Cablefax The Magazine - November 2016 - 26

More of the Most Powerful Women in Cable 2016
Jessica Fang
ing Channel and Great American Country-and
continues to elevate the company's cross-network
marketing strategy across all channels. Among her
team's recent successes: the HGTV Lodge at the
CMA Music Festival, and the N.Y. and South Beach
editions of the popular Food Network & Cooking
Channel Wine & Food Festival. " I love being a part
of the industry at a time when you can consume
content and never have to explain to your daughters,
nieces or mentees that 'one day' a woman
might be able to have that role, " she says. " Today
is that day. "
Stephanie Druley
SVP, Production
College Networks
ESPN
Druley has plenty to be
proud of this past year.
She's overseen initiatives
for the successful SEC
Network, including the second annual SEC School
Takeover, SEC 2016 Media Days and the revamped
" SEC Nation " desk. And she took part in the signing
of legendary sports broadcaster Brent Musburger
and college football analyst Jesse Palmer as lead
SEC Network commentators. " TV anywhere and
everywhere is the biggest cable story this year, " she
says. " People are taking advantage of streaming
opportunities, like on the ESPN app, to watch live
sports wherever they are on whatever device is most
convenient. "
Karen Etzkorn
Chief Information
Officer
HSN, Inc.
Etzkorn's ability to maintain
a fun, relaxed but
productive workplace
is why her team has
increased HSN's overall technology security framework,
created a data center consolidation program,
and even dovetailed Cornerstone Brands' digital
and catalog business with physical retail outlets,
resulting in a boundary-less retail experience that
has spurred incremental growth. " Changes in consumer
behavior and emerging choices regarding
traditional and nontraditional cable providers " are
what she sees as the biggest stories of the year.
" The way that consumers are choosing to consume
content is evolving and remains top of mind as we
seek to engage, attract and retain customers. "
SVP, Distribution,
National Accounts
Fox Networks Group
Fang deals with some
of the division's most
complex partners, which
represent more than half
of Fox's distribution revenue. She plays a critical
role in many of Fox's most intricate and challenging
negotiations while maintaining an excellent rapport
with distribution partners. She continuously fi nds a
way to incorporate expanded offerings, such as TV
Everywhere content opportunities, into her deals. A
mother of four young children, Fang will be able to
dispense the advice she'd give to her own 13-yearold
self if she could turn back the clock: " Speak up;
nobody assumes because you're quiet, you're smart.
And drink more milk. "
Marta Fernandez
SVP, Original
Programming
Starz Entertainment
With her keen understanding
of the value of
storytelling, Fernandez
focuses on growing
Starz's original programming while overseeing several
series currently in development. The network has
signifi cantly ratcheted up its originals during the past
few years, and Fernandez has been a steadfast and
tireless champion for series including Emmy-nominated
" Black Sails, " " Ash vs. Evil Dead " and " Flesh
and Bone. " She's also developing a number of Latino
series including " Havana Quartet " starring Antonio
Banderas, " Malefi cio, " " Santeria " and " Pour Vida. "
Noting all sectors of cable could do more for gender
equality, she notes, " I'd like to see more women,
especially women of color, in writer's rooms, executive
suites and agencies. "
Rita Ferro
EVP
Disney Media Sales &
Marketing
Eye-catching, bar-raising
brand activations across
multiple screens and live
events are all part of the
magical mix Ferro fosters to create business that
benefi ts both Disney and its ad partners. A collegial
and strategic executive, she led her team to wrap
negotiations for the Disney Kids upfront with pricing
and dollars up over the prior year, moving earlier and
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cablefaxmag.com
November 2016
more quickly than ever. Ferro keenly understands
the multiplatform business that's the norm in media
today, and she continually stretches boundaries such
as her recent development of social media and sales
around the new " Disney LOL " app bundle. " The ad
sales organizations within many cable networks
have women in leadership roles and they themselves
are doing a tremendous job of elevating the next
generation of woman leaders, " she notes.
Sena Fitzmaurice
VP, Government
Communications
Comcast Corp.
Fitzmaurice is responsible
for Comcast's communication
with national
audiences on all federal,
regulatory and legislative issues. She's led the strategy
and execution of the company's communications
with audiences through mergers and acquisitions,
including the Comcast NBCUniversal transition as well
as major legislative actions and regulatory events. An
advocate for the advancement of women not only at
Comcast but across the industry, Fitzmaurice values
leadership skills and is constantly working to develop
female leaders through mentoring. She believes
women made big strides in this year's political coverage
on TV. " It's not 'The Boys on the Bus' anymore, "
Fitzmaurice says.
Kristin Frank
EVP, Revenue,
Strategy & Operations
MTV
For those familiar with
Frank and her work,
her elevation this year
to a job that includes
even more responsibility comes as no surprise. A
seasoned media executive and innovator, she excels
at creating compelling content, and new structures
and strategies to expand MTV's multiscreen
relationship with fans. In addition to overseeing
revenue and strategy, Frank continues to oversee the
network's digital and mobile operations, including
the development of original series for MTV's digital
platforms and Snapchat Discover, the reimagination
of MTV News, which currently reaches 83 million
social followers and averages 30 million streams a
month, and the proliferation of MTV's TV Everywhere
product. She also knows the importance of trusting
instincts, as demonstrated by her advice to her
13-year-old self: " You can try to fool your intuition,
but your intuition won't fool you. Trust yourself. "
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