2:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Track IV:
The Adult Programming Sector: Broadband, Wireless, Digital Advertising and TV - Understanding the $10B Opportunity
Within the entertainment industry, the adults-only sector has been at the forefront of technological innovation. Whereas many mainstream companies have struggled to adapt to the rapidly changing world of digital media, the adult sector has exploded in the past decade and is now worth an estimated $10 billion a year. Marketing expert Katie Smith has assembled a panel of the adult industry's most tech-savy professionals to discuss the inception of this incredible market, the winning ideas to the current cutting-edge trends. Starting with audio text and moving into the now advanced membership sites, streaming video, online live events, VOD/PPV models, the art of the up-sell and other forms of affiliate marketing, smart and safe email marketing, using DRM solutions, monetization of the traffic that comes in and goes out - to our next ventures in the wireless and set-top box world. Other topics include thinking outside the box with satellite radio/TV and outside digital signage. With the adult industry's proven track record, this seminar is a sure bet for getting ahead of the curve, or at the very least, you’ll learn a different way of how it is done. Don’t miss this seminar.
Katie Smith, President, (THROB) 3ob.com - Moderator
Harald Müller, Director Strategic Accounts, Oplayo Oy
Scott Rabinowitz, President, Traffic Dude - a Division of Innovative Ideas International, Ltd.
David Schlesinger, Vice President, Licensing, Vivid
Farrell Hirsch, Producer, Satellite Radio, Playboy
Tom Hymes, Editor-in-Chief, AVN Online
Gregory Clayman, Owner & Founder, VS Media
Steve Fecske, President and CEO, ODBN
Katie Smith, founder and president of THROB, has a strong track recor
d of developing specialized digital products and implementing creative marketing campaigns to ensure their success. She is considered an expert at interpreting site statistics, ad metrics and campaign results. Smith began her career in digital media in 1996, with the development of FrontierCoop.com, one of the first successful e-commerce sites in the holistic health industry. In 1998, she took a position as online marketing and sales representative for LAWeekly.com, where she initiated a broad range of online advertising campaigns. At the end of 1999 Smith became brand manager for the Erotic Networks. In this capacity, she was instrumental in the development of several successful web sites, including TEN.com, widely considered one of the best broadband experiences online. Smith was then recruited by AVN to serve as director of Corporate Communications, where she managed the marketing and promotions for the company’s two magazines, two tradeshows and network of web sites. A California native, Smith enjoys camping and outdoor sports, including snow boarding, rock climbing and rafting. She is also a part of a women’s soccer team. An admitted "tech geek," Smith likes doing online research and collecting MP3’s for her iPOD.Harald Müller, Director Strategic Accounts of Oplayo Oy (Finland, Helsinki) - Harald Müller was one of the pioneers for developing streaming media strategies in corporate communication and media. He was CEO of beTVeen.com, a trademark owned by Handelsblatt Publishing Group. Since 1985 he is working in IT and since 1997 in the field of streaming media. In 2001 he joined Oplayo, a company owned by NOKIA Venture Partners and Siemens Mobile (SMAC), where he is responsible to ensure Oplayo's leading position in the wireless streaming field (mobile videos). Among Oplayo's customers are such as Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) and Jamba! which require a deep understanding of wireless, media and distribution.
Scott Rabinowitz, President, Traffic Dude - a Division of Innovative Id
eas International, Ltd.: Scott is one of the management principals at Innovative Ideas International and co-founder of Traffic Dude. Innovative Ideas operates the ARS family of adult internet affiliate networks. The company has been operating since 1996 and has been managing one of the highest traffic volume online content sales networks in the world. With the merge of the Traffic Dude agency assets into Innovative Ideas in the Fall of 2003, Scott, along with his combined affiliate management and media teams, are leading the marketplace with progressive traffic management and revenue solutions that can enable content producers in any genre to cultivate long term online commerce and distribution.Steve Fecske founded Outernet Digital Billboard Network (ODBN) in 2002 and now serves as the company’s president and CEO. Fecske is responsible for ODBN’s business strategy, client development and media sales. He also oversees the company’s research and development efforts, to ensure that ODBN remains at the technological forefront in digital advertising and virtual broadcast networks. Under Fecske’s direction, ODBN has established strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as Scala, EarthLink, Verizon and LG Electronics. Fecske began his career in the publishing industry, launching a magazine called "The Greater Los Angeles Guide" in conjunction with the 1984 Summer Olympics. In 1986, Fecske began publishing the "Real Estate Book" for the Los Angeles metropolitan area. He sold his publishing assets to California Magazine in 1986 and became the magazine’s director of real estate marketing. In 1991, Fecske turned his entrepreneurial vision towards the telecommunications industry and launched Telemedia Network Inc., a telephone dating company eventually valued at $20 million. Fecske also became a leader in the Internet revolution, and he established the first Web site to integrate Internet and telecommunications technologies, as well as EZ-ID, a pioneering e-commerce solution. In 1997, Fecske began development for Traffic Station, an information service capable of delivering real-time traffic updates to a variety of communication devices. Traffic Station was chosen as a Gold Partner for the Windows 98 active desktop, and won contracts to deliver traffic information for several states, including New York and Arizona. Fecske sold his interest in Traffic Station in 200to begin ODBN. Fecske credits his parents, who emigrated from Hungary during the 1956 revolution, for his drive and entrepreneurial spirit. His family lived in both Canada and Mexico before settling in North Hollywood, Calif., where Fecske grew up. He graduated from the University of Southern California in 1981 with a degree in political science and attended USC graduate program in professional writing. Fecske currently lives in Newhall, California with his wife and partner Fran and their three children.
Farrell Hirsch, Producer, Satellite Radio, Playboy: After starting his show business career as a Network Sitcom writer and moving into TV dramas, Farrell’s career led him into the theatre. Mr. Hirsch has produced over 120 plays and musicals. His shows have won Dramalogue Awards, LA Weekly Awards, and two years ago his outdoor production of SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS at Bergamot Station garnered three prestigious Ovation Award nominations including "Best Play". With a grant from AT&T, and the assistance of Cal Arts, Hirsch produced TRYST, a technologically cutting-edge piece simultaneously performed by actors in three different cities, who merged their performances into a single work of art through internet streaming, holographic projection and live performance. Currently Mr Hirsch runs the new subscriber based PLAYBOY RADIO network which he helped launch on Sept 3rd 2002. This station is exclusive to XM Satellite Radio, and is the only adult radio station in the world.
Gregory L. Clayman is the President of VS Media Inc., dba Videosecrets
which operates Flirt4Free.com, the leader in live adult video chat and VScontent.com, the leader in brand name leased content. He has helped changed the face of live adult video chat from an alternative to audiotext into an entertainment portal used by millions annually. Greg was instrumental in the creation of the IMPA and continues to be a rational and educated voice in the adult e-commerce arena.Tom Hymes has been the editor of AVN Online, a trade magazine for t
he adult Internet industry, for 3 years. Before that he was a staff writer with the magazine for two years, and before that spent time acting and writing plays and screenplays. He is now editing a documentary about Equity-waiver Theater in Los Angeles. Born in New York City as the Cold War was just shifting into high gear, he was raised with his brother and sister on the upper West Side of Manhattan, and now lives in Los Angeles with his wife and baby son.