July 24, 2008

The Hottest Operators: 2008 Top Ops Awards

CableFAX: The Magazine honors the outstanding work of MSOs and independent operators. Also in this issue: The 2008 Top 10 Places to Work in Cable.

In the past we’ve honored the MSO of the Year and the Independent Operator of the Year, and left it at that.

We’re expanding on that tradition for this summertime edition of CableFAX: The Magazine — there is just too much good work being done by operators to limit our Top Ops Awards to two companies. If we had done so, we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to talk with Jerry McKenna about the integration of sales and marketing at Cable One, or with Amy Tykeson about being both a leading voice for the cable industry in D.C. and a leader of an innovative independent operator, or with Pragash Pillai about small MSOs’ small margin for error when launching new technology.

CableFAX’s awards saluting the best in marketing, operational leadership, tech innovation, sales and community service among MSOs and indie operators will hopefully serve as inspiration. As you read through this issue, you might get a few Top Ops Award-worthy ideas of your own, even if the inspiration comes — as in the case of WOW!, our Indie Operator of the Year — from a competitor. ACA and NCTC are partnering with us as co-sponsors of the IOY Award, which will be presented to WOW! at the Independent Show in Orlando in late July.

View the electronic edition of CableFAX: The Magazine's Top Ops issue

2008 Top Ops Award Winners
MSO of the Year: Insight Communications

Sales Team of the Year, MSO: Charter Business

Comeback Executive of the Year, MSO: Rocco B. Commisso, chairman and CEO, Mediacom

Tech Innovation, MSO: Pragash Pillai, VP, strategic engineering, Bresnan Communications

Best Community Service (system), MSO: Cox Arizona/Cox 7 Arizona

MSO Lifetime Achievement: Ralph Roberts, co-founder, Comcast

Independent Operator of the Year: WOW!

Marketer of the Year, Independent Operator: Jerry McKenna, SVP/chief sales and marketing officer, Cable One

System Executive of the Year, Independent Operator: Amy Tykeson, president/CEO, BendBroadband

Strategic Thinker of the Year, Independent Operator: Patrick Knorr, GM, Sunflower Broadband

Best Community Service, Independent Operator (tie): Advanced Cable Communications

Best Community Service, Independent Operator (tie): Massillon Cable TV

Lifetime Achievement, Independent Operator: Steve Weed, CEO, Wave Broadband


ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
CableFAX: The Magazine's 2008 Top 10 Places to Work in Cable

Q&A With HDNet's Mark Cuban
The hi-def advocate talks about HD fraud and what he'd do if he ran NCTA for a day.

Cable by the Numbers: 2008 Top Ops Edition
We present some digits of interest to the cable industry.

The End: A Look Ahead at Cable Advertising

Editor's Note: Heat Exhaustion
Inside the minds of cable execs on their summer vacations.