Cablefax The Magazine - June 2013 - 49

82 | THE LONGTERM
PLANNER
Brian Sweeney
Title: Senior EVP, Strategy
and Chief of Staff, Cablevision
Systems
Years in Cable: 20
Education: BA, computer
science, University of Virginia;
MBA, finance, Wharton
School at the University of
Pennsylvania
Best Advice in 7 Words or
Less: Keep it simple.
Why Him? As Cablevision
continues to reinvent itself,
Sweeney works to ensure
that everything the MSO does
now ties into its long-term
strategic vision. His track
83 | PLAY BALL
Mark Silverman
Title: President,
Big Ten Network
Years in Cable: 22
Education: BA, UCLA; MBA,
University of Michigan
Best Advice: Never make
the same mistake twice.
Why Him? Since its launch
in 2007, Big Ten Network's
ratings, ad sales and programming
have enjoyed an upward
climb. Indeed, Silverman's
focus on the net's constant
self-improvement continues
to pay off. Ratings for BTN
Football Saturday in 2012 were
up 18% in the Adult 18-49
demo, and Big Ten Conference
basketball was up 27%. The
network is on top of digital as
well. Its mobile app, BTN2Go is
massively popular and distributed
by most MSOs. Up next
is Comcast, says the network,
which will expand its reach
even further. Look for more
great things from Silverman.
record speaks for itself. As the
former SVP of e-media, he
helped develop the Optimum
streaming video app that has
more than 1 million downloads
and features navigation
that is so good, the company
opted to deploy a similar style
across its entire digital video
product suite. One advantage:
Sweeney has worked almost
everywhere in the company
with touchpoints in ad sales,
affiliate sales, programming,
information systems, technology
architecture, engineering,
Beatles or The Rolling
Stones: Neither, I prefer
The Who.
On a Saturday afternoon,
you can find me... on Football
Saturdays, I move back
and forth between my office,
our studio, the green room,
our control room, our programming
department, our
affiliate relations department,
and our communications
department. And occasionally
I'm able to get out to a Big
Ten Football game.
Film festival or music
84 | SPORTING VIEWS
David Rone
Title: President, Sports,
News & Local Programming,
Time Warner
Cable
Years in Cable: 14
Education: BA, Tufts; JD, Northwestern
University School of Law
Best Advice in 7 Words or Less:
Have a sense of urgency and passion.
Why Him? When TWC launched its
two LA Lakers regional sports networks
in southern California, it was Rone who
steered the ship. He assembled a team
CableFAX: The Magazine
of 300 employees and landed full distribution
fewer than two months after
their debut. The enterprise went well
enough to earn him a promotion to his
current title, which demands oversight
of TWC's 53 local channels nationally,
as well as its 50 local VOD channels.
He has guided investments in the
upcoming LA Dodgers net as well,
dubbed SportsNet LA, and is rebranding
the MSO's local news and sports
outlets. Industry accolades for Rone
abound. He was named a founding
board member of the National Foundation
on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition
by Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary
of Health and Human Services. And
June 2013
financial management, etc. No
wonder he's the guy keeping
the strategic trains running
on time.
Apple or Samsung? Apple
Beatles or The Rolling
Stones? Beatles
On a Saturday afternoon,
you can find me... coaching
soccer.
This is the hobby I've
been itching to try, but
haven't found time: Kite
boarding
Appetizer or dessert?
Dessert
Film fest or music festival?
Music festival
The other subject I wish
I'd picked for my college
major: Philosophy
Favorite decade? '80s
I watch the majority of
programming on this
device: Television
Netflix or Hulu? Netflix
If I could tell my 21-yearold
self something today,
it would be... be patient.
Favorite vacation spot?
Caribbean Islands ■
fest? I'm still stuck in the
'80s musically and am much
more of an independent film
festival guy from my early
days working with Miramax.
My favorite Cable Show
memory: Hosting Big Ten
basketball coaches Tom
he has appeared on lists such as the
" 50 Most Powerful African-American
in Sports " by Black Enterprise and
the " 101 Most Influential Minorities in
Sports " by Sports Illustrated.
The hobby I've been itching to
try: Cooking
My new year's resolution for
2014 will be... healthy eating
My peers would be surprised to
learn that I... never learned to type.
I consider this person my mentor,
and here's why: John Cooke, former
EVP, corporate affairs, at The Walt Disney
Company. I learned so much about
corporate relationships, getting to YES
Izzo, Thad Matta, Bruce
Weber and Wisconsin AD
Barry Alvarez at the 2007
Cable Show prior to the BTN
launch and watching the
lines of people form to meet
them and ask about how
they could get BTN.
The biggest lesson I
learned from my kid(s)
this year was... People
really can watch TV, text
on their phone, play games
on their computer, and do
their homework-all at the
same time. ■
in conflict situations and about always
taking the long-term view versus the
short and easy path.
Cable exec I wish had done a
Harlem Shake video? Rob Marcus
If I could tell my 21-year-old
self something today, it would
be... Laugh a little more
I wish Congress would just...
all get on the
same page.
Favorite business and/or
motivational book? Winning by
Jack Welch
Favorite vacation spot?
Four Seasons Hualalai Resort in
Kona Hawaii ■
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