Revare leads the newly founded T-Mobile Home & Entertainment team and is strategizing the future of T-Mobile video products, including newly acquired Layer3 TV. “We’ve become more comfortable with the facts related to cord-cutting, mobile viewing and changing video habits,” she says, “[and] we must challenge ourselves to stay apprised of the latest data and build organizations that can anticipate customer needs and adapt quickly.”
A February 2018 UCLA study revealed that of the 45 new scripted shows approved for 2017-18 across broadcast, cable and digital platforms, only four were from creators of color, all of whom were black. What is your reaction to this report?
It’s a move in the right direction, but we have work to do. We should not dismiss the efforts of those four and their accomplishments, but we have to keep pushing. As America becomes more diverse, it is up to the entertainment industry to ensure that the actors in front of the screen, and the staff and creators behind the screen reflect that diversity. It is also up to each one of us to vote by remote and watch shows that reflect diversity and speak out.
What’s your best advice to someone just entering the video content/distribution industry?
Think creatively, pay attention to the details, and always put the consumer first. Our industry is changing constantly and ripe for innovation. Someone entering the business now will succeed if they focus on learning the nuances (quickly!), helping the organization evolve to stay relevant, and leading the disruption with the consumer being front of mind.
What’s been the most dramatic change in your sector of the business today vs. three years ago?
The pace of change and willingness to start thinking a little differently. It is undeniable how quickly our industry is changing, but we’ve become more comfortable with the facts related to cord-cutting, mobile viewing and changing video habits. With such dramatic changes in such a short period of time, we must challenge ourselves to stay apprised of the latest data and build organizations that can anticipate customer needs and adapt quickly.