72. The Broadband Boys

John Lansing
Title: President, Scripps Networks
Age: 49
Years in Industry: 2

Channing Dawson
Title: SVP, new media strategy & distribution, Scripps Networks
Age: “Older then than now”
Years in Industry:12
Years left in Industry: “Until I'm not.”

Why Them? Scripps was a pioneer in the VOD space, so is it any wonder that John Lansing and Channing Dawson are leading the way in broadband as well? Lansing laid out a vision in 2005 for Scripps to launch a dozen new broadband channels over two years. With 3 channels already up and running and 2 more on the way (a lot of credit due to SVP/GM Scripps Networks Interactive Ron Feinbaum), it appears Scripps is on its way to meeting that goal. Scripps has about a half dozen webisodes currently, and its kitchen design and bath design channels are averaging about 1 million video views a month—proving that consumers are as hungry for this content as they are Emeril’s gumbo. - AM

John Lansing

In my free time, I like to: “Take family and friends boating; watch the kids go skiing and tubing.”
Favorite city: Chicago
Favorite line from a movie or TV show: “You can’t handle the truth!” - Jack Nicholson, A Few Good Men
Favorite song: “The Wish” by Bruce Springsteen
Favorite movie: “The Natural”
Favorite sports team: Notre Dame Football
Favorite piece of tech: Video iPod
Least favorite piece of tech: BlackBerry
The world would be a better place if: “We did more talking and fewer emails.”

Channing Dawson

What is your favorite word? “Po (beyond yes and no)”
What is your least favorite word? “Can’t”
What turns you on? “Laughter”
What turns you off? “Hubris”
What sound do you love? “Waves breaking”
What sound do you hate? “Freeways”
What profession other than yours would like to attempt? “Sailing”
What profession would you not like to participate in? “Making and selling guns.”
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? “Ce n’est pas une pipe.”

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