Cablefax The Magazine - December 2010 - 22

28|
PEACOCK'S SOUL
Bridget Baker
Title: President, TV
Networks Distribution,
NBC Universal
Years in Cable: 22
Education: BA, Pitzer
College; Graduate
studies, George
Washington U and Exeter College
I Watch TV Mostly: TiVo/Recorded
Why Her? As usual, the veteran Baker
delivered on all platforms in '10, exe29|
IN-DEMAND
ITINERANT
Kyle McSlarrow
Title: Pres/CEO,
NCTA
Years in Cable: 6
Education: BA,
Cornell; JD, U VA
Why Him? Ending
this spring after nearly
6 years, McSlarrow's tenure in recent
years featured involvement with notable
issues, including the DTV transition,
broadband funding and reclassifi cation,
30|
cuting significant " all-in " content deals
with top MVPDs and increasing HD
penetration by 41mln subs. And lest
we forget her multi-platform distribution
work on the '10 Winter Olympics,
which included interactive apps for
more than 40mln homes.
Kodiak Moment: Baker is a cable
veteran, but the Alaska native's first
job was working as a legislative aide to
Republican Senator Ted Stevens.
The Year Ahead: ? In the changed
NBC, Baker will be reporting to
new content distribution chief Matt
Bond. It would be folly to meddle
and retransmission reform-all of which
he addressed with a level-headedness
and diplomacy that earned him respect
from far-reaching corners. The reaction
to McSlarrow's leaving the NCTA throne
reminded us of friendlier times, when
cable's enemies and friends alike saluted
Decker Anstrom upon his departure from
NCTA in the late '90s, also after nearly
6 years. Of McSlarrow, NAB Pres/CEO
Gordon Smith said he was " particularly
gracious " when [Smith] transitioned from
Capitol Hill to NAB. Smith continued that
he'd " forever be grateful for [McSlarrow's]
wise counsel and friendship. "
IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL
Gary Marsh
Title: Pres, Entertainment
and Chief Creative Offi cer,
Disney Channels Worldwide
Years in Cable: 22
Education: BA, UCLA;
Harvard Business School
Drop-out.
I Watch TV Mostly: TiVo/
Recorded
Carolina
Lightcap
Title: President, Disney
Channels Worldwide
Years in Cable: 18
Education: BA, Columbia U
I Watch TV Mostly: Live
22
Why Them? Marsh obviously
didn't need a Harvard
education to succeed. Disney
Channel and ABC Family still
resonate. The former had 4
of 5 Emmy noms in the Outstanding
Children's Program
category in'10. Lightcap's
load is anything but light-the
relative of Che Guevara (honest)
is overseeing expansion
of 94 Disney channels globally.
Her biggest success has
been in Latin America.
You Dance Funny: Besides
bolstering its original movie
slate, in late '11, Disney
cablefaxmag.com
with the popular Baker, whose unit
has brought in $13.5bln during the
past 3.5 years and increased Bravo's
distribution 36% (25mln homes) since
it joined NBCU. Still, stranger things
have happened.
On Your iPad: Pandora and my
iPhoto library.
Favorite Non-NBC Show: Modern Family
Motto: Cowboy up.
Best Business Advice: " To hell with
the politics. Do what's right. " - Sen
Ted Stevens
Favorite City for Business: Philadelphia
Free Agent: The burning question is
where McSlarrow will turn up next, as he
has been forthright in his desire to segue
into the business and operations side
of cable. An operator? A programmer?
A tech play? We'll wager that there's no
shortage of suitors already. In any event,
the industry need not bid farewell, but
rather wish him well in whatever his new
endeavor becomes. He leaves behind
some awfully big shoes.
Year Ahead: Up, up, up for McSlarrow;
TBD for cable and NCTA.
Channel debuts Shake It Up,
the fi rst dance sitcom.
Year Ahead: Disney
Channel's ratings could improve.
Its '11 slate may help.
Marsh
Motto: " Do not go where the
path may lead. Go, instead,
to where there is no path and
leave a trail. " -Ralph Waldo
December 2010
Emerson
Business Advice: Never set
a target you know how to hit.
Lightcap
Motto: First things fi rst! (As
a working mom, it's all about
focus and prioritizing to maximize
the use of my time).
Most Underrated Drink:
Cold Diet Coke, no ice!
CableFAX: The Magazine
http://www.cablefaxmag.com
Cablefax The Magazine - December 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cablefax The Magazine - December 2010
