Brian L. Roberts Title: Chairman/CEO, Comcast Corporation Age: 48 Years in Industry: 25+
Stephen Burke Title: President, Comcast Cable; COO, Comcast Corp.
Glenn Britt Title: President/CEO, Time Warner Cable Age: 58
Why Them? It’s no secret that consolidation has concentrated power in the cable industry. And with nemeses attacking from all sides—DBS (Darth Blotting the Sun), telcos, Kevin Martin’s FCC—the cable universe needs strong leaders to keep the CableRepublic from falling into the abyss. That’s why we look to the leaders of the top two cable operators, which together now control about a third of all U.S. cable households. That’s a lot of influence. And it’s up to Jedi Masters like Brian Roberts, Steve Burke and Glenn Britt to keep those subscribers from bolting to the Dark Side, which now includes not only DBS but the telcos as well. It won’t be easy. After a nice triple-play-fueled run on Wall Street in ’06, this year has been more of a challenge with analysts heaping praise (and higher stock prices) on Verizon and AT&T while Comcast and Time Warner Cable’s stocks hover at 52-week lows. Blame the telco PR juggernaut, as well as DirecTV’s ability to convince everyone its HD offerings will kick cable’s keister. And of course, there are those very real basic sub losses. But fear not: These corporate cable titans have plenty up their sleeves for ’08, including more HD channels fueled by capacity-saving technologies like switched digital video—not to mention the “wideband” future demonstrated so ably by Roberts during the 2007 Cable Show. It’s going to be a fight for the souls of the galaxy. Use the Force, Master Brian.MG
Brian Roberts
I knew the cable industry was for me when: “Customers lined up to buy our products.” In my free time, I like to: “Watch my kids play squash.” Favorite sports team: “Philadelphia, Flyers” I wish cable would: “Keep innovating.” The world would be a better place if: “Everyone was like Jim Robbins.”
Glenn Britt I knew the cable industry was for me when: “When I got a job offer.” In my free time, I like to: “Read, especially history and bestseller fiction.” Favorite restaurant: “Sistina” Favorite city: “New York” Favorite TV show: “Anything that is Start Over enabled.”
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Help CableFAX: The Magazine decide by nominating the executives you think should be included in our annual list of the Most Powerful Women in Cable. We will rank the top 50 most powerful women, and run a list of the second 50, in the November issue of CableFAX: The Magazine. Nominations are open to all cable operators, programmers, vendors and trade associations. Click here for nomination form. Deadline for nominations: Sept. 8.
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THE 100 POWER LIST It's time to get in your nominations for the CableFAX 100, version 2008. Nominate here. Deadline for nominations: Sept. 8.
Cable's stars turned out for the first annual CableFAX 100 luncheon at New York's Grand Hyatt last December. Catch Mad Men's Jon Hamm, Cash Cab's Ben Bailey as well as Sundance Channel's Larry Aidem and Cable Pioneer Bill Bresnan and others in our video from the wintertime event.
Who are cable's most powerful women executives?
Help CableFAX: The Magazine decide by nominating the executives you think should be included in our annual list of the Most Powerful Women in Cable. We will rank the top 50 most powerful women, and run a list of the second 50, in the November issue of CableFAX: The Magazine. Nominations are open to all cable operators, programmers, vendors and trade associations. Click here for nomination form. Deadline for nominations: Sept. 8.
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