Mel Berning & David Zagin
Mel Berning
Title: President, Ad Sales, A+E Networks
Years in Cable: 14
Education: St. Xavier, Cincinnati; MSJ, University of Virginia; MBA, Columbia University
Best Advice: Take a deep breath; pick it up tomorrow.
David Zagin
Title: President, Distribution, A+E Networks
Years in Cable: 27
Education: Syracuse University
Best Advice: Look forward because you can’t change the past.
Zagin and Berning drive revenue at AETN. And lately, it’s been a very good ride. On the distribution side, Zagin helped the programmer’s TV Everywhere product hit 68 million homes and counting. He’ll continue to work at developing and executing strategy for emerging platform distribution. Similarly, Berning is increasingly charting new ad sales territory, such as Geico vignettes targeted to each AETN that airs “Bonnie & Clyde,” and product integrations, which are performing well on cross platform. Both are huge golfers, but we won’t say who has the lower handicap!
Zagin
I watch the majority of programming on this device: TV is still my preferred device, with the iPad a distant second.
TV show I’d most like to have a cameo in: “Pawn Stars” because I have a few things that have been sitting around that I want to get rid of.
Oscars or Grammys? Neither, prefer the Emmys
Favorite Restaurant: Celebrated many good times at Gotham Bar and Grill
Favorite vacation spot: Not sure if it qualifies as my favorite, but just had a great family vacation in Spain.
Favorite TV show as a kid: The CBS Saturday night comedy block in the ’70’s with “All in the Family” and “Mary Tyler Moore”
My favorite business/motivational book: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Berning
I watch the majority of programming on this device: The couch in my study in front of the 60-inch plasma. (Sharper colors.)
TV show I’d most like to have a cameo in: 1) “Vikings” 2) “Ray Donovan”
My favorite newfound hobby: Shooting clay targets with a shotgun.
The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is: Better multiscreen measurement
Favorite Restaurant: Sushi Yasuda
Favorite vacation spot: St. Simon’s Island.
Favorite TV show as a kid: “Wonderful World of Disney.” Of course!
Dish I can make and that would impress a celebrity chef: Shrimp and grits.
My favorite business/motivational book: Moneyball by Michael Lewis
