Cablefax The Magazine - April 2014 - 24

38 | Customer Wish
Fulfillment
Tom Montemagno
Title: EVP, Programming, Cablevision
Years in Cable: 25
Education: BS, marketing, St. John's University
Montemagno makes a point of listening to
customers and strives to deliver what they
want. As a result, he's added more VOD titles,
HD channels, seasonal sports packages and
foreign language offerings to Cablevision's
coffers. His reputation as a skilled negotiator
helped him land significant deals with
programming suppliers this year, giving
Optimum TV customers a compelling slate of
programs they can watch when, where and
they want.
I watch the majority of programming on this
device: Big screen television
Twitter or Instagram? Twitter
One thing I would do all the time if I could:
Play hockey (see picture)
Desert island album? AD/DC, Back in Black
Favorite TV show as a kid? As a young
adult, it was " Seinfeld " hands down! My
takeaway-most things in life can be boiled
down to a Seinfeld analogy! ■
39 | Goal-Oriented
Rocco Commisso
Title: Founder, Chairman/CEO, Mediacom
Years in Cable: 28
Education: MBA, Columbia University
In 2013, Commisso made headlines for taking the FCC to task for failing to act to curb programming
fees cable and satellite companies pay to broadcast and cable networks. And although
September's grand opening of Mediacom's new 110,000-square-foot eco-friendly headquarters
in Mediacom Park, N.Y., was a milestone, perhaps the biggest highlight of his year came a month
later when Columbia University named its soccer stadium in his honor. ■
40 |Hall of Famer To-Be
Jerry Kent
Title: Chairman/CEO, Suddenlink Communications
Years in Cable: 31
Education: BA, MBA, Washington University in St. Louis
Best Advice: Customer service is the cornerstone of success.
Under Kent's stewardship, 2013 marked Suddenlink's fourth straight
year growing relationships, hitting the 500,000 mark for phone
customers and seeing orders increase 67% on its newly relaunched
website. Suddenlink achieved a new company high in J. D. Power
customer satisfaction scores. In recognition of his many successes,
Kent will be inducted into The Cable Center Hall of Fame in 2014.
John, Paul, George or Ringo? Paul. My wife chatted with him when
he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and we saw him
perform recently. He's still terrific!
Beach or mountains? I feel strongly both ways, but if my kids are
with me, it's skiing in the mountains.
Favorite Restaurant: John Mineo's in St. Louis. St. Louis has
great Italian restaurants and I bring out-of-town people to Mineo's
(yes, including New Yorkers). They want to go back every time they
are in town.
Favorite vacation spot: Beaver Creek, Colo., skiing with my family.
24
cablefaxmag.com
The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year
is: It's all about broadband. ■
April 2014
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Cablefax The Magazine - April 2014

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