December 12, 2007

Recapturing Glory

Name: David Zaslav
Title: President/CEO, Discovery Comm
Age: 47
Years in Industry: 22
Years left in the industry: “As long as John Hendricks will have me.”

Name: Bill Goodwyn
Title: President, domestic distribution & enterprises, Discovery Comm
Age: 46
Years in Industry: 24

Why Them? What a year for Discovery. Zaslav hit the scene in late ’06 and didn’t waste any time shaking things up, including moves that left Goodwyn sitting atop a larger mountain of responsibility and influence. Goodwyn now not only handles dealmaking for 16 nets but oversees Discovery Education. His newest challenge: launching several HD simulcasts in the coming months. Meanwhile, Zaslav continues to transform Discovery into a lean organization reconnecting with its core branding roots—all while Discovery Holding stock goes up, up, up. And his bold launch of Planet Green is one of the most anticipated in recent memory (even Leonardo DiCaprio's a fan). There’s no telling how high Discovery will climb in ’08.  MG

David Zaslav
Person (other than my current boss) who I'd most like to work for: “Tom Freston, ‘Cable's Creative Genius’.”
My most embarrassing cable moment was: “Triple-cast — 'nuf said.”
Favorite TV Show: “Monk”
Favorite Sports Team: “New York Mets (wait 'til next year!)”
Favorite Piece of Technology: “TiVo.  It has been instrumental in helping us all move to the next frontier of TV, which is exactly where we will find our viewers.”
The three most-played songs/artists on my iPod are: “Elvis Costello, Burt Bacharach, Arctic Monkeys”

Bill Goodwyn
Person I most admire in the cable industry and why:  “Fred Dressler, because he is truly a man of great character. His combination of intelligence, creativity, passion, integrity, humor and friendship put him in a class all his own.”
Most embarrassing cable moment: “I attended this year's Kaitz dinner in a tux. The only other person in a tux was the guy in the bathroom handing out the mints.”
Top personal achievement in 2007: “Coaching my son Gray's baseball team and watching him hit his first home run. That is something his father never did!”
In my free time: “I like to have family time with my wife, Leigh, and the kids. Whether it is watching them play sports, jumping on the trampoline, skiing with them or playing board games. I travel frequently, so it's always great to be home with them.”
Defining Career Moment: “When John Hendricks and Ruth Otte promoted me to the head of affiliate sales in 1992. It was so defining, I am still doing it 15 years later.”
Favorite sports team: “UNC Tarheels football, basketball and baseball. I am also a huge fan of the UNC women's soccer team (National Champions in 19 out of 25 years!).”
Three things I would take with me to a desert island: “(1) my wife; (2) a case of Silver Oak and (3) and a boat.”
Favorite TV show: “Friday Night Lights”