Luis Silberwasser
Brand new to the role of Telemundo Network president, Silberwasser leads the network as well as its in-house production arm, Telemundo Studios. He’ll work closely with the Hispanic Enterprises and Content senior team and the network’s leadership in developing growth strategy, with a spotlight on increased market share and profitability. As the former EVP and chief content officer for Discovery Networks International, Silberwasser led the charge in DNI’s international expansion. Under his watch, Discovery’s programming continues to go global and now amounts to 185 international networks in more than 220 countries worldwide. He finds diversity extremely important, both on and off screen. “As a broadcast network, we’re here to serve a broad audience. Thus, we need to accurately reflect how they look, how they think, and what they believe in,” he says. “That requires variety in our pool of writers, producers, designers and decision makers, in addition to screen talent.”
What’s the definition of diversity in 2014, and how can the cable industry do better in the area of inclusiveness?
It is extremely important to have diverse talent on and off screen. As a broadcast network, we’re here to serve a broad audience. Thus, we need to accurately reflect how they look, how they think, and what they believe in. That requires variety in our pool of writers, producers, designers and decision makers, in addition to screen talent. After all, we work in a creative and highly competitive industry…Diversity is not just the right thing, it’s also smart business. To ignore it would be a big mistake.
What qualities do you look for when making a new hire?
When I’m hiring, I look for someone who is smart (intellectually and street-wise), as well as someone with a proven track record of new ideas, creativity and collaboration.
Name one emerging trend in cable we should all have our eye on.
New technologies have changed the way people watch television. The ability to consume content on demand and on multiple devices is forcing all of us to innovate and create better and bigger content to breakthrough and aggregate audiences. The result is that the quality on TV today is better than ever before.
