Monday, March 27
4:10 PM – 5:15 PM
Session A:
Mobile TV & Film – Programming & Creativity for a Transforming Medium
To be present at the start of a new creative industry is to be a member of a graduate class of a great and fantastic new university. While the unknowns in the mobile TV & Video universe may not be as daunting and experimental as was the first generation of TV in the 1950s, the challenge of creating and producing for Mobile TV and Video is still to be present at the beginning of a new frontier. As hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide begin tuning into a Mobile video universe, the task of reaching them with new ideas, new creative forms, new services – some that will be rewarded with millions of viewers and dollars and some that will fail – will make for one of the greatest and challenging experiences of our lives. Mobile TV, video and film programming will be at the heart of a transforming communications world and we welcome you to being at the start of a new medium.
Jordan Levin, Founding Partner, Generate
Rich Cusick, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Digital Media, TV Guide
Bill McLean, Mobile Products, E! Networks
Paul DeBenedittis, Executive Vice President, Multiplatform Programming, Content Strategy and Scheduling, MTV Networks
John Smelzer, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Fox Interactive Media
Mike Bailey, Senior Director, Programming, MediaFLO USA, Inc.
Brent Weinstein, Games & Interactive Dept, United Talent Agency, Moderator
Jordan Levin, Partner, Generate: Jordan Levin oversees Generate’s broadband and mobile initiatives and is responsible for the company’s television development and production along with Pete Aronson. Former CEO of The WB, Levin was instrumental in the development of numerous hit series shows for young adults and family households that established the distinctly youthful brand identity such as "Dawson’s Creek," "Gilmore Girls," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "7th Heaven," "Charmed," "Felicity," "Smallville," "The Jamie Foxx Show," "Sabrina, The Teenage Witch," "Sister, Sister," "Smart Guy," "The Steve Harvey Show," "What I Like About You," "Popstars," "The Surreal Life," "One Tree Hill" and "Everwood," for which he also directed an episode. In addition to The WB, Levin oversaw Kid’s WB and helped to launch the American Girl film franchise under The WB’s original movie division. Prior to The WB, Levin was at Disney where he was associated with family hits "Home Improvement" and "Boy Meets World." Over the past year, Levin lent his expertise as a consultant for a leading broadband company and cellular content provider as well as a new media start-up.
Mike Bailey is senior director of programming for MediaFLO USA, Inc.,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of QUALCOMM, offering interactive wireless multimedia services to consumers in cooperation with U.S. wireless operators. In this role, Bailey is responsible for programming for the MediaFLO service, including identifying content opportunities, collaborating with content providers and determining MediaFLO’s overall content packaging and positioning. Prior to joining QUALCOMM, Bailey was vice president of sales for Entriq, an International Pay TV company, where he launched broadband services with content providers including MTV, NBC/Universal, 2004 Olympics, Major League Baseball, WWE and Echostar. Previously, Bailey also served as vice president of programming for a subsidiary of Motorola, where he was responsible for content strategy, licensing and acquisition, and as vice president of worldwide programming for On Command, where he negotiated hundreds of deals with major motion picture studios including Disney, Fox, Universal, Sony, Paramount, MGM, DreamWorks and Warner. Bailey was also responsible for all cable network acquisitions, advertising, promotion and new product development. Bailey holds a B.A. in telecommunications and film from San Diego State University and an MBA from the University of San Diego.Rich Cusick, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Digital Media, TV Guide: Richard was promoted to Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Media in November 2005, a position that was newly created as part of executing Gemstar-TV Guide's new strategy to expand its products and services and brand within emerging media platforms. He is responsible for the digital media development for the company, including the oversight of the TVGuide.com and TV Guide Mobile businesses and other potential digital opportunities. Previously, Mr. Cusick was Senior Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Planning for Gemstar-TV Guide and was responsible for overseeing all of the Gemstar-TV Guide's corporate development activities. He played an instrumental role in business and operational planning, strategic development and corporate deal-making on behalf of the Company which develops, licenses, markets and distributes technologies, products and services targeted at the television guidance and home entertainment needs of consumers worldwide.
John Smelzer, Senior Vice President, Business Development, FOX Interactive Media: John Smelzer runs business development for FOX Interactive Media (FIM). Smelzer joined FOXSports.com as Director, Business Development in August 2001. He was subsequently promoted to Vice President overseeing all new media business development, including the FOX Sports mobile program. Smelzer reports to FIM’s President, Ross Levinsohn. Smelzer was previously the Director of Business Development for NBCOlympics.com, Senior Business Affairs Counsel for the National Football League and staff counsel for the 1994 World Cup Organizing Committee. Smelzer received his B.A. from UCLA in 1987 and his J.D. from NYU in 1991.
Brent Weinstein, Agent, United Talent Agency: Brent Weinstein is an agent in the Games & Interactive Dept. of United Talent Agency, a leading talent and literary agency with offices in Beverly Hills and San Francisco. Weinstein bridges the gap between agency clients and various forms of new media, with a specific focus on the gaming and wireless industries. Weinstein identifies and evaluates opportunities for the agency's actors, writers, directors, recording artists, and corporate clients. Weinstein has recently negotiated interactive deals for clients such as Jim Carrey, Johnny Depp, director John Singleton (2FAST2FURIOUS) and Andrew Adamson (SHREK 2), as well as many UTA screenwriters. Prior to joining UTA in 2001, Weinstein practiced corporate law in Los Angeles and Irvine, Calif. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California where he earned a Bachelors degree in Business Administration, and also the University of San Diego School of Law.