3. I Still Want My…

Judy McGrath
Title: Chairman/CEO, MTV Networks
Age: 54

Christina Norman
Title: President, MTV
Age: 43
 
Why them? It has been 25 years since “Video Killed The Radio Star,” and MTV’s leading ladies are facing their greatest challenge—bringing the network into the digital age—with their usual intrepid spirit. Yes, the kids are increasingly flocking to YouTube, iTunes and MySpace. But Norman proved her prowess in reinventing a brand to suit its audience with VH1, and she plans no less with MTV’s digital assault (and that of sister nets mtvU, MTV2, MTV Espanol). Witness the very cool Overdrive broadband site and Urge, MTV and Microsoft’s more music-centric answer to iTunes. McGrath also juggles VH1, Nickelodeon, BET and Comedy Central, finding new ways to foster the interactivity that’s oxygen to young audiences. The company’s new Virtual Laguna Beach online service—where fans can live the experience via digitized avatars—will be followed by virtual club-hopping spot VMTV and LogoWorld, an online offshoot of its gay and lesbian channel. She’s also partnering up to grow. Besides the Microsoft union, McGrath has greenlit purchases of sticky kids critter site Neopets and homegrown-film domain iFilm. We’re also jazzed about MTV’s recent $175 million purchase of music game-maker Harmonix. I mean who isn’t clamoring for an offshoot of video game Guitar Hero? - CAO

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Judy McGrath

Defining career moment: “The launch, care and feeding of MTV is right up there. That, and my first contest spot ‘Devo Goes Hawaiian’.”
Person I most admire in the cable industry and why: “The employees of MTV Networks, past present and future.”
Person (other than my current boss) I’d most like to work for: Bill Gates and Warren Buffett Foundation.
In my free time, I like to: “Family. Read good fiction and bad magazines. See music. Go on YouTube.”
Favorite city: New York
Favorite song: “Too many to mention. From Duke Ellington through Neil Young to Nirvana and a new one I really like, The Weepies.”
Favorite TV shows not on my network: “Rescue Me,” “Weeds” and “Nip/Tuck”
Favorite piece of tech: “My Blackberry.”
Least favorite piece of tech: “My Blackberry.”
The world would be a better place if: “Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert were REAL news, not FAKE news... if we stopped the genocide in Darfur... and if everyone in this country participated in the voting process like it really mattered.”
 
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