Cablefax The Magazine - December 2010 - 23

31|
SHOOTING STARZ?
Chris Albrecht
slate of originals. We're anxious to see
what surprises he unveils in '11.
Title: President/CEO, Starz (not pictured)
Number of Years in Cable: 23
Education: BA, Hofstra University
Bill Myers
Title: President/CEO, Starz Ent (right)
Number of Years in Cable: 21
Education: BA, Accounting, NM State U
I Watch TV Mostly: Live
Why Them? Albrecht began as a standup
comic, but since taking over Starz
he's been serious about growth. Albrecht
and Myers have successfully partnered
with global content providers and made
an immediate impact, delivering content
with domestic and foreign appeal
32|
SWIFT AND RELIABLE
Jerry Kent
Title: Chairman/CEO, Suddenlink
Number of Years in Cable: 27
Education: BS, MBA, Washington U
I Watch TV Mostly: TiVo/Recorded
Why Him? There's something to be said
about doing what you promised you
were going to do. Kent believes this basic
business rule was a significant part of
the reason Suddenlink improved its J.D.
Power customer satisfaction scores for
the second straight year. Add increases
in revenue, earnings and RGUs, and
Kent has earned his high place on our
list once again. He also gets points for
33| Madison Bond
BONDED
Title: EVP, Content
Acquisition,Comcast
Years in Cable: 12
(CFAX estimate)
Education: BS, BA, U
of Denver; JD, U of CO
Why Him? Is it better to be respected or
feared? Why not both? Bond has long
overseen Comcast's content universe
CableFAX: The Magazine
Chris Albrecht
On Your iPad: email, Starz' series cuts
3DTV is: Our friend.
In '11, Cable Will: Grow
Most Creative Part of My Job: Talking
to all our talented people.
Non-Starz Fave: Gossip Girls, really
Best Business Advice: Do a good job
like Spartacus and Pillars of the Earth.
Albrecht is still in his honeymoon at Starz,
with much of his record TBD.
Year Ahead: With Albrecht, Starz
seems on track to continue its impressive
his quiet but effective community service.
Just Imagine: Kent's belief in staying
competitive means investing. So he
started Project Imagine, a $350mln plan
focused on incremental improvement in
the MSO's network, infrastructure and
services. The money is over and above
normal capital investments. And at press
time, Suddenlink said it was acquiring
NPG Cable and its 83K subs.
Year Ahead: Kent's focus on longterm
thinking and investment bodes well
despite competition and challenges for
ops of Suddenlink's size.
On Your iPad: Everything I need to
make it my favorite connected device.
Biggest Threat to Cable: Failure to
with a no-nonsense style that has
served the MSO well-yet he has mostly
avoided the nasty public carriage battles
and retrans fights that have plagued
other operators. We're sure programmers
will miss lovingly staring into Bond's
eyes from across the negotiating table
after he ascends to EVP, Content Distribution
upon completion of the ComcastNBCU
deal. But we're guessing they'll
somehow learn to go on without him.
Seriously, we expect Bond will do especially
well in his new role, considering he
December 2010
Bill Myers
On Your iPad: Primarily music
3DTV is: A niche product until we can
eliminate the requirement for glasses.
Favorite Non-Starz Shows : The Good
Wife, Big Bang Theory
Favorite City for Business: NY
provide superior customer care.
Non-Cable Co That Knows How to
Run/Market its Business: Apple
On Media, the New Congress Should:
Worry about jobs and the economy.
understands both sides of the business
from his years at YES Network.
Trains on Time: Bond vowed Comcast's
authentication scheme would go
into beta by the end of '09. It did. Since
then, he's made dozens more deals that
led to the company moving its Xfinity TV
service into full launch in September.
Year Ahead: Bond no longer will be
Comcast's acquisition guy, but his new
role puts him squarely in the multiplatform
future. And it will give him a chance
to show his softer side. Or not.
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