankly Scarlet, I don’t give a damn.” – Gone with the Wind
Three things I would take with me to a desert island: “My husband, my son, the rest of my family and HDTV ready television.”
Favorite song: “Too many to choose from.”
Favorite TV show: “Anything on Turner Classic Movie.”
Favorite movie: “Too many to choose from.”
Favorite sports team: “Knicks, Giants, Yankees”
I wish cable would: “Move faster in the convergence of cable TV and Broadband.”
Favorite piece of tech: “HDTV”
Least favorite piece of tech: “I don’t think the company I would name would be happy with me.”
The three most played songs on my iPod are: “Sting/Boccelli/Three Tenors”
My perfect vacation goes like this: “Italy, Italy, Italy – near the sea!”
The world would be a better place if: “Every young American spent more time in dialogue about the U.S. Constitution and how we became such a great nation!”

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