David Preisman

VP, Interactive Television
Showtime Networks

Why Him? Preisman’s been part of several industry firsts, including the launch of an interactive 24/7 enhanced TV service, interactive advertising with TiVo and DISH, and the first EBIF app with live voting. He’s also launched self-provisioning apps with major cable operators and TV widgets for Internet-connected TVs.

Home Run: Showtime Sports is scoring big with digital. “Last year, we launched Showtime Sports Interactive using the iTV standard EBIF. It took more than two years to develop all the necessary systems and software, but in the end it went off without a hitch. We’re now enhancing Showtime Sports with interactivity and making it available to our operator partners,” he says. “This requires us to actually put the interactive software in our transmission signal. There’s something significant about programmers offering synchronized software along with the audio and video. These are the early days of evolving television from a completely passive experience to something much richer.”

On Your iPad: “Funny how with each new device we always come back to solitaire. This week, I’m in the midst of a highly competitive solitaire speed contest with my wife on our daily commute, and I can’t seem to break two minutes.”