Lee joined Starz this January and has since helped resolve the company’s most significant carriage dispute in recent history. In addition, she oversees legal for the company’s international expansion efforts, including launches of branded channels in Canada, Germany and the UK. “The evolution of the OTT, SVOD and social media platforms is definitely one of the most dramatic shifts in the industry,” Lee says.
What are your thoughts on the industry’s current response to the “#MeToo” movement, and its treatment of men who have been accused of sexual harassing and/or assaulting women and men? Are there other steps you feel should be taken?
In some cases, companies are not taking claims seriously until they are hearing from multiple victims. We need to fight our sometimes-reflexive urge to behave defensively when these allegations come to light. Instead, every claim needs to be thoroughly and promptly investigated when reported to get at the truth.
What’s a recent example of a step forward for women in the media industry?
It was nice to see three women added to the CBS board recently. I hope we see more representation of women on boards in the future.
Who is an inspirational woman you admire, and why?
My mother. She is a shrewd, hard-working immigrant from China who raised three daughters in a country where she didn’t know the language and culture. She provided stability in the home so my father could pursue a successful engineering career. Her work ethic and standards for how to treat people were principles that served me well in building my own career.
What’s been the most dramatic change in your sector of the business today vs. three years ago?
The evolution of the OTT, SVOD and social media platforms is definitely one of the most dramatic shifts in the industry over the last few years. This has led Starz, as well as our competitors, to find ways to adapt to this changing landscape to ensure that we continue to grow our audience and bring the most compelling content to viewers where they are.
