In this welcome session, we’ll set the stage for two days of game-changing discussions vital to the future of the business.

Amid this era of consolidation, we’ll share strategies to maintain one-on-one consumer connections we’ll discuss how to wow consumers, innovate in an increasingly chaotic arena and inspire creativity at all levels.

To kick things off, we’ll turn to Comcast Corporation’s David L. Cohen, who will discuss cable’s role in the community and how a commitment to localism can help operators big and small shine. Cohen will discuss how Comcast initiatives, such as Internet Essentials and Comcast Cares Day serve overall business goals as they expand local relationships and customer bonds.

Then we’ll open it up to the room to share battle stories (and scars) as we debate solutions and strategies and discuss how to organize the corporate culture to compete and partner with content distribution “frenemies.” And where can content owners and distributors work together to better serve consumers

This discussion will segue to CTAM’s Vicki Lins, who will share exclusive data on how CTAM’s Connected Consumer initiatives shed new light on how the industry brands and portrays itself in the media and across its marketing matrix. As part of the ensuing discussion, participants will discuss the best ways for all sides of the industry to work together toward common goals.

Finding new revenue is how the top leaders in this industry ensure a healthy environment where employees and customers can thrive and contribute to the growth of the business.

But as the conversation between distributors and content owners evolves, it’s clear that macro-economic trends can create challenges even as companies enhance the customer and viewer experience.

MoffettNathanson’s Craig Moffett will start us off as we delve into the central question about cable’s traditionally core product: What’s the future of video? He’ll dissect the market and give us a sense of where the business is headed—and what kind of strategies may best position different industry sectors for success. 

And as more content gets peeled away from that traditional bundle and goes direct-to-consumer, we’ll turn to Wolfe Research’s Marci Ryvicker to give us a sense of how the vast and sweeping changes to the business model is affecting distributors, programmers and even the technology sector as relationships evolve and revenue models shift in line with consumer trends.

Learn from your peers, share your own success stories and pow-wow with the best and brightest to uncover new business opportunities, platforms and partnerships.

What better way to wake up then a crisp walk along the beach to take in the sights, smells and sounds of the beautiful setting of the Ocean Reef Club at Key Largo.

During our 2018 Retreat, senior leaders agreed that Blockchain could vastly change the business in unpredictable ways. But what exactly is Blockchain, how does it work—and what does it have to do with TV, broadband and consumer entertainment?

First, we’ll ask Adventure Corp.’s Michael Hoydich to walk us through Blockchain-based “tokens” and other ways that the technology could generate several new revenue streams for distributors, programmers, content producers and other entertainment sectors. You won’t want to miss this one as we open it up to the room and dive headfirst into this intriguing (and sometimes confusing) world best known for driving cryptocurrency—but fast becoming so much more.

But as everything from Blockchain to Virtual Reality waxes and wanes in the public consciousness, savvy leaders often must pivot on a dime to ensure they can fully exploit business opportunities. That’s why we’ll check in with Alcacruz’s Emily Ward, whose has evolved into serving the hot sports and eSports markets. Then we’ll share strategies on how to stay nimble in such a fast-evolving marketplace—no matter what sector of the business involved.

After that discussion, we’ll turn to IBM's Michael Clanton to give us an update on the most important technology developments around how artificial intelligence could help revolutionize the services that operators and programmers provide to customers. From telemedicine to new entertainment options, the future looks exceedingly bright despite challenges around competition and consolidation.

We’ll open it up to the room to discuss ways that top executives are exploiting these fundamental shifts, firing up the rank and file to integrate these new innovations into products and services, and making high-level strategic moves to pull well ahead of the competition.

And we’ll share success stories from those who have already implemented strategies, as well as brainstorm ways companies can apply what works to different corporate environments.

We’ll examine how industry leaders are prioritizing strategies with a laser-focus on both short-term and long-term opportunities and threats.

Of course, it’s impossible to properly assess those opportunities without understanding the current playing field—made even more tenuous as we head into primary season and what’s sure to be a contentious Presidential election next year.

Because Congress, the FCC and other agencies affecting cable and broadband don’t operate in a vacuum, we’ll turn to NCTA’s Dane Snowden and ACA’s Matt Polka to give us a sense of how priorities in Washington are shifting as the political season heats up. What can we learn from the last two years of a new Administration and its priorities?

We’ll discuss how to apply that knowledge to better navigate every nook and cranny of Washington policy and ultimately help our businesses thrive, tackling how different sectors of cable & broadband can work together to apply pressure on policymakers—or perhaps even just get out of each other’s way.

In addition to policy talk, we’ll handicap several industry changes in 2019 and beyond and share experiences to forge a strategic vision that could generate new businesses and partnerships.

In this final roundtable, we’ll discuss overall takeaways from the last two days of discussions—and we’ll brainstorm key actions that senior executives must take today to ensure a robust and growth-oriented strategy going forward