23. Starz Rising

Robert B. Clasen
Title: Chairman/CEO, Starz
Age: 62
Years in Industry: 32

Bob Greene
Title: EVP, advanced services, Starz Entertainment
Age: 49
Years in Industry: 24

Why them? Robert Clasen oversees a company that keeps innovating in the area of distribution. HBO and Showtime are just starting to get their charms around unique broadband channels, but Bob Greene beat them in January by launching Vongo, a subscription-based movie download service for Windows-based PCs, laptops and other portable devices, expanding on the company’s internal IP-based tests of content delivery in 2003. Vongo was dubbed Gadget of the Week by Time magazine the following month. With its flat charge of $10/mo for unlimited access to some 1,000 movies (and 2,500 titles overall), we’re just waiting for the service to be offered to Mac-users. It's already Apple compatible...over to you, Steve Jobs. - SB

Robert Clasen

I knew the cable industry was for me when: “I walked the streets selling door to door (for experience).”
Person I most admire in the cable industry and why: “Ralph J. Roberts, a successful businessman and gentleman who always makes time for people.”
Biggest cable surprise of 2006: “Freston’s departure.”
Top personal achievement in 2006: “Achieving full production resources and additional distribution platforms around the Starz strong premium services with the addition of IDT-Entertainment, now Starz Media.”
In my free time, I like to: “What free time?”
Favorite song: “Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones
Favorite TV show not from my network: “24”
Favorite movie: “American Graffiti”

Bob Greene

I knew the cable industry was for me when: “I first saw MTV in 1981.”
Defining career moment: “Understanding what was important in life after The Dot Bomb bust.”
Biggest cable surprise of 2006: “YouTube selling for $1.65B.”
Top personal achievement in 2006: “Launching Vongo.”
Person (other than my current boss) who I’d most like to work for: Warren Buffett
In my free time, I like to: “Ski, play golf, and make my kids laugh.”
My most embarrassing cable moment was: “Making a speech about my boss at a company sales conference after having four too many margaritas.”
Favorite restaurant: Marine Room, La Jolla, Calif.
Favorite city: Charlottesville, VA
Favorite line from a movie or TV show: “What Hump?!?” from “Young Frankenstein”
Three things I would take with me to a deserted island: “My wife and two kids.”
Favorite song: “Thunder Road” - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Favorite TV show not from my network: “Anything in HD.”
Favorite movie: “The Godfather”
Favorite sports team: Denver Broncos
I wish cable would: “Treat broadband as a content delivery platform.”
Favorite piece of tech: GPS
Least favorite piece of tech: “Outlook meeting requests.”
The world would be a better place if: “Alternative fuels were our dominant source of energy.”

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