Cablefax The Magazine - June 2018 - 38

REGIONALS
What product or service could you not live
without? X1 Voice remote as it runs my house
for me, plus my daughter introduced me to
Spotify, which is fantastic.
What's the first thing you read in the morning?
Minneapolis Star Tribune and Twin Cities
Pioneer Press (print and online versions). I don't
read email first, trying to save that for the end
of day in order to prioritize my schedule and not
simply react email-by-email.
Last show I binged not on my network(s):
" Ozark " -Jason Bateman is fantastic.
Favorite podcast: " Ricky Gervais Show "
If you could have a superpower, what would
it be and why? Flight. I often dream that I am
flying and it seems so real until 5:59 AM. A
total bummer to wake up and be grounded.
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
and it buffers for a few seconds while Steph
Curry is hitting a three. That's crazy.
Your social media platform of choice? Facebook
is great for catching up with old friends from
high school and college. Twitter is fantastic for
instant access, but that makes it very dangerous.
Type, think, think again, and then hit send.
What would be the name of the reality show
based on your company? " The Committed "
because we really are committed to creating
the best content for our customers, the fans.
What product or service could you not live
without? No question, cable TV. Couldn't live
without sports on TV.
FIBER FORWARD
Robert Gessner
President
MCTV
Years in Cable: 39
Education: BBA, College of
William and Mary
Ted Griggs
President, Group and Strategic Production &
Programming Leader
NBC Sports Regional Networks
Years in Cable: 20
Education: San Francisco State University
Griggs understands how passionate sports fans
can be not only about teams and players, but to
the media brand that brings them closest to their
chosen teams. Under Griggs guidance, NBC Sports
Regional Networks united CSN-branded networks
and two TCNs under the NBC Sports umbrella.
The biggest innovation in media/broadband
over the last year?
This is going to sound like a plug, but I am
constantly amazed at the innovations Comcast
rolls out every year with the X1 platform. I live in
an area that has another cable provider (drat!), but
was in San Francisco for the Pyeongchang Winter
Olympics. Being able to experience the Olympic
Games via X1 was a game changer.
Favorite restaurant: Rowayton Seafood in nearby
Rowayton, CT.
An area where media/broadband could
use improvement? It amazes me how well it
works, particularly streaming. I run trails on the
weekend with my trusty dog Blue. I actually get
upset when I'm out in the middle of nowhere
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MCTV epitomizes the phrase " small but
mighty. " Gessner has never been one to shy
away from technology. He made that crystal
clear last summer with the announcement that
MCTV would bring fiber-to-the-home to every
customer in its footprint under the brand Excellerate.
Gessner is a firm believer in simplifying
the service for customers. That was one of
the reasons MCTV integrated Netflix with its
multi-room HD DVR late last year. Gessner, who
also serves as chairman of ACA, is a tireless
advocate for the industry. In March, he testified
before a House subcommittee on a bipartisan
bill whose purpose is to streamline the process
by which deserving small communications entities
request regulatory relief.
CONTENT CHAMP
Princell Hair
SVP & General Manager
NBC Sports Boston
Years in Cable: 15
Education: BA, Journalism,
Florida International University;
MBA, Emery University
Since joining NBC Sports Boston in October
2016, Hair has made a name for himself by
overhauling programming. He quenched the
insatiable thirst of Boston sports fans by launching
" Boston Sports Tonight. " Understanding that
sports junkies need their fix from multiple meJune
2018
diums, he has maintained a fruitful relationship
with radio simulcast partner 98.5 The Sports
Hub, even through a management overhaul
at the station. Hair also has fostered a digital
first mentality at the RSN. Outside the office,
he plays the piano and sax and has completed
three marathons.
Favorite restaurant: Dettera Restaurant and Wine
Bar in Ambler, PA. Chef Jeffrey Power is amazing.
Best advice your mom or dad ever gave you?
My mom told me the world is never going to
hand you anything. You will have to work hard
for everything you want in life.
What product or service could you not live
without? Home Delivery
What's the first thing you read in the morning?
New York Times mobile app
Last show I binged not on my network(s):
" Vikings "
If you could have a superpower, what would
it be and why? Time travel because I think we
have an interesting and complicated history. It
would be fascinating to have a front row seat.
THE POWER OF ONE
Julie Laulis
President, CEO & Chair
Cable ONE
Years in Cable: 34
Education: BA, Telecom, Indiana University;
PMD, Harvard Business School
Laulis became Cable ONE chair at the beginning
of the year, following the retirement of Tom
Might. Additionally, she filled Might's seat on
the board of C-SPAN. These are accomplishments
to be proud of, but Laulis is equally-if
not more-gratified to have in her employ the
approximately 200 Cable ONE associates, who
stepped up to help restore service to victims of
Hurricane Harvey last year, especially as many
of those associates were affected themselves
by the hurricane.
The biggest innovation in media/broadband
over the last year? Over the last couple years
really, it's been Full Duplex DOCSIS. Cable plant
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