Cablefax The Magazine - November 2016 - 16

Most Powerful Women in Cable 2016: The Top 50
and business opportunities, while also overseeing financial
planning, strategic initiatives and business development. " The
Rio Olympics has been called the biggest media event of the
year, and I agree, " she says. " Comcast NBCUniversal showcased
wonderful stories of amazing athletes live, on demand
and streaming-marrying great content, distribution and technology
to bring people closer to this unique event. "
46. Alison Hoffman
CMO
Starz Entertainment
Hoffman was promoted to her newly
created position earlier this year, on
the merits of her leadership across
several key initiatives for Starz. She
repositioned the network as a destination
for diverse original programming
with a brand transformation that included launching a " masterbrand "
strategy that includes integrating the Encore services
into the new Starz as well as the successful launch of the Starz
App. Hoffman says she'd like to see more women CEOs, and
a " relentless " focus on closing the pay gap. When it comes to
programming, " I love shows that offer complex, weighty roles
for women, " she says. " I tend not to care whether the characters
are good people or role models. "
47. Christy Rupert Shibata
CFO
NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment
Having assumed the CFO role in January
2015, Shibata oversees financial
performance and strategic analysis for
NBCU's portfolio. Financial planning
and business development for all of the
group's businesses fall under her purview,
as well as the push for the networks' and studios' massive
increase in original content and straight-to-series productions that
reduce long-term costs. She was integral in the internal reorg that
centralized cross-portfolio functions within the company. On the
topic of gender equality in cable, Shibata says female influence
" is pervasive on multiple levels of these businesses. I consider
myself particularly lucky and proud to be part of a business that
has a near equal ratio of male to female employees and includes
so many talented women executives among its leadership. "
48. Michelle Wilson
Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer
WWE
Wilson's efforts to draw new subscribers
to the WWE Network and
broaden its overall reach are paying
off. Thanks to her innovative approach,
WWE is the fastest-growing
digital subscription service around,
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49. Nancy Daniels
President & GM, TLC
Discovery Communications
With Daniels at the helm, TLC was
a top 10 ad-supported primetime
cable network with women 25-54
last year, and is on track for a similar
ranking in 2016. " Sister Wives " had
its highest-rated premiere in three
years, seven new series were renewed for a second season,
and the network premiered its first-ever scripted series,
from Tyler Perry. Daniels also oversaw the brand's refresh
this year, including a new look and the " I AM " campaign that
launched in July celebrating the differences that make us
who we are. Daniels says she sees a lot of women in content
development at the executive level, but she wishes there
were more women-owned production companies. To her
13-year-old self she'd say: " All that TV you're watching will
come in handy someday. "
50. Jane Latman
GM, Destination America & SVP,
Development, Investigation Discovery
Discovery Communications
Under Latman's watch, ID has risen
to the top of cable rankings as the
No. 2 network in total day for women
25-54. She also assisted with the
transition of Discovery Fit & Health
to Discovery Life Channel last January, and took over as GM
for Destination America in September. Latman and her team
brought ID's first scripted series, " Serial Thriller, " to fruition
as well as its newest hit, " The Vanishing Women. " And since
leading the charge on doubling down on paranormal programming,
she has guided Destination America to premiere
three consecutive record-breaking paranormal series in a row.
Latman says she's currently enjoying programming with strong
women roles such as " Veep, " " The Affair " and " The People vs.
OJ Simpson " because " they have a great variety of women's
roles that are multidimensional. "
and the first to deliver round-the-clock streaming via OTT
distribution. To boot, its weekly " SmackDown, " a USA Network
staple, switched to live broadcasts this year. In all, USA
now airs five hours of live WWE programming per week. As
a female executive at a network centered on what some may
view as male-oriented entertainment, few would argue with
which TV character Wilson admires. " Daenerys Targaryen
from 'Game of Thrones.' She's a strong female leader, "
Wilson says.
November 2016
Cablefax: The Magazine
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Cablefax The Magazine - November 2016

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