Cablefax The Magazine - December 2011 - 43

61 | CONQUEROR
OF THE COSMOS
Mark Hollinger
Title: President/CEO, Discovery
Networks International
Years in Cable: 20
Education: BA, Colgate
University; JD, Yale
Best Advice in 7 Words
or Less: The Golden Rule
really is golden.
Why Him? 20-year cable
vet Hollinger's watch encompasses
Discovery's fastgrowing
global multichannel
sector, reaching 210-plus
countries/territories. International
revenue rose 20%
in 2011 with double-digit
growth across advertising
and affiliate revenue. A
second strategy to complement
Discovery Channel is
driving TLC's rollout across
Europe, Africa and the Asia
Pacific region. The channel
62 | MR. CONGENIALITY
Jerry Kent
Title: Chairman/CEO, Suddenlink
Years in Cable: 28
Education: BS, BA, MBA, Washington University
Best Advice in 7 Words or Less: Customer
service is the cornerstone of success.
Why Him? Kent has much to celebrate. First off,
Suddenlink is now the seventh-largest MSO thanks to
the acquisition in April of NPG Cable and its 80,000
subscribers. In addition, the company has posted 19
straight quarters of revenue growth, with operating
results remaining among the best in the industry.
2012 will see the completion of Kent's " Project Imagine "
initiative to upgrade VOD, HD and high-speed
Internet offerings. Recent wins include expanding
63 | OVER THE TOP
Jon Litner
Title: Group
President, NBC
Sports Group
Years in Cable: 6
Education: BA,
Yale; JD, Cornell
Best Advice: Handle success as
gentlemen, and disappointment
as men.
Why Him? The fact that Litner
earned a lofty promotion in October
CableFAX: The Magazine
was on track by year-end
2011 to exceed Hollinger's
goal of reaching 75 markets
and 100 million households,
making it the most widely
distributed female-targeted
entertainment and lifestyle
brand in pay-TV.
One thing I tell my kids
about success in life: Work
hard, always do the right thing
and success will come.
My best technique for
deterring time-wasting
office visits from coworkers:
" I need to call
David. " (Zaslav, that is)
VOD to more than 78% of customers, deploying
DOCSIS 3.0 to 77%, and adding more HD channels
throughout the footprint.
Customers First: Since 2007 Suddenlink
has been the most improved company in its
category in customer satisfaction, according to
J.D. Power and Associates.
Favorite restaurant: Il Mulino in New York
Favorite " going out " town: New York
The one thing I tell my kids about success in
life: You have to give back your time, talent and
money to worthwhile projects.
Worst thing I've ever heard someone say in a
meeting: " You shouldn't care about the nameless,
faceless public shareholders. "
Bands I would actually go see live: Eagles, Billy
Joel, The Rolling Stones - Yes, I'm showing my age.
following his February bump to
Versus and Comcast SportsNet
President-now responsible for the
NBC's 14 regional networks and
all golf coverage on NBC and Golf
Channel-demonstrates Sports
chair Mark Lazarus' commitment to
Litner as his second in command.
We couldn't agree more.
League Diversity: Litner may be in
the corporate big leagues, but he also
serves on the Board of Directors for
Little League International, and regularly
attends a diverse array of sporting
events involving his three kids.
December 2011
Year Ahead:
My favorite sports team: My World Series
champion St. Louis Cardinals!
My favorite vacation spot: Beaver Creek-
Family skiing can't be beat.
My favorite iPad app: Slingbox
My guilty television pleasure is: " American Idol "
When I look at my cable set-top box,
I can't help but think that: Times are
changing-and rapidly. ◆
With its integration
into the NBC fold, Litner parlays
Comcast's expertise in regional
sports media and digital expansion. In
2012, he will focus on strengthening
NBC's Notre Dame football content
along with a new block of sports talk/
news programming. Versus will be
renamed NBC Sports Network on
Jan. 2, with expectations that the net
will share programming and talent
with the broadcast network.
Favorite motivational book: The
Amateurs, David Halberstam
One thing I tell my kids about
success in life: " Don't let your
schooling get in the way of your
education. " (Mark Twain)
Favorite sports team: Any school
team my kids play for.
Guilty TV pleasure: Live sports
Favorite iPad app: NBC SportsTalk
If I invented my own app it would:
Provide people with lessons from history
so mistakes don't get repeated
Favorite restaurant: Tour
D'Argent, Paris
How many companies have you
worked for since graduating
from college? 6 ◆
cablefaxmag.com
43
Top 3 selections on my
iPod: The Rolling Stones
and anybody else still alive
from the '60s. ◆
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