Simon Danker was appointed as Director, Digital Media in June 2006. Simon heads up the team looking at widening the availability of programmes on multiple platforms including VOD, the Internet and mobiles. Danker is responsible for brokering global partnerships, such as the partnership announced in March 2007 with YouTube for the launch of a BBC Worldwide branded channel. In addition Simon works with all divisions within BBC Worldwide on digital media initiatives. Additional responsibilities include the development of BBC Worldwide's iPlayer, a commercial version of the BBC's proposed iPlayer, which would allow people to download television and radio programmes via the Internet. Simon will also oversee a portal which BBC Worldwide is building around Earth, the spin-off box-office movie based on Planet Earth which is due for release in autumn 2007. Simon joined BBC Worldwide in 2000. Prior to taking up this new role he was Director of UK and Ireland TV within BBC Worldwide's Global TV Sales division. Danker has managed and grown the development of programme sales to Video on Demand (VoD) platforms such as BT and Homechoice. In addition to selling programmes to broadcasters in the UK and Ireland, Danker was responsible for growing the relationship with UKTV, in which BBC Worldwide has a 50% stake.

Tara Maitra serves as Vice President, General Manager of Programming for TiVo. In this role, Maitra is responsible for cultivating relationships with content companies and unique content offerings for delivery via broadband. Previously, Maitra served as Senior Director of content development at Comcast, where she was responsible for day-to-day operations of Select on Demand, a collection of new niche non-linear networks delivered via video on-demand and broadband. Maitra helped to create new channels through partnerships, acquisitions and original programming. Prior to Comcast, Maitra was Executive Vice President, General Manager of Primedia Digital Video, where she developed on-demand and broadband video businesses for Primedia's established print franchises. Her accomplishments include launching video services on Comcast and Real Networks. Ms. Maitra also held a series of editorial and management positions at NBC, including Vice President, General Manager of CNBC/Dow Jones Business Video, a joint venture of NBC, Microsoft and Dow Jones. There she led the development and managed one of the first profitable streaming video web sites to offer financial content thru both subscription and syndication models. A graduate of Washington and Lee University, located in Lexington, Virginia, Ms. Maitra holds a B.A. in Journalism and Psychology.

Jon Ferro is the Executive Vice President of Television Distribution for Lionsgate Entertainment and is in charge of program licensing and sales for TV, Video on Demand, and all Digital Media. Recent deals that Ferro has set up include Apple iTunes, xBoxLive, Amazon and Netflix digital. He was also a key executive in negotiating Lionsgate's partnership in FearNet with Comcast and Sony. Ferro has been EVP of TV Distribution since 2004 and from 1996 to 2004 was the Senior Vice President of TV Sales for Artisan Entertainment. From 1989 to 1996, he was the General Sales Manager for Fries Entertainment where he managed program licensing for TV syndication, Basic and Pay cable. Ferro is an alumnus of The University of Southern California and earned an MA from the Annenberg School of Communications Management School.




Lucy Goldenhersh was named Vice President, Distribution-New Technologies in September 2005. Based in Los Angeles, she reports to Louise Henry Bryson, President, Distribution and Affiliate Business Development. In this role, Lucy Goldenhersh oversees Lifetime’s On Demand business and liaises with the network’s distribution partners on new media initiatives for Lifetime Television, LMN and Lifetime Real Women. Prior to joining Lifetime, she led business development at Movielink and, before that, served as Corporate Vice President at Universal. In this capacity she worked with emerging business lines across music, motion picture, and television divisions and spearheaded studio-wide content protection strategy. While at Universal, she was actively involved in launch of the DVD format, worked with Universal Music to build out on-line music distribution and served as lead negotiator for the DVD-audio/ Super Audio CD formats. She also served as Universal’s lead representative to the MPAA’s Special Policy Group, the industry’s coordinating body for worldwide policy issues, where she negotiated industry positions on a broad range of legislative and regulatory matters. Prior to Universal, she was a Business Affairs executive at Disney. She holds a J.D. from the University of Michigan and a B.A. from Stanford University.

James Glasscock, Vice President, Video-on-Demand, Playboy Entertainment Group: James Glasscock joined Playboy in November of 2005. In his current role as Vice President, Video-on-Demand, Glasscock manages all aspects of the Company's video-on-demand business and serves as a liaison with Playboy's distribution partners. Glasscock focuses on distribution implementation and optimizing revenue specifically related to VOD and SVOD product. He works closely with Playboy's Sales and Affiliate Relations division and the Programming division. Prior to joining Playboy, Glasscock was the Director of New Media Business Development at Turner Broadcasting System Inc. where he was responsible for developing and executing non-linear distribution for the Turner brands across broadband, VOD, interactive/enhanced television and wireless platforms. While at Turner, he helped develop and launch advertising supported video-on-demand for CNN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, TBS and TNT. Glasscock has also served as Director of New Ventures for Zone Ventures and as an associate at KPMG Digital Media Incubator. Glasscock has a BA in accounting from the University of San Diego and served 5 years active duty in the U.S. Navy. He is currently a member of the Cable Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) and the On Demand Consortium. Glasscock is based in Playboy’s Los Angeles Media Center office.

Ron Grover is BusinessWeek’s Los Angeles Bureau chief and west coast media and entertainment reporter. A one-time Washington Post sports reporter, he joined BusinessWeek’s Washington Bureau in 1979, where he initially covered energy issues. He later covered the Carter and Reagan Administrations before moving to LA in 1986. As BusinessWeek’s Hollywood reporter, his cover stories have included those on the Walt Disney Co., Rupert Murdoch and Steven Spielberg. In recent years, he has expanded his coverage to include new media and emerging digital technologies, including those distributing content online and through wireless devices. He is author of the 1991 book, The Disney Touch, and is a frequent commentator for CNN, CNBC and other news outlets. Optional: He lives in Pasadena, Calif. with his wife and two daughters.