Van Toffler
Years in Cable: 27, but who is counting?
Education: George Washington University and University of Pennsylvania
Best Advice: Risk, Fail… Maybe Win, Risk, Fail Again.
Whether you think Miley’s VMA twerking was all the rage or an outrage, there’s no denying the awards show generated huge buzz among the 10 million people who tuned in. Fostering a creative environment is a specialty of Toffler, who has also excelled at building key relationships in the film, TV and music community as he has grown Viacom’s brands. MTV2 and Logo saw their highest-rated years in 2013, while CMT ratings catapulted more than 30%. Look for Toffler to guide further growth at CMT with a slew of new, bold programming. He also plans to bring more content diversity at VH1 with new reality and scripted shows, and he wants to bridge MTV and Logo to help propel the latter to new heights. This is one exec who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty: As a teenager he worked at the N.Y. State Department of Sanitation cleaning sewers.
I watch the majority of programming on this device: the TV, but only with the audio off.
The biggest innovation in cable over the last year: Nielsen adding mobile measurement
TV show I’d most like to have a cameo in: “East Bound and Down” but I am too late.
John, Paul, George or Ringo? George
Cable exec I’d most like to see twerking: Already seen it and not telling.
Cable exec I’d least like to see twerking: Same person as above.
I wish Congress would just… Enact gun control legislation.
Twitter or Instagram? Twitter—you can’t get in as much trouble with 140 characters, as you can with a photo. Or maybe you can.
One thing I would do all the time if I could: Go see live music.
Favorite Cable Show memory: Our concert with Moby at NCTA
Justin Bieber or Miley? Given the love MTV has shared with Miley over the last few months, she’s my gal.
Oscars or Grammys? Video Music Awards
Beach or mountains? Beach
Alec Baldwin.. NY or LA? Neither
Who’s on tap for the next big comeback? Justin Bieber
Favorite TV show as a kid: “Fat Albert & The Cosby Kids”
