Click on the Video Below and Sample a Session from a previous Digital Hollywood event. For Additional Video Sessions, Click Here Building Blocks 2008 Wednesday, August 6th 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM Track III: The Television - Hollywood 2.0 – Platforms and Content Bridging TV and Broadband: Strategic Relationships - Advertising, Technology & Content 2008 is the Year of Broadband. Most major television networks have launched ad-supported or subscription-based online video initiatives. They're competing and partnering with aggressive online brands like Yahoo, AOL, Google, and thousands of smaller players all seeking the holy grail. Broadband penetration has surpassed 50% of US homes, technology has improved the product, and demand for online video advertising now outstrips supply. What's happening in 2008, and what are the implications for 2009 and beyond? Traditional media is definitely responding to the challenge of broadband, but success is elusive and the future is never without danger. Don't miss this lively and frank discussion about the present and future of the industry's hottest topic! Steve Abraham, Global Leader, Media/Entertainment Industry, IBM Global Business Services Robert E. Quicksilver, Chief Content Officer, Tidal TV Daniel Leon, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Hiro-Media Sean Bunner, Operating Vice President of Advanced Services, HSN Home Shopping Network Mark Dawson, Vice President, Programming Services, ActiveMedia Group Mike Vorhaus, Managing Director, Frank N. Magid Associates, Moderator Steven Abraham, Global Leader Media & Entertainment, IBM Global Business Services: Steven Abraham has worldwide responsibility for IBM’s global business services in the media and entertainment industry, the management consulting, systems integration and application systems outsourcing arm of IBM. Under his leadership the M&E business has grown to encompass many segments, including filmed entertainment, television, media networks (cable, satellite, internet-based, broadcast), music, publishing (newspaper, book, magazine, internet-based), consumer products, information providers, advertising, theme parks and sports. The business has significant operations throughout North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. Before IBM he held increasing levels of responsibility for a similar practice in Pricewaterhouse Coopers Consulting, joining in 1981 and becoming a partner in 1988. With the acquisition of PwCC by IBM in late 2002 he was named global leader of M&E for GBS. His primary role has been building and operating the business, but he has been directly involved in many deals and projects for clients around the world, including Sony, Disney, AT&T, DreamWorks, NBC Universal, Time Warner, Newscorp, EMI, Viacom, Washington Post, D&B, BBC, NTT, Qwest, Sprint, Echostar, Canal +, Zee TV, Cox and Comcast. Mark Dawson, Vice President, Programming Services, ActiveMedia Group: Mark joined ActiveMedia Networks from Gemstar-TV Guide International, where he served as Director of Cross Platform TV Guidance Product Management, with responsibility for the successful launch of the My TV Guide suite of services. Prior to Gemstar-TV Guide, Dawson was involved in the launch of new products for Helio, a joint venture of SK Telecom and Earthlink to deliver video, music, data and community applications to mobile customers. He also has worked for companies such as FOX Sports Interactive Media, Microsoft, News Corporation and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment’s FOX Interactive gaming division. Robert E. Quicksilver, Chief Content Officer, Tidal TV: As Chief Content Officer of TidalTV, Robert oversees all content acquisition, development and strategy for the broadband television platform. Robert has over fifteen years of senior executive level experience in local television, network television and digital media. Prior to joining TidalTV, Robert played a key role in developing a local video content initiative for Yahoo! Media Group and securing an agreement with the CBS Television Station Group in October 2006. That agreement represented the first time that a major broadcast station group had syndicated its local video content to an unaffiliated portal. From 1999-2005, Robert served as President, Network Distribution, FOX Broadcast Company, where he oversaw the business relationship between FOX and its U.S. distribution network of 180+ affiliate stations. In that role, Robert helped formulate and implement FOX’s entertainment, sports, news, promotion, distribution, and digital media initiatives across that affiliate body. During his tenure at Fox, Robert was actively involved in a number of broadcast-based regulatory initiatives and, for one year, ran the News Corporation government relations office in Washington D.C. in addition to his network duties. Prior to Fox, Robert served as Vice President, General Counsel, of Sinclair Broadcast Group, a publicly traded local television station group, and prior to that, as Vice President, General Counsel, of River City Broadcasting, a privately held station group. Robert has a J.D from the University of Michigan Law School and B.A. from Dartmouth College, where he graduated summa cum laude. Daniel Leon, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Hiro-Media: S. Daniel Leon, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Hiro-Media: S. Daniel Leon, as the Head of Strategic Partnerships for Hiro-Media LTD, is responsible for leading Hiro’s business development as well as seeking and securing strategic alliances in the U.S. Leon brings more than a decade of experience in online media strategy and business development. Prior to joining Hiro, in October 2007, Leon served as Vice President of Content and Business Development for SIVOO (OC: SIVO) where he drove SIVOO’s content acquisition, distribution, and business development strategy. He is also a co-founder of ekkoTV, an innovative live video discussion platform. Before SIVOO and ekkoTV Leon served as senior consultant and Director of Business Development for Brand UP, a leading Israeli branding company. He led its expansion into the American market while advising mid-size companies on their strategy and branding efforts. Previously Leon was a Vice President with the Gallup Organization, a leading opinion research and consulting company, where he led business development efforts in the Midwest region. Leon holds an Economics degree from Brown University and resides in Teaneck, NJ with his wife and daughter. Sean Bunner, Operating Vice President, Advanced Services, HSN - Sean Bunner serves as the Operating Vice President of Advanced Services for HSN. In this role he is responsible for the business development, operations and marketing of HSN’s Interactive Media applications including: Shop by Remote (iTV), Video on Demand, Broadband and Mobile services. Bunner actively supports key industry initiatives including the CableLabs eTV Working Group, CTAM onDemand Consortium - Advanced Technology Sub-committee, and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 2007 Interactive Television Emmy Blue Ribbon Panel. Before joining HSN, Mr. Bunner worked in investment banking for 5 years at Tunstall Consulting where he was the lead Director for technology company financings and strategic plans, including many telecommunications related deals, such as SMATV operators and cable related technology providers. Prior to this, he worked at Honeywell for 7 years in various Corporate Finance roles. Bunner is a CPA and graduate of the University of South Florida where he received a Masters in Business Administration and B.S. Accounting. He resides in Flordia with his wife Ellen and their three children. Mike Vorhaus, Managing Director, Frank N. Magid Associates: founded the Magid Internet and New Media research and consultation practice in 1995, beginning with projects for AOL and Excite. Mike has participated in hundreds of studies for our clients and personally consults a number of leading Internet and gaming companies. Mike has been involved in strategic and tactical consulting, including the launch of new services and programming, as well as development and implementation of online and offline marketing programs. Mike has also been extensively involved in video and PC gaming strategies for a number of major gaming companies, as well as the development of game concepts. Mike has also consulted on a number of film projects such as You've Got Mail and The Matrix. He holds a B.S. in psychology and sociology from Wesleyan University and has worked as a fundraiser and transfer of technology officer at the California Institute of Technology and the University of California. Mike also worked for the U.S. House of Representatives, The U.S. Senate, and for two administrations in the White House.