Click on the Video Below and Sample a Session from a previous Digital Hollywood event. For Additional Video Sessions, Click Here Digital Hollywood, October 27-30, 2008 Tuesday, October 28th Special Event - Open to All Attendees 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Special VIP Session YouTube Partner Roundtable (limited seating) Kevin Yen, Head of Strategic Partner Management, YouTube Fran Shea, founder and general manager, HBOlab Josh Freeman, EVP, Digital Media, Discovery Communications Michael Arrieta, EVP of Digital Distribution, Sony Pictures Entertainment Jed Simmons, COO, NextNewNetworks Fran Shea is the founder and general manager of HBOlab (launched 5/07), a content driven creative experiment within HBO. HBOlab is creates multiplatform content for the many digital and television platforms in HBO’s related businesses. Fran is the former president of E! Entertainment Television (1999-2001). Under her leadership the highly successful cable channel, which is now available in over 90 million homes, reached record profitability and launched a second network (style.). In addition, Fran oversaw the growing international business and managed the online business (eonline) to continued revenue growth. Preceding her presidency she originated and developed the programming and on-air brand for E! Entertainment Television over a nine year period as Senior Vice President of Programming. Managing a creative and technical staff of 700, she was responsible for the creative growth of the channel including the development of all shows (True Hollywood Story, Talk Soup, E! News Daily, Awards Show Coverage, etc...). Fran was a production executive at HBO from 1980 to1990. She won an Emmy Award in 1989 as a producer of James Stewart’s Wonderful Life. She is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University with a BS in Journalism. Fran also manages her own television programming consulting business. She is a speaker on the subject of content development and production in the multiplatform world. Michael Arrieta, EVP of Digital Distribution, Sony Pictures Entertainment: Michael Arrieta is responsible for extending Sony Pictures Entertainment properties into the digital marketplace through digital sales, licensing, distribution, marketing and integrated promotions. In this role, Arrieta oversees online promotion via SonyPictures.com, mobile entertainment, and the digital sale of the studio’s film and television programming via emerging outlets worldwide. Since he joined Sony Pictures in 1997, Arrieta has helped shape critical digital programs and has been a key driver in creating entirely new broadband business initiatives for emerging, newly empowered audiences. His leadership in the mobile entertainment arena has helped place the company at the forefront of the emerging mobile market. The division has developed an array of successful mobile entertainment offerings including games, ringtones, wallpaper, video products and other personalization products for such diverse properties as Spider-Man 2, "Wheel of Fortune," "Jeopardy!," and "Team McLaren Mercedes " Arrieta previously served as Senior Vice President, Strategic Alliances, for Sony Pictures Digital and was responsible for the creation and execution of all sales, licensing, acquisition and distribution efforts of Sony Pictures Entertainment in the digital marketplace. Prior to this, he served as Vice President of Operations and Co-General Manager of Sony Pictures’ Broadband Content Group where he oversaw the strategic development and operations for Sony Screenblast and the company’s creation of original programming for the broadband marketplace. An online entertainment industry expert, Arrieta has been central in focusing Sony Pictures' corporate development efforts in both traditional and digital media. He has helped identify and enable strategic opportunities for the company, including investments in important technology partners. Prior to joining Sony Pictures Entertainment, Arrieta worked for 20th Century Fox and Morgan Creek Productions, and served as a strategic consultant in the Entertainment Group at Price Waterhouse. Arrieta received his B.A. in economics and his M.B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children. Josh Freeman, Executive Vice President, Digital Media, Discovery Communications: As executive vice president, digital media, Josh Freeman is responsible for the strategic growth of Discovery’s world-class portfolio of brands across digital platforms globally. Charged with seeking out new technology and alliances, and developing new business models and markets, Freeman directs the company’s effort to expand its footprint by heightening Discovery’s presence in the ever-evolving digital media space. Prior to joining Discovery in September 2007, Freeman was most recently senior vice president, operations & planning, AOL Products. He led business operations for a division employing more than 1,500 people, oversaw distribution partnerships for free AOL products and managed all content partnerships for AOL Video, striking more than 25 deals with companies such as CBS, NBC Universal, Fox, Sony, Viacom and Warner Bros. Previously, he was vice president, strategy and business development for AOL Video, the company’s broadband video distribution business, which he helped launch. In this capacity, Freeman negotiated partnerships with major media companies and third-party technology providers. Throughout his tenure at AOL, which began in 1999, Freeman held a number of key posts including Director/Executive Director for Business Affairs and Development, and Manager/Senior Manager, Corporate Development. Prior to joining AOL, Freeman worked at Bain & Co. in Boston as a consultant to media, banking, retail and technology clients. Early in his career, he served as a program officer with the National Democratic Institute in Washington and in Moscow. Freeman earned an MBA and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University, and a bachelor’s degree in Russian Studies from Amherst College. He is based at Discovery’s global headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. Jed Simmons is Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of Next New Networks, overseeing day to day operations, administration and business developments. Jed has more than 20 years of experience in media, entertainment and consumer product businesses. His broad experience includes launching and managing start-ups, international expansion of US based businesses, acquisitions, and operating established businesses and turnarounds. Previously, he was Chief Operating Officer of the Sundance Group, Sundance is a group of companies founded and owned by Robert Redford including the Sundance Catalog, Sundance Village, Sundance Channel, Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival. Before joining Sundance, Mr. Simmons lived and worked in London for seven years. There, he helped launch a number of start-up internet and digital media companies including Excite, Inc, Sportal, Confetti, and eos Ventures (a London based early stage fund). At 31 years old, Mr. Simmons became the Chief Operating Officer of Los Angeles based Hanna-Barbera, which was newly acquired by Turner Broadcasting. During his time at the legendary cartoon studio, the company created a number of hits, including the Power Puff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, and Jonny Bravo. Mr. Simmons started his career in sports television with ABC Sports as a member of the 1984 Olympic Unit and has worked three Olympics (Sarajevo, Los Angeles and Seoul). He has served on several boards, including the Tate Gallery of London advisory board and the Sundance Catalog and Sundance Channel boards. He was formerly on the board of NASN, the only TV Channel in Europe dedicated to North American Sport, which was recently sold to ESPN. Kevin Yen, Head of Strategic Partner Management, YouTube: As Head of Strategic Partner Management, Kevin Yen leads the performance and expansion of YouTube's content and distribution partnerships, and directs the industry marketing of the YouTube platform. His online video expertise spans monetization models, marketing strategies, research methods, and rights management. At YouTube, Kevin developed the Premium Content Events program, Brand Extension Arbitrage model, and the Four R's marketing framework (Revenue-Reach-Research-Rights); he also established and chairs the partner Video Advisory Board. Prior to the Google acquisition of YouTube in October 2006, Kevin built and directed the partner management team for Google Video, and negotiated over $250 million in large-scale ad syndication deals with Google's top partners such as AOL and InfoSpace. Before joining Google, Kevin held senior product positions at Netscape and AOL, where he led technology and distribution deals with Sun Microsystems and Macromedia, among others. In addition, he helped pioneer advertising optimization systems at a Silicon Valley startup. Kevin earned his BA with distinction in Applied Mathematics from UC Berkeley, MS in Engineering from Stanford, and MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. Return to Digital Hollywood Agenda - Click Here