After 15 years at Scripps Networks, most recently as svp, ad sales and media partnerships, Regis has successfully transitioned into his new role at Discovery. He heads up the HGTV, ID, Animal Planet and DIY Network bundle under the Discovery-Scripps reorganization. He advises those entering the business to “be voracious in reading about every aspect of the business (Content, Technology, Law, Talent, Data, Biographies, anything you can get your hands or eyes on).” Regis also recommends asking a lot of questions; “especially of things that don’t make sense to you; you just may find out that you are right and the common thinking is wrong.”
What’s a recent example of a step forward for diversity in the industry?
I think that the hiring of a few programming executives at Netflix and other streaming and digital companies is interesting as they are spending an incredible amount of money to break into and upend the current video ecosystem and they felt very comfortable in hiring people of color because they were the absolute best hires.
In what areas should the industry step up its efforts with regard to diversity and inclusion?
To steal from our friends at Nike: “Just Do It”
What’s your best advice to someone just entering the video content/distribution industry?
Be voracious in reading about every aspect of the business (Content, Technology, Law, Talent, Data, Biographies, anything you can get your hands or eyes on). Ask a lot of questions; especially of things that don’t make sense to you; you just may find out that you are right and the common thinking is wrong.
What’s been the most dramatic change in your sector of the business today vs. three years ago?
The video consumer now has choice; all of the prior business models have to adapt to that hard fact or perish.
