1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session A - DH21:
Development of Streaming Video Programming: Concepts in Entertainment or Information Channels
The idea of broadband information and entertainment networks is now not only an accepted model of programming, it’s becoming a staple in Net communication. Contrary to popular belief, streaming networks, representing broadband content in many forms, are the future. Wall Street may be having its doubts and the consumer press loves to debunk the rise of the Net, being first in line to slam a fad, but like it or not, millions of users are online watching and interacting with streaming content. Whether it’s a broadband network or an ETV/ITV programming, streaming is here. There’s no escaping the future. For the skeptics or converted alike, television, music and film production entities had better figure out how to implement this technology and get its content streaming if it wants to play a part in the future.
Eric Scholl, Executive Producer and Director, Yahoo! Finance Vision
Larry Namer, Chairman, Steeplechase Media
Mark Greenberg, Executive V.P. Corporate Strategy and Communications, Showtime Event Television, Showtime Networks
Marty Lafferty, President and CEO, Zoom Culture
Steve Rosenbaum, CEO, BNNtv.com/CameraPlanet.com
Michael Dorf, CEO, KnitMedia
Neil McGinness, Founder, Scale Studio, Moderator
Eric Scholl, Executive Producer and Director, Yahoo! Finance Vision, Yahoo! Inc.: Eric Scholl is the executive producer and director of Yahoo! Inc. FinanceVision. In this role, Scholl oversees the development of streaming video and data content for Web distribution. Prior to his arrival at Yahoo! in September 1999, he was the executive producer of CNNfn where he headed up the production team which launched the network in December 1995 and was subsequently responsible for programming, daily news coverage, and editing. The programs Scholl created for CNNfn included the first daily show devoted to technology and technology investing, as well as the first daily show devoted to deal-making and initial public offerings. In addition, Scholl served as the executive producer of MONEYLINE WITH LOU DOBBS, CNN’s flagship nightly business program. Before starting up CNNfn, Scholl had been with NBC Hong Kong, where he was responsible for launching its new Asia networks. He had previously been managing editor for NHK Television in Tokyo for five years, where he developed news programs that were seen on ABC, CNBC, SkyTelevision and ABN, on every continent around the globe. Scholl began his television career with CNN Business News in 1981 and worked as a producer, news editor and supervising producer before going to Asia in 1990. In addition to his television work, Scholl has had articles published in The New York Times, TJFR (financial news trade publication,) and Playboy. He received a George Foster Peabody Award for coverage of the 1987 stock market crash. Scholl holds a B.A. in English from Columbia University.
Mark Greenberg, Executive V.P. Corporate Strategy and Communications, Showtime Event Television, Showtime Networks: In July 1998, Mark Greenberg assumed the new position of Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Communications/Showtime Event Television (SET) for Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI). In this capacity, he has overall responsibility for Business Planning, Business Strategy, Business Development and New Media. Greenberg also oversees the company’s corporate communications department, the company's sports and event programming group, Showtime Event Television (SET) Pay Per View, and Showtime Networks’ sales, programming and marketing research areas. Most recently, Greenberg served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Communications from January 1996 through July 1998. In this capacity, Greenberg was responsible for overseeing the company’s corporate marketing strategy and planning efforts, national marketing campaigns and promotions, including intra-Viacom activities, corporate communications, research and the network’s pay-per-view division. Previously, Greenberg served as Senior Vice President, Marketing, Showtime Networks Sales and Marketing, where he was responsible for overseeing all marketing, direct marketing, consumer advertising, consumer promotion, design services, marketing administration and tele-services activities for Showtime Networks. Before that, he served as Vice President, Direct Marketing, Showtime Networks Inc., where he was responsible for overseeing SNI's direct marketing efforts, including expanding operations and developing direct marketing applications. Prior to joining the company in 1989, Greenberg was at Home Box Office, where he held several sales and marketing positions between 1982 and 1989, including Director, Direct Marketing from 1986 to 1989. Greenberg currently serves on the Board of Directors for the John A. Reisenbach Foundation, Inc., Family Dynamics Inc., Cable in the Classroom and the Nantucket Film Festival. Greenberg received his B.A. from Providence College in 1978 and an M.B.A. from Columbia University in 1988. He resides in Westchester with his wife Tami and their three children and is based at Showtime’s headquarters in New York City.
Larry Namer, Chairman, Steeplechase Media: Larry Namer is the founder of E! Entertainment Television, Inc., Movies USA magazi
ne, Steeplechase Media and Comspan Communications, Inc. He began his career in 1971 within Time Incorporated video group (Manhattan Cable TV) where he ultimately became Director of Corporate Development. This group was charged with moving the company from a magazine publisher to a full blown media company. While starting as an installer, his last position there put him in charge of developing new uses of cable television beyond being a simple provider of better TV reception. He is widely credited with pioneering the use of cable television lines for data communications. After leaving Time, Inc., he moved to Los Angeles and established Valley Cable Television (VCTV), the nation’s first 61-channel two-way cable system. VCTV’s accolades included being recognized by Forbes Magazine as the national model for local cable television programming. In his role as Vice President and General Manger, he negotiated contracts with all major cable television networks as well as ran all other aspects of the company’s operations. In 1984, he co-founded Movietime Channel Inc. (renamed E! Entertainment Television, Inc.) and raised the capital to launch the channel in 1987. Serving as President and CEO, he guided the network as it expanded to 14 international markets and a successful radio network syndicated in over 110 markets. He negotiated programming deals with all major Hollywood studios as well as affiliate carriage deals with the nations largest cable operators. He was also responsible for negotiating investments from 8 of the nations largest media conglomerates. In his role as CEO he oversaw every aspect of the companies operations from its finance and investor relations, to the production of several thousand hours of television programming annually. In 1989, Mr. Namer founded Comspan Communications, Inc., and established Comspan Russia to manage the company’s rapidly growing international activities. Comspan Communications, Inc. remains the most prolific producer of live entertainment events in the former Soviet Union (concerts, to fashion shows, to sporting events). Comspan also made its mark in television in Russia as the syndicator of the soap opera Santa Barbara, which ran for 10 years. In 1995, Mr. Namer founded Steeplechase Media, Inc. He has also served as the primary consultant for planning and strategy to Microsoft Interactive TV (MiTV) for several years. Steeplechase grew into one of the most widely recognized developers of new television services and revenue streams and is recognized globally as a leader in the field of convergence of television and computing power. Today, Steeplechase is at the forefront of developing video on demand services as well as helping consumer product companies integrate into the changing landscape of television that is unveiling itself as a result of new technologies. Steve Rosenbaum, CEO, BNNtv.com/CameraPlanet.com: As the founder and CEO of CameraPlanet.com, Steven Rosenbaum is considered to be one of the most outspoken advocates of first-person storytelling. Says Rosenbaum: "The era of a few voices speaking to the masses is over as individuals gain access to the tools that make television production and distribution possible." Rosenbaum's CameraPlanet.com is poised to be at the center of that revolution. "The next wave of television will entertain and inform, engage and empower, and invite viewers to become content creators and active participants," says Rosenbaum. Rosenbaum's first hit in user-generated video was at MTV. There, he created the groundbreaking series MTV News UNFILTERED, empowering viewers to call in with their story ideas. Rosenbaum's staffers reviewed approximately 2,500 calls a week and then sent out small video cameras to chosen subjects to film their own compelling stories. Television news was turned upside-down and Rosenbaum's company became the noted pioneer of viewer-generated content. UNFILTERED was the first user-based production of BNNtv.com, the television division of Rosenbaum's interactive media company. BNNtv.com's productions account for 40 hours of prime-time television annually on such outlets as MSNBC, A&E, CourtTV, HBO, The History Channel, CBS News, MTV and CNN. He is acknowledged as an originator of VideoJournalism, the process where reporters shoot and edit their own stories for both TV and the Web. Rosenbaum is the president and CEO of BNNtv.com, and the president of CameraPlanet.com. His work has been acknowledged for excellence, with a recognition that includes 2 Emmy Awards, 6 New York Festival's World Medals, 4 CINE Golden Eagles and 6 Telly awards. He actively serves on the Board of Trustees of the International Documentary Association and as a member and advisor to the Creative Coalition.
Marty Lafferty, President and CEO, Zoom Culture: Marty oversees the company's overall direction, including growth of ZOOM CULTURE's member community and guidance of its Zoom Director network in the development of compelling and, above all, entertaining programming. Prior to joining ZOOM CULTURE in November 2000, Marty served as chief marketing officer at StreamSearch.com, leading content acquisition, advertising sales, consumer marketing, and business development. Previously, he held the position of vice president of corporate and service marketing at Microsoft TV. Before joining Microsoft he was president of FutureVision, overseeing the commercial launch of its digital video services and acquisition of the company by Verizon. He also served in senior management positions at NBC and TBS. He served as CEO of NBC's pay-per-view Olympics joint venture, producing a series of programs featuring many digital programming and field production enhancements. At TBS, he played a key role in two Turner Entertainment Network launches, as well as the re-launch of CNN-2 as Headline News. Marty has been the recipient of the NCTA President's Award and a CTAM TAMI Award. He is an honors graduate of Williams College and holds a masters degree from Yale University.
Michael Dorf, CEO, KnitMedia: The musical leanings of Michael Dorf, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, were solidified early on when he founded his own record label while attending law sch
ool at the University of Wisconsin. In 1986, he quit school, moved to New York City and began to promote bands on his label full-time. A year later, he opened a small performing arts space called The Knitting Factory. Today, Dorf's Knitting Factory, the state-of-the-art, 15,000-square-foot, fully-wired facility in TriBeCa, has become the international home of new music, and stands as a focal point at the heart of KnitMedia and its productions. In 1994, Dorf had the foresight to see the potential and power of the internet by making the Knitting Factory the first music venue to enter the cyber-universe by launching its initial website, knittingfactory.com. Shortly thereafter, Dorf upped the ante by making the Knit the world’s first "global club" by webcasting its shows live around the globe. And thus, the groundwork was laid for what would become KnitMedia. One club has grown into three; One record label has blossomed into several, providing both new and historic music; One ambitious festival has become one of the largest festival production companies in the world; And one website has evolved into a new media company that has put forth a new benchmark model in music entertainment. In a December, 1999, Los Angeles Times Weekend Calendar cover story on Dorf, Don Heckman stated, "It was skill that allowed Dorf to transform an offbeat venue into one of the most influential companies in jazz and alternative music, and, in the process, enact some visionary methods of connecting musicians with listeners."Neil McGinness, founder, Scale Studio: Prior to founding Scale Studio, Neil was Senior Vice President for Business Development at the Burly
Bear Network, the nation's largest college cable television network. In this role he plans and creates strategic relationships which benefit Burly Bear Network's efforts on-air, on-campus, and online at www.burlybear.com. Prior to joining Burly Bear Network, Mr. McGinness was Vice President for Business Development at Burly Bear Network's parent company Broadway Video Entertainment. Owned by "Saturday Night Live" creator Lorne Michaels, Broadway Video Entertainment develops and produces entertainment in television, recorded music, and new media. Mr. McGinness began his career at Broadway Video Entertainment in 1992. He holds a master's degree from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts' Institute of Film and Television and received a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University.