12:30 PM – 1:45 PM
Track I:
Digital Cable and Satellite Television Strategies: Channel Launches, SVOD-VOD, HDTV, International and Interactive
With DTV having passed the threshold of consumer acceptance, reaching over 40 million homes, the consumer is now first experiencing what the future of cable and satellite programming is all about. A decade ago, industry leaders speculated on the future and market value of the 500 channel universe and now it is here. With DTV, HDTV and broadband rolling out in communities across the country, the opportunity to innovate, to offer unique and exciting new channels and subscription and VOD packages will be the ongoing challenge for the industry. The entire universe of basic and pay services will be up for grabs in the coming five years. The combination of new technologies, new services, new partnerships, content innovation, aggressive marketing, not to mention new investment will remake the landscape of home entertainment.
David L. Meister, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Tennis Channel, Inc.
Matt Farber, founder, Logo, Viacom
Mitchell Chun, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Fox Cable Networks Group
Barbara Meili, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Michael Kohn, Sr VP Business Affairs & General Counsel, GSN: The Network for Games
Aditya Kishore, Media & Entertainment Strategies, The Yankee Group, Moderator
David L. Meister is chairman and chief executive officer of The Tennis Channel, Inc., which he co-
founded with president Steve Bellamy. In this position, he is combining his passion for tennis and innovative business development skills to direct the development and continued growth of cable television’s ultimate destination for everything tennis. Meister brings 25 years of experience in the television industry to The Tennis Channel. He was a key force in building a range of television channels including Sundance Channel, HBO, Cinemax and Financial News Network (now CNBC). He was senior vice president of Time, Inc.’s Home Box Office, Inc. where he established HBO Sports, launched Cinemax, founded HBO Enterprises and served simultaneously as president of Time-Life Films. As president of Financial News Network, Meister led the network to impressive subscriber growth during its early years and was responsible for acquiring and overseeing its two subsidiaries, The Learning Channel and Data Broadcasting Company. Meister created The Sundance Channel, working with Robert Redford to create a cable channel of eclectic films, and eventually establishing the joint venture with Viacom, Inc. A visionary strategist, Meister developed barter syndication more than 30 years ago, and later used that as the basis for orchestrating Procter & Gamble’s unprecedented $50 million acquisition of the Time-Life Films library. His sports background includes serving as Major League Baseball's top television executive where he was responsible for worldwide broadcast and cable activities. Previously, he began his career in advertising, at several major agencies, including Young & Rubicam. Meister’s role as a media director has provided him a solid foothold in the world of marketing. He is recipient of several CableACE Awards and was an Edgar Award finalist. Meister received the National Cable Television Association President’s Award; was Chairman of the Under-30 Program of the International Radio and Television Society; has sat on the International Council of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; and was a Governor of the National Academy of Cable Programming, serving on its ACE Awards Committee. A graduate of Brown University, Meister earned an MBA from Columbia University. He and his wife, Joan, live in Pacific Palisades, Calif., where he continues to be one of the world's most mediocre tennis players.Mitchell Chun, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Fox Ca
ble Networks Group: Mitchell Chun, formerly Vice President, Satellite Distribution and Business Development, News Corporation, now serves as Senior Vice President, Business Development, Fox Cable Networks Group. Chun, 34, is responsible for managing all new business development initiatives and strategic investments for both current and new FCNG networks and other services on behalf of Fox Cable Networks Group. As such, he is closely involved with developing new digital networks and other strategic planning for the company’s expanding portfolio of major programming, local venue and sports franchise interests. Major transactions that Chun has helped shepherd during his tenure include the purchase of both Speed Channel (formerly Speedvision) and Sunshine Network and well as the sale of Fox Family Channel, Golf Channel and Outdoor Life Network. Before joining Fox Cable Networks Group, Chun served since January 2000 as Vice President, Satellite Distribution and Business Development for News Corporation in Los Angeles. In this position, he was responsible for helping to manage News Corporation’s international satellite platforms and complementary broadcast networks including Sky Sports, Sky PerfecTV (Japan), News Broadcasting Japan, Sky Movies and still other services. He was also involved in the initial development of Sky Global Networks, including helping to forge strategic and technological relationships, and managed a number of other broadcast and satellite related transactions. Chun joined News Corp. in January 1998 as Director of Satellite Distribution and Business Development.Barbara Meili, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Barbara Meili’s p
ractice consists primarily of representing clients in the United States broadcast and cable industries, including counseling clients in all aspects of license and distribution arrangements, merger and acquisition activity and regulatory issues. Barbara also provides general corporate representation of clients in connection with purchases of programming entities. Areas of Experience: Cable and broadcast television distribution agreements; Corporate & Securities; Mergers & acquisitions; License and distribution agreements; Regulatory issues; Programming, marketing and ancillary services . o Represents several major cable programming services. This representation consists of negotiating agreements with cable operators, satellite distributors and other multichannel video programming distributors. Represents "network-owned and operated" station groups as well as various network-affiliated broadcast station owners in connection with negotiating retransmission arrangements with cable and other multichannel video programming distributors. o Advises on all aspects of FCC and other regulatory issues. o Represents several on-line and internet-delivered programming services and other content providers. Education: J.D., magna cum laude, New York Law School, 1983; B.A., Comparative Literature, Bennington College, 1980Michael Kohn, Senior Vice President, Business Affairs/General Coun
sel, GSN: Since joining GSN in November 1999 as Senior Vice President of Business Affairs, Michael Kohn, who added the title of General Counsel in 2002, has played a crucial role in completing new affiliate distribution agreements and headed the network’s negotiations with major program suppliers in both the acquisition of game programming and the development of original game concepts. Kohn has been intimately involved in counseling GSN’s interactive group in its pioneering development of real-time play along programming applications. Kohn also oversees all of GSN’s other legal and business matters, working closely with GSN’s department heads on strategy and negotiations. Kohn joined GSN from PolyGram Filmed Entertainment Distribution, where he served as Vice President and Head of Business and Legal Affairs, overseeing the company’s business and legal activities in merchandising, advertising, promotion and distribution, covering motion picture releases from both PolyGram Films and Gramercy Pictures. Beginning his career in media with Sony Pictures Entertainment in 1992, Kohn was first a member of the company’s Corporate Legal/Litigation department. Moving up the ranks over the next four years, Kohn became Assistant General Counsel, working with the motion picture, television and home video units at the studio. Ultimately, Kohn was named Vice President of Business Affairs at SPE division Columbia TriStar Television, charged with handling business affairs pertaining to the company’s prime time development and production. Kohn completed his undergraduate studies with a Government major and English/Psychology minor at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and earned his J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 1986. He then spent six years at the Los Angeles-based law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker as a litigation associate. Kohn now lives in Malibu, California with his wife, Kristin, and their three young children.Aditya Kishore is an analyst for the Yankee Group’s Media and Enterta
inment Strategies Planning Service. His responsibilities include research and analysis for the converging media and entertainment products and services among consumers. Mr. Kishore leads The Yankee Group’s coverage of video services delivered via cable, satellite and over-the-air broadcast, and includes emerging services such as video-on-demand (VOD), personal video recorders (PVR), enhanced and interactive television, digital broadcasting and HDTV, as well as the subscription, advertising and other revenue opportunities resulting from these developments for cable, broadcast and satellite companies. Mr. Kishore has spoken at numerous cable and other media industry events and is widely quoted in leading business and consumer publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Businessweek. Mr. Kishore has spent nearly ten years in the media industry, beginning his career in television news in 1994. He then spent three years in advertising, developing strategic brand communication and tactical/promotional initiatives for a range of leading consumer brands including Nestle, Samsung and McDonald’s. Over the next two years, Mr. Kishore developed a number of digital video and web projects for various New England broadcast stations and independent producers. This includedinteractive video projects with the PBS network series, Frontline. Prior to the Yankee Group, Mr. Kishore spent a year developing brand and market strategies for start-up interactive media companies. Mr. Kishore holds a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in economics from Delhi University, India, and a Master’s degree in media from Emerson College, Boston.Matt Farber is the founder of LOGO, the new gay and lesbian cable netwo
rk from Viacom/MTV Networks slated to launch in February 2005. He is also the Executive Consultant who has been spearheading LOGO’s development over the past three years, and is overseeing its launch. Before founding LOGO, Farber served as President and CEO of Tonos Entertainment, an Internet-based music company founded by music industry luminaries Carole Bayer Sager, David Foster and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. Farber was responsible for overseeing financing, strategic development and operations, and was credited with raising over $17 million in funding during 2000. From 1991-1999, Farber served in a variety of positions while at MTV Networks. Most recently, Farber was the executive vice-president for MTV and VH1 Programming Enterprises as well as general manager for MTV2/The Digital Suite. Farber oversaw a 100 member staff and developed profitable business operations with $30 million in annual revenues. As Senior Vice President for MTV and VH1 Programming Enterprises, Farber developed and launched a series of initiatives, including MTV2, MTV.com and VH1.com, MTV Radio Network, and the MTV/VH1 audio business. Farber also oversaw all MTV interactive initiatives including CD-ROMS, videogames and interactive television. Farber began his MTV Networks career as MTV’s vice president of Music Programming, where he oversaw development of all music based programming for MTV. Before MTV Networks, Farber served as the director of planning and special projects at Arista reporting directly to Clive Davis, where he was involved with key Arista initiatives/artists including Arista’s 15th Anniversary, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin. Farber began his career in radio and worked for a variety of East-coast radio outlets,including Washington D.C.’ s WAVA-FM, Atlanta’s WAPW-FM and Philadelphia’s WWSH-FM. Farber graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Wharton School of Business with a B.S. in Economics.