62 | Measured Insight
Dinni Jain
Title: Pres/COO, Insight Comm
Age: Contrary to rumors based on
my appearance, dress code or behavior,
I am actually old enough to vote
Education: My body/brain went to
Princeton, but my heart stayed at UNC
63 | Green T(LC)
Eileen O’Neill (second from right)
Title: Pres/GM, TLC
Age: Younger than my twin
Education: Enough
64 | Recipe for Success
Brooke Johnson
Title: President, The Food Network
Last Year: #54
Age: Same as Madonna
Ed: Northwestern, BA; Medill, MSJ
Why Him? Jain’s not one for ceremony.
Beyond praise for Cablevision and Cox,
he still can’t understand why cable
presents so many awards to itself (see
his answer to cable’s biggest challenge,
below). A disciple of Jim Collins’ Good
to Great, Jain’s reinvented Insight over
the past 5 years to measure success in
growth and satisfied subs. By that count,
he’s succeeded. The Tar Heel nut (his
office is painted Carolina blue) helped the
MSO grow basic subs 5.4% in ’07. Q1
’08 saw records for basic sub adds, high-speed access and voice net adds. Aw,
go ahead, give that man an award.
Year Ahead:
If anyone can grow in a down economy,
it’s Jain and Insight.
Why Her? One of cable’s lowest-key
but most effective execs, hard-working
O’Neill left Planet Green shortly after
launching it with Leonardo DiCaprio,
Emeril, Tommy Lee and Adrian Grenier to Why Her? Brooke Johnson loves food,
assume the TLC post. Now, the Discov- we observed in CableFAX 100 last year,
ery vet (she started as an unpaid intern) and she ably caters to the tastes of
has the Herculean tasks of redefining her viewers, such as with the ongoing
TLC and improving ratings. So far, so hit, Iron Chef. Yet Johnson also takes
good. Buoyed by top-rated reality series pride in the cable industry’s openness
Jon & Kate Plus Eight, TLC posted in to women as leaders. At a WICT event
Oct its highest Mon-night delivery since last August, Johnson observed that she
Sept ’03 for total viewers (2.3mln), HHs never saw a female general manager
(1.8mln), women 25-54 (919K) and while she was in the broadcast business,
women 18-49 (977K). then noted her excitement upon joining
Worth Watching: Whether O’Neill cable and finding Kay Koplovitz in charge
can revive TLC, an established net that of USA and Gerry Laybourne running
lacks Planet Green’s freshness and a Nickelodeon. She’s done her part by
standout series. helping to make Scripps Networks and
The Year Ahead: Food Network among the best places
Tough time for a channel resuscitation. for women to work in cable, according to
WICT’s Par Initiative.
Worth Watching: Johnson is rumored
to be preparing to greenlight series that
will push Food in new directions.
Year Ahead:
Despite the economic downturn, when
the cost of living keeps rising, people
want tasty comfort foods.
Green Wish for Cable: Everyone
Fave Food: Chocolate chip cookies gets CableFAX on email
Music: Springsteen Should Dodgers Re-Sign Manny
TV Show: The Daily Show Ramirez? Hell, yes
Last Book Read: The Best Service is Favorite Food: Grilled cheese
No Service Drink of Choice: Sprite Zero
Cable’s Biggest Challenge: To get Fave Show Not on TLC: Dexter
real and realize how much we need to stop Worst Part of My Job: Traveling
giving ourselves awards and start changing Cable’s Biggest Challenge: The
Best Business Advice Received: economy
Be harder on yourself than your custom- Best Business Advice Received:
ers will be on you Don’t become a waitress
Favorite Word: Focus Favorite Word: Sextuplets, twins is
Least Favorite: Duke second favorite
Favorite Sports Team: I’m a Tar Heel Least Favorite Word: Nice
born, I’m a Tar Heel bred and when I die Trait I Most Admire in People:
I’ll be a Tar Heel dead Competitiveness
Hero: Dean Smith Sports Teams: Dodgers and Patriots
SA CH /SA
You Really Like to Cook?
Very much!
How Often Do You Get to Sample
Free Eats at Work? Too often
Drink of choice: Alcohol
Music: Classical
Unnecessary Luxury I Like Most:
Good balsamic vinegar
Fave Show Not on My Network:
The French Chef
KF
