99. Gone (Or Going)… But Not Forgotten

Don Baer
Title: Former senior EVP, Discovery Communications

Andy Dale
Title: Former CEO, Outdoor Channel Holdings

Fred Dressler
Title: EVP, programming, Time Warner Cable

David Fellows
Title: CTO, Comcast

Tom Freston
Title: Former President/CEO, Viacom
Age: 60

Judith McHale
Title: President/CEO, Discovery Communications
Age: 59

Jim Robbins
Title: Former CEO, Cox

Why Them? This year, several heavyweights left or announced their exit. Baer and Dale were the old programming guard whose highly respected tenures ended for different reasons. Dressler, a Time Warner vet of 30+ years, was the standard bearer for MSO deal makers and a champion in the battle against runaway sports fees. Fellows' legacy as a champion of IP video and telephony will probably outlive us all. Freston always had a finger on the pulse. McHale shepherded the launch of Discovery’s educational division and its rampage into new media. And no CEO ever did more to undo his industry’s poor reputation for service than Robbins. - MCA

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