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11. R&B HitmakersBrian RobertsTitle: Chairman/CEO, Comcast Corp. Age: 47 Years in Industry: 25 Steve Burke Title: President of Comcast Cable; COO of Comcast Corp. Why Them? Must you ask? Brian Roberts and Steve Burke are pretty much 100 royalty, but perhaps even more so now than in year’s past. That’s because after years of careful investment (and enduring countless barbs from Wall Street, consumer groups and competitors), Comcast is finally firing on all cylinders. Its stock price is soaring after 3 straight quarters of stellar performance. Customer satisfaction is up. And Comcast has the telcos running scared as it steals voice customers, outraces DSL on in most markets and cements its current video dominance with a growing array of video-on-demand fare. What's even more amazing is that Comcast has remained focused on the bottom line even as it was working through the immensely complex Adelphia transaction. Burke declared Q3 one of the best quarters in the company's history. Comcast averaged $120 in revenue per user, with historic Comcast systems adding 24K basic, 550K digital, 460K data and 469K VoIP customers. After factoring in the Adelphia and Time Warner systems, the sub totals change to 10K, 558K, 536K and 483K, respectively. The MSO's net income was more than 5 times that of a year ago. Even without after-tax gains, profits were more than double, with revenue climbing 22%. And not only does Comcast continue to post great numbers, but Roberts always makes time to speak out on issues such as the FCC's set-top integration ban and the rising costs of sports content. Comcast's recent reorganization of its programming arm, meanwhile, has only increased its already considerable influence and reach. The industry couldn’t ask for a better dynamic duo to lead the industry into the next decade than Roberts and Burke. Cable can only hope the good times keep on rolling as Verizon and AT&T try their best to spoil the party. With Comcast at the helm, few are worried. At least not yet. - MG Brian Roberts I knew the cable industry was for me when: “I worked in my first system and saw all the chaos!!” Defining career moment: “When Comcast bought AT&T Broadband” In my free time, I like to: “Spend time with my family (occasionally without my BlackBerry!)” Favorite City: Philadelphia Click here to return to the 2006 CFAX 100 List |
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