EVP, Content Operations & Creative Services, ESPN

At the start of the year Markley stepped into this role, adding oversight of the creative and studio direction group, the ESPN stats and information group and the L.A. Production Center to her purview. During the last year she and her team oversaw Euro 2016 coverage, successfully executed the College Football Playoff National Championship “megacast,” and equipped new studios for several series. Her crew also helped create the remote facility EN-1, which supports Monday Night Football. The biggest story in cable this year has been live streaming, she says, noting, “Sports fans now have the opportunity to take their cable anywhere—to watch what they want, when they want and where they want.”

What advice would you give your 13-year-old self?

What people think of you is not as important as what you think of yourself.  And…try not to lose your retainer.

Which current programming best reflects the kind of women’s roles you like to see and why?

I am so proud of ESPN’s slate of programming that features women in the lead role.  For example, Jessica Mendoza providing analysis on Major League Baseball, Doris Burke on Men’s and Women’s basketball, Suzy Kolber hosting NFL Insiders, Sage Steele and Michelle Beadle hosting ESPN and ABC’s NBA studio shows and Chris McKendry hosting our Grand Slam tennis coverage.  Within ESPN, women are in charge of some of our most critical areas such as Event Production, Operations and ESPN the Magazine.  And our Chief Financial Officer and our Head of Business Development are both women. A good portion of our fan base is comprised of women and our on-air and behind-the-scenes roles should be reflective of our audience.

What’s been the biggest story in cable this year? 

Live streaming is a real game changer.  Sports fans now have the opportunity to take their cable anywhere – to watch what they want, when they want and where they want.

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VP Harris Introduces Federal Policy Around AI Tools

In a continuation of what is a major week of conversation on Capitol Hill around artificial intelligence, VP Kamala Harris unveiled the first government-wide policy regarding the use of AI tools by federal

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