Steve Weed, Harold Zeitz, Patrick Knorr & Wayne Schattenkerk
Steve Weed
Title: Founder & CEO, Wave Broadband
Years in Cable: 35
Education: Harvard Business School
One Word that Best Describes Me: Broadband Guy
Harold Zeitz
Title: President & COO, Wave Broadband
Years in Cable: 2
Education: BA, Economics, Northwestern; MBA, Stanford
One Word that Best
Describes Me: Curious
Patrick Knorr
Title: EVP, Commercial Services, Wave Broadband
Years in Cable: 19
Education: Kansas State University
One Word that Best
Describes Me: Driven
Wayne Schattenkerk
Title: CFO, Wave Broadband
Years in Cable: 15
Education: BBA, Accounting, University of Notre Dame; MBA, University of Washington
One Word that Best
Describes Me: Teammate
Wave continues to build itself into one of the most powerful broadband B2B players in big tech markets like Seattle and Silicon Valley. Weed and Knorr have each served as ACA chairman and have put their fingerprints all over the tier 2/tier 3 sector of the industry. Schattenkerk is the chair of the NCTC. A year ago, Wave announced that Zeitz would serve as the company’s president and COO. Also in 2015, the company announced the acquisition of Layer42 Networks, a provider of B2B Internet connectivity, colocation and data transport services. Additionally, Schattenkerk has led successful negotiations with AMC and NBCU, making sure that Wave has the cash for its acquisitions and technology innovations.
Steve Weed
What does the future look like for skinny bundles and flexible packaging? OTT options will continue to provide more customer choice
My dream would be for: Wineries to be connected to the Internet of Things so it could automatically replenish my cellar.
What was your first job? Scooping ice cream… Yum!
Favorite charity event you work with: RP 6 — helps returning vets renter civilian work/life.
What excites you most about DOCSIS 3.1? I like Gig E better!
“Star Trek” celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. So if Mr. Spock’s motto is “Live Long and Prosper,” mine is… Go big — go Gig!
What should cable do to improve its image? Ensure cable content is completely at our customers’ choice/option.
Hoverboard, driverless car or drone: Driverless car!
The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is: IP video delivered OTT by other retailers
My Starbucks order: A triple tall latte
Harold Zeitz
What does the future look like for skinny bundles and flexible packaging? Customers want a bundle with and without sports. Sports accounts for about 50 percent of the cost of the bundle. Unlikely programmers would agree to such a split. The clearest path for customer choice is OTT and consumer created bundles. Helping customers get OTT video choices is the path that is accelerating.
Virtual reality is: Amazing, there will be many practical uses that will surprise us. It is not just for gaming. Imagine being able to tour a house or visit a faraway city and it feel as real as if you were there. Imagine a surgeon practicing a procedure…
What was your first job? Dishwasher at a restaurant in a bowling alley in Kenmore, Washington.
Favorite charity event you work with: PUPS — People United for Pets
“Star Trek” celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. So if Mr. Spock’s motto is “Live Long and Prosper,” mine is…Where there is a way, there is a better way.
What was the last costume that you wore and why? M&M bag. It was Halloween at the office and I was matching my outfit with my dog who went as a fun size bag of M&Ms.
What should cable do to improve its image? Extract from appearing to raise rates because programmers raise rates. Find a better alternative to the 12-month promo and step up pricing after promo. Should also embrace OTT programming as an alternative strategy to help customers get their video entertainment.
Best way to spend a Saturday night: Dinner and Netflix
New favorite binge: “Parks and Recreation”
My cable industry mentor and why: Steve Friedman. Willingness to take the time to explain historical context and unbelievable recall.
Hoverboard, driverless car or drone: Hoverboard
I watch the majority of programming on this device: Samsung S7 Edge
Favorite Podcast: Freakonomics
My typical breakfast is: Yogurt and granola
My Starbucks order: Black Tea Lemonade
Patrick Knorr
What does the future look like for skinny bundles and flexible packaging? Essential to the future of the video product both for networks and distributors
What was your first job? Video intern TCI Local Cable Access- Manhattan, KS
If this election year was a reality TV series, it would be called… “Barbarians At the Gate”
Hoverboard, driverless car or drone: Driverless car- total game changer
I watch the majority of programming on this device: My television… but seldom live.
Wayne Schattenkerk
Last show I watched not on my network(s): “House of Cards”
What was your first job? Dishwasher
Best way to spend a Saturday night: Enjoying a Notre Dame victory during football season
Hoverboard, driverless car or drone: Driverless car
My favorite newfound hobby: Wake surfing
Favorite vacation spot: Warm locales with excellent scuba diving!
My typical breakfast is: Oatmeal, fruit and hot tea
My Starbucks order: Water — I’ve never liked coffee