Mel Berning
Title: Chief Revenue Officer, A+E Networks
Years in Cable: 11
Education: BA, University of Virginia; BA, Columbia University; MSJ, MBA Joint Program in Media Management, Columbia University
Best Advice in 7 Words or Less: Don’t let perfection be the enemy of the good.

David Zagin
Title: President, Distribution, A+E Networks
Years in Cable: 28
Education: BS, Syracuse University
Best Advice in 7 Words or Less: Be true to yourself.

Elevated to Chief Revenue Officer in the last year, Berning focuses on leveraging A+E Networks’s brands to create 360-degree ad sales partnerships and sponsorships with flashing programming events, like the Sam Adams partnership with History’s “Sons of Liberty” and A&E’s Critics Choice Awards’ deal with Pizza Hut. In his new role he’ll attend to all revenue-generating initiatives for A+E Networks’s suite of networks as well all departments with responsible for producing revenue. Zagin, meanwhile, has spent the past year handling affiliate sales revenue, domestic distribution, affiliate marketing and TV Everywhere advances for A+E Networks. New media and business development for distributors also falls under his purview. In the coming year he’ll execute A+E Networks’s emerging platform distribution strategy across the entire portfolio.

Berning
I watch most programming on this device: my 60-inch Ultra HD
Apple iWatch or Rolex? Rolex for dress, iWatch for the gym
Favorite TV show as a kid: “Homicide” (It took me a while to grow up!)
Dish I can make and that would impress a celebrity chef: Low Country Boil with andouille sausage.
My favorite business/motivational book: Moneyball

Zagin
I watch most programming on this device: I still prefer to watch video on an HD screen. I will acknowledge that the iPad is picking up a lot of momentum as my preferred second device.
Embrace or reject “virtual MSOs”? Regardless of whether we want to accept or reject virtual MSOs, the real answer is that we cannot stop technology so therefore we should embrace this next evolution of distribution.
Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat? Instagram. Great way to see photos of my kids
Favorite vacation spot: Israel. Had a great family trip there two years ago and can’t wait to return, hopefully many more times.
Favorite TV show as a kid: The Saturday night block of “All in the Family” and “Mary Tyler Moore.” I guess that says a lot about my social life as a kid….

The Daily

Subscribe

Let’s Not Make a Deal

S&P’s TMT deal tracker reports that media and telecom M&A plunged to a 13-month low in February, with North American media and telecom companies striking 96 transactions worth nearly $160 million in aggregate transaction value.

Read the Full Issue
The Skinny is delivered on Tuesday and focuses on the cable profession. You'll stay in the know on the headlines, topics and special issues you value most. Sign Up

Calendar

Apr 25
2024 Cablefax 100 Awards Magazine Release: April 25, 2024
Jun 13
2024 American Broadband Congress Conference Registration is Open!
Jun 26
2024 FAXIES Awards Nominations Are Open!
Full Calendar

Jobs

Seeking an INDUSTRY JOB?
VIEW JOBS

Hiring? In conjunction with our sister brand, Cynopsis, we are offering hiring managers a deep pool of media-savvy, skilled candidates at a range of experience levels and sectors, The result will be an even more robust industry job board, to help both employers and job seekers.

Contact Rob Hudgins, [email protected], for more information.