Rich
Battista
(pictured, top) Title: Kim Martin (pictured)
CEO, Gemstar-TV Title: EVP/GM, WE tv
Guide International Age: 47
Age: 43
Charlie Collier
Title: EVP/GM, AMC
Age: 38
was more brilliant than any
“Platinum Weddings” dia-
mond. The Sunday-night,
“Bridezillas”-centric television
block is bringing in the rat-
ings, and its complementary Web site
has growing commerce possibilities. This
honeymoon’s just beginning. CAO
Getting Noticed
Why Them? Standing out from the
crowd has become a necessary obsession for cable network executives – and
these two were standing tall this year.
Collier took his time shepherding AMC
into original programming, but Emmy-winning miniseries “Broken Trail” and
Why Them? Gemstar-TV Guide series “Mad Men”—recently picked up
seems to have it all: Coveted EPG for a second season—were clearly worth
patents on the Gemstar side and the wait. Next up is “Breaking Bad.”
perhaps one of the most recogniz- But while Collier is keen on drama, he
able brands in the TV universe with refuses to get stuck in a genre rut. Case
the TV Guide part of the business. in point: AMC wooed writer David Seltzer
Together it’s a formidable combina- to pen upcoming sci-fi/horror amalgam
tion. Battista manages the whole “99 Stories.” Martin proved once again in
company with finesse and vision, ’07 that you don’t need the entrenched
exploiting intellectual property while reputation of Lifetime or sheer industry
touting a classic brand across TV, heft of Oxygen’s Gerry and Oprah to get
print and online. O’Hara, meanwhile, outstanding (wedding) reception. This
has spearheaded efforts to take TV year’s launch of WEGoBridal as a televi-Guide Network into a bold future of sion, on demand and online triple threat
original programming. That scroll keeps on shrinking while the innova- tive shows keep getting better. Either way you slice it, this team is moving forward with gusto. MG 80
Ryan O’Hara
(pictured, bottom)
Title: President, TV Guide Network
and Broadband
Age: 38
Charlie Collier What is your
favorite word? “Daddy.” What is
your least favorite word? “Whatever
(as a response)” What turns you
on? “Passion” What turns you off?
“Ignorance” What sound do you
love? “A putt sinking” What sound do
you hate? “Whining” What profession other than yours would like to
attempt? “Talk show host” If heaven
exists, what would you like to hear
God say when you arrive at the
Pearly Gates? “Just kidding -- now get
back down there and here's a little something for the effort...”
Rich Battista Sound you
love? “The roar of the crowd from
a Boston Red Sox walk-off homer.”
Sound you hate? “Cable operators telling me they have no bandwidth.” Ryan O’Hara Cable’s
biggest challenge in 2008 is: Why Them? When it comes to the 18-34 male demographic, Tiles is clearly in the game
“Internet video” I wish cable would: to win. He drove G4 to impressive ratings growth in ’07 by stepping up non-gaming con-
“All subscribe to CableFAX” (Editor’s tent like reruns of “Lost” and “Cops,” while keeping gamers transfixed with shows like “X-
Note: Did we mention Ryan’s extraordi- Play” and newcomer “Code Monkeys,” an animated tribute to video games of the ’80s.
nary intellect and humanity?). On the other side of the gender divide, Coleman Smith keeps Style-lish viewers in touch
with the latest trends in clothing, accessories, entertainment, home décor and more with
regular faves like “Clean House,” “Ultimate Style,” newcomer “Kimora: Life In The Fab
Lane” and upcoming fantasy-party planner “That’s The Party I Want!” CAO
Little Nets,
Big Growth
Neal Tiles
Title: President, G4
Kim Martin Favorite sports team:
“Kick Chicks, my daughter’s soccer
team.” My perfect vacation goes like
this: “Biking through the wine country.”
for full write-ups visit: www.cable360.net/cfax
Salaam Coleman Smith (pictured)
Title: EVP, The Style Network
Neal Tiles What sound do you love? “Daddy!” What sound do you hate?
“Garbage trucks in the morning.”
Salaam Coleman Smith My most embarrassing cable moment was: “When
I flew overnight on a cross-Atlantic flight to Germany and then discovered the meeting
was actually in London.” Favorite restaurant: “Chez Pauline”
