Cablefax The Magazine - August 2021 - 60

CONTENT LEADERS
4. WONDER WOMAN
Ann Sarnoff | Chair & CEO, WarnerMedia Studios and
Networks Group
WarnerMedia
Years in Media & Broadband: 30+
Education: BS, Georgetown University's McDonough School
of Business; MBA, Harvard Business School
My personal superpower is: Empowering the world's
greatest storytellers in order to entertain global audiences
Sarnoff has been hard at work
uniting the various creative
brands under her care since
she entered her expansive
new role last August, and
she's had to make some tough
calls. On each occasion, she
has embraced flexibility and
welcomed whatever course of
action allowed viewers to best
connect with WarnerMedia's
content. That meant being
bold by pivoting the company's
theatrical model and creating
cultural moments around the
release of films like the longawaited
" Zack Snyder's Justice
League. " Strengthening
the fan connection is key for
Sarnoff, and she knew she had to act fast when San Diego ComicCon
and E3 were canceled in 2020. Her team joined together a la
Justice League to put on the DC FanDome, a free digital experience
that showed off everything coming from the DC Comics universe
in the months ahead. It drew in 22 million viewers, and Sarnoff is
already planning 2021's edition.
MY PROUDEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT OVER
THE PAST 12 MONTHS IS... To have led a team that has
proven to be one of the most creative, forward-thinking, resilient and
successful in the industry, no matter what was put in front of them. We
gained tremendous momentum with HBO Max in its first year, pivoted
our theatrical distribution release strategy to great success, created the
hugely successful DC FanDome-the first global digital fan experience
for our incredible DC fans-and secured more than 100 series
commitments at the upfronts, all against the backdrop of a worldwide
pandemic. I am beyond proud.
HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC FOREVER CHANGED
PROGRAMMING? During lockdown, audiences viewed any/all
programming from their living room sofas. Coming out of the pandemic,
we need to find ways to bring people back to theaters with compelling
films and theatrical experiences. In the home, the fight for viewers is
more competitive than ever, so we have to create the best series and
tell the best stories on all of our linear channels and HBO Max.
WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER
STREAMING LOOK LIKE? Customizing the experience so that
we're able to continually surprise and delight viewers with series and
movies that they will love.
MY COMFORT TV BINGE? The " Friends " Reunion and my
favorite Friends episodes (e.g., The One with the Jellyfish) ■
5. EYE ON THE PRIZE
Bob Bakish | President & CEO
ViacomCBS
Years in Media & Broadband: 23
Education: BS & MBA, Columbia University
Bakish's prowess as a rainmaker continues to shine more than a year into his tenure
leading the combined ViacomCBS. After executing a capital raise of nearly $3 billion
this spring, he quickly committed to boosting the spend at fledgling Paramount+ so the
streamer can start delivering one movie a week and compete with the likes of Netflix
and Disney+. Bakish is also pushing carriage agreements across platforms including
ad-supported Pluto TV, like the long-term multiplatform distribution pact with the NFL
through the 2033 season. And European football is top of mind at ViacomCBS, too. CBS
Sports and Paramount+ in April acquired exclusive U.S. rights to Serie A, the premier
Italian soccer league, and the company is the new U.S. home to UEFA, the governing
body of European football. Look for Bakish to oversee continued deal-making in the
wake of the $500 million sale of CNET Media Group and acquisition of a 49 percent
stake in Miramax, as well as deeper moves in direct-to-consumer offerings. ■
60
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August 2021
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