Foster was one of a triumvirate of new data strategists Viacom brought in last year to develop, market and monetize data products, and bolster the company’s advanced analytics and marketing solutions. He hit the ground running, working to build predictive tools that fuse art and science, and help advertisers connect with audiences in more relevant ways. Foster, who previously served as head of brand initiatives at Outbrain, believes machine learning is the way of the future for cable. “The ability to use large amounts of data to gain insight into what audiences want will revolutionize how television shows are made,” he says.
