26 | Charting a New Course
Neil Smit
Title: Pres/CEO, Charter Comm
Age: 51
Education: BS, Duke U; MA,
Fletcher School of Law
& Diplomacy
Social Media Quotient:
4
Why Him? Smit relishes complex problems, and he clearly
received one as Charter was tied
up in NY bankruptcy court for
months before the it approved
a reorg plan in mid Nov. Now,
Charter sports a healthier balance sheet and more operational
flexibility. And with Charter’s
DOCSIS 3.0 rollout, the MSO
has delivered revenue growth in
each ’09 Q while achieving gains
in HSD and phone subs.
Upcoming: Smooth implementation of the reorg plan is key.
The Year Ahead:
Since Charter’s performed well despite financial troubles, increased
flexibility should only help in
launching products and services.
27 | Partying Down
Robert Clasen
(2nd from right)
Title: Chairman/CEO,
Starz, LLC
Age: Old enough to
remember Paul Maxwell
editing CableVision mag
Education: BA, MA, Bowling Green State U
Social Media Quotient: 0
Bill Myers (far left)
Title: Pres/COO, Starz
Age: Much younger than
Spartacus
Education: BA, Accounting, New Mexico State
Social Media Quotient: 1
Why Them? Without doubt
the retiring Clasen leaves
Starz better than when he
found it as CEO in ’06. Under
Clasen “Starz grew subs,
doubled cash flow, expanded
original programming and
added services,” Liberty
Media chief Greg Maffei says.
And in its first year, Overture
Films finished 11th in box
office. Myers can point to re-branded Starz adding 1.4mln
subs in ’09 and reaching a record sub count and revenue
of $1.2 bln in ’08.
Blood and Sand: Starz’
biggest foray into originals
comes in Jan with Spartacus:
Blood and Sand, a stylized re-interpretation of the
Kubrick/Kirk Douglas original,
with Lucy Lawless the most
recognizable name. Early
clips show plenty of blood,
sand and sex.
Year Ahead:
Much will depend on Spartacus and a bit on Party
Down, season II.
Clasen
Most Admired Trait:
Good listening skills
Best Business Advice:
Content is king but convenience drives adoption.
Myers
Favorite Food: Cookies
Last Book Read: The
Whiskey Rebels by David Liss
Trait I Most Admire in
People: Strong work ethic
I Wish My Kids Would:
Take a longer view regarding their careers.
Best Business Advice:
The day you say you are
comfortable with your competitors is the first day of
the end of your career.
Favorite Restaurant:
Joan’s Log Cabin
When I Need to Recharge,
I…: Get out on any body of
water.
Trait I Most Admire: Honesty
3 Things I’d Take to a
Deserted Island: My family,
a boat, a complex problem
to solve that required input of
many people.
Best Business Advice
Received: Business is simple–
don’t over-complicate it.
28 | Wizards of Burbank
Gary Marsh (above)
Title: Pres, Ent, Disney Channels Worldwide
Age: A tad higher than our demo
Education: BA, UCLA,
Communication Studies
Social Media Quotient:
4
magical programming wand. Wizards of Waverly Place has followed mega hits Hannah
Montana and High School Musical. Boys-focused net Disney XD is gaining momentum,
and should be helped greatly from Disney’s
acquisition of Marvel Entertainment.
Ross the Boss? With Ross moving to the
studio side and a successor (if there is one)
TBD, the future of Disney Channels is in
flux—at least within the exec suites.
The Year Ahead:
The HR question looms, yet Disney programming likely will shine as usual.
Rich Ross (right)
Title: Chmn, Walt Disney Studios
Age:
48
Education: BA, U of PA, International
Relations and English; J.D., Fordham U
Social Media Quotient:
7
Why Them? Given Disney Channel’s
continuous stream of hits, it’s difficult to envision Ross and Marsh without some sort of
Ross:
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Restaurant: Jar in L.A.
Marsh:
Favorite Restaurant: The
Bazaar by Jose Andres
Twitter Is…: So much less interesting since Miley Cyrus
signed off.
If I Were in Mad Men,
I Would Be…: Wearing
a nicotine patch.
22
cablefaxmag.com
December 2009
CableFAX: The Magazine
