Cablefax The Magazine May 2023 - 19

GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS
Steve Simmons
Chairman of the Board
Astound Broadband
9
HOMETOWN: Greenwich, CT
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Philadelphia Eagles
I WANT 30 SECONDS IN AN ELEVATOR WITH: George Washington
or Franklin Roosevelt
Simmons and the Astound team have been leading the pack in the
years since it was acquired by Stonepeak. Astound was recognized
for the seventh year in a row by PCMag as the top Cable
Internet Service Provider in the site's Readers' Choice Awards with
voters ranking it highly in overall speed, customer service and
reliability. Perhaps more impressively, Astound Business Solutions
recorded the highest-ever score with PCMag's readers in the same
survey. Astound recently launched wireless internet backup capabilities
for business customers, enabling folks to stay connected
even if their primary internet connection is down. Under Simmons,
Astound also introduced its first annual Small Business Sweepstakes,
a program recognizing small businesses in its markets and
offering them a chance to win a year of free service.
Q&A
PICKLEBALL OR TENNIS? Tennis
INDUSTRY TOP PRIORITY FOR
2023: Refining DOCSIS 4.0 production and
deployment time frames, and also continuing
to roll out fiber to the home (FTTH).
HOW DO YOU PERSONALLY GIVE BACK
TO YOUR COMMUNITY? Contributions to a
number of charities.
STREAMING APP I USE THE MOST: Prime
Video
MY BEST IDEAS COME IN... discussions with
our company management team.
LAST TV SERIES WATCHED: " Bad Sisters "
and " Tehran " ●
INDEPENDENT-MINDED
Channing Dungey
Chairman & CEO
Warner Bros. Television Group
9
HOMETOWN: Sacramento, CA
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: UCLA Bruins
I WANT 30 SECONDS IN AN ELEVATOR WITH: Michelle Obama
At a time when the industry continues to sell more within
its own conglomerates, WBTVG is the industry's top independent
studio and its evolving strategy is thanks in large
part to the vision of Dungey. The company is producing
more than 110 series, specials and movies for more than
20 platforms. Dungey has creative responsibility for all of
production, and her knack for cultivating relationships with
visionary creators and storytellers including Jason Sudekis,
Mindy Kaling and Qunita Brunson is paying off in spades.
WBGTV is behind recent hits including " Ted Lasso " (Apple
TV+), " Night Court " (NBC), " Abbott Elementary " (ABC)
and " The Sex Lives of College Girls " (HBO Max).
Q&A
WHERE DO YOU WORK MOST FREQUENTLY-
HOME, OFFICE, ROAD? I'm usually in the office 3-4
days a week. I like being able to engage with colleagues
face to face - you can't replicate that energy
over Zoom. But as a working mom, I appreciate the
flexibility that a hybrid schedule allows.
MY BEST IDEAS COME WHEN... I'm actually able to
step away from work. If I'm trying to solve a problem,
I like to get outdoors and take a hike.
PODCAST, RADIO OR AUDIOBOOK? My preference
is usually music-I love a good playlist-but I never
miss NPR's " Pop Culture Happy Hour " podcast. ●
Cablefax100.com
May 2023
19
http://www.Cablefax100.com
Cablefax The Magazine May 2023

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