Glenn Beck

Title: Founder, TheBlaze

Years in Cable: 9

Education: High School

 

 

Keith T. Clinkscales

Title: CEO, Revolt Media & TV

Years in Cable: 11 years in cable, 25 years in media

Education: MBA, Harvard Business School; BS, Florida A&M University

One Word that Best Describes Me: Fearless

 

Rafe Oller

Title: GM, Z Living

Years in Cable: 17

Education: MA, Brown University; BSEE, University of Miami

One Word that Best Describes Me:

Determined

 

Michael Schwimmer

Title: CEO, Fuse Media

 

Clint Stinchcomb

Title: CEO, PokerCentral

Years in Cable: 24

Education: BA, Dartmouth College

One Word that Best Describes Me: Grateful

 

These players are enjoying a healthy season of growth. Clinkscales is behind the tremendous growth of Revolt Media & TV, locking in distribution deals with major players and bringing streaming assets to OTT players like fuboTV. He also secured programming deals with top talent and continues to host the Revolt Music Conference in Miami. Over at Poker Central, Stinchcomb led the network launch in more than 40 countries, helped create high-stakes TV poker tournament Super High Roller Bowl and made of push for original content. With TheBlaze founder Beck steering the ship, the linear network launched on Verizon FiOS, renewed an agreement with DISH and recently entered into a multiyear distribution agreement with NCTC. Health-focused net Z Living sealed a partnership with Popsugar to co-create branded content and CEO Oller recently announced an expansion of its advertising and sales team across the U.S. Schwimmer, Fuse’s chief exec, has spent the past year relaunching the net after a $226 million acquisition from MSG Co. Following its September debut and the creation of new digital and linear music property FM also under his watch, Fuse continues to grow rapidly.

 

Keith Clinkscales

Last show I watched not on my network(s): “SportsCenter” (ESPN), “Billions” (Showtime), and “House of Cards” (Netflix)

My first job: My first job ever was at Picarazzi’s Bakery in Trumbull, Connecticut making donuts. I preferred making the jelly filled donuts because the grease from the glazed donuts would often burn me.

I watch the majority of programming on this device: On my Hi-Def TV when I can, but my iPad Pro can hold its on.

My personal theme song is: “Victory” by Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs

The biggest innovation in cable over the last year: The ubiquitous and faster high-speed Internet (HSI) access has been the biggest innovation in cable over the past year.  Combine this with advances in technology and hardware, and one can see how much the landscape has changed.  The percentage of people with access to HSI at home, on their smartphones and tablets has created an appetite for more content and more options. The ability to provide more consumers with more access and faster speeds to the Internet has democratized access to content.  The intense pace of innovation has been exponential. There is a growing reliance on high-speed Internet access and consumers are changing the way they access information and consume TV. It has also opened up the pace of competition, with a proliferation of OTT competitors.  The unintended consequence of faster, better HSI, has been enormous pressure on the video offering.

What does the future look like for skinny bundles and flexible packaging? Skinny bundles are a Band Aid on the overall programming bundle problem.  We have to make the business more flexible and consumer friendly so that it’s accessible to all content creators and affordable to all, especially young people. The future needs to promise a world where access is not limited by the size of your corporation, and the choice of your service has more flexible packaging. Skinny bundles are a start in the right direction, but more is needed.

 

 

Rafe Oller

The biggest innovation in cable over the last year: The threat of the skinny bundle

Last show I watched not on my network(s): “Better Call Saul”

My first job: Cashier at Montgomery Ward. I learned the value of the transaction.

Favorite charity event I work with: ASPCA

My favorite hashtag: #blessed

What does the future look like for skinny bundles and flexible packaging? Promising, but financially challenging

My dream would be for all my preferences to be connected seamlessly to the Internet of Things so it could provide access though single source registration.

Virtual reality is: Our current viewer ratings system. One day reality will catch up.

“Star Trek” celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. So if Mr. Spock’s motto is “Live Long and Prosper,” mine is…   Our Z Living motto: Live more. Live better.

If this election year was a reality TV series, it would be called… Game of Clones

What was the last costume that you wore and why? Mark Antony. My wife was Cleopatra. She looked great.

 

Michael Schwimmer

The biggest innovation in cable over the last year: OTT and all its permutations

Last show I watched not on my network(s): “Billions” (Showtime)

Favorite charity event I work with: Operation Mend (UCLA)

My favorite hashtag: #Proudparent

Hoverboard, driverless car or drone: Motorcycle

What does the future look like for skinny bundles and flexible packaging? Probably inevitable

Virtual reality is:  The next logical step for many types of entertainment

What was your first job? Newspaper delivery on my bicycle

“Star Trek” celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. So if Mr. Spock’s motto is “Live Long and Prosper,” mine is…  Only the paranoid survive – A. Grove

If this election year was a reality TV series, it would be called… America at Its Worst

What was the last costume that you wore and why? Bullfighter – I was living in Spain

What should cable do to improve its image? Improve customer experience at every level from set top box interface to call center.

I watch the majority of programming on this device: iPad

Favorite Podcast: Tie: This American Life and The Moth

My favorite newfound hobby: Yoga

My personal theme song is:  Do I need one?

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is:  Whatever improves the TVE experience

Favorite vacation spot: Coast of Northeastern Brazil

My typical breakfast is:  Soft-boiled egg on toast

My Starbucks order: Grande latte

 

 

Clint Stinchcomb

What does the future look like for skinny bundles and flexible packaging? Extensive

Virtual reality is… somewhere between 3D and HD in regard to consumer potential and acceptance.

My first job: Paperboy, six days a week from 10-13 years old

My cable industry mentor and why: Bill Goodwyn and John Hendricks taught me how to do and how to dream.

My personal theme song is: “It’s a Beautiful Day”

Last show I watched not on my network(s): Better Call Saul

“Star Trek” celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. So if Mr. Spock’s motto is “Live Long and Prosper,” mine is…  Win the race you are in

My favorite hashtag is: #PokerCentral

New favorite binge: Rectify

Favorite vacation spot: Wilson Lake, Wilton, ME.

My typical breakfast is:  Whey protein shake or leftover dinner

My Starbucks order:  Venti coffee of the day

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