Cablefax The Magazine - April 2017 - 25

37. GOAL ORIENTED
Rocco B. Commisso
Founder, Chairman & CEO
Mediacom Communications
Chairman
New York Cosmos
Years in Cable: 38
Education: BS and MBA, Columbia University
Few cable executives are as closely identified
with their companies as Commisso, who founded
Mediacom in 1995 and has built it into one of
the top five US MVPDs. As part of a three-year,
$1 billion broadband investment, it became the
first US provider whose network meets DOCSIS
3.1 standards. The upgrade has enabled the
company to roll out a 1-gigabit service it calls
" Gigasphere " across its 22-state footprint. A
native of Calabria, Italy, Commisso tapped his
passion for soccer in January, buying a majority
stake in the North American Soccer League's
New York Cosmos. ■
38. UNDERGROUND SENSATION
Dana Zimmer
President, Content
Distribution
Tribune Media Co.
Years in Cable: 24
Education: BS, Syracuse
University; MA, American
University, School of Communication,
PR, Advertising
and Applied Communication
One Word that Best Describes
Me: Tenacious
Tribune has become a multifaceted
TV company since
emerging from bankruptcy
in 2013. Aside from being
one of the largest US
owners of local stations, it
runs cable network WGN
America, home to hits including
" Underground, " and popular websites and multicast networks such
as Antenna TV. Zimmer handles distribution for it all. That can often land her
in the middle of tricky negotiations with MVPDs over local station signals
or vice versa, with networks the stations are trying to reach terms with. But
having landed from NBC and Comcast at a delicate time for Tribune, Zimmer
has remained unfazed.
Q&A
What inspires you most about this industry? The constant evolution of
our industry is fascinating.
The biggest innovation in cable over the last year? OTT integration
The best thing about fast broadband is ... Easiest way to shop
What are the top three qualities you look for in a hire? Honest, unique,
prepared.
How do you celebrate your birthday? With friends and family, lots of
food and drink.
What product or service could you not live without? VOD.
How long is your morning commute? One flight of stairs after school
drop off.
Last show I watched not on my networks: " Homeland "
Best way to spend a Saturday night: Out with friends.
New favorite binge: " Big Little Lies " ■
39. BURGEONING MARKETS
Hakim Boubazine
Co-President & COO
Altice USA
Charles F. Stewart
Co-President & CFO
Altice USA
Successfully negotiating multi-year agreements
and enhancing broadband service to millions of
customers are always great accomplishments,
but when those things are done seamlessly in
the midst of major acquisitions it's even more
Cablefax: The Magazine
April 2017
impressive. Together, under the new Altice banner,
Boubazine and Stewart have managed to
increase Optimum's top broadband speed from
101 Mbps to 300 and 350 Mbps for residential
and business customers, respectively, expand
Suddenlink's 1 gigabit service to six more states,
and help bridge the digital divide with a pilot
program bringing low-cost broadband to eligible
families and seniors in the New York tri-state
area. They've also added more HD channels,
expanded Optimum WiFi hotspots, and launched
a user-friendly VOD interface. ■
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