Cablefax The Magazine May 2022 - 19

8
JUST SAY WOW!
Teresa Elder
President & CEO
WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone
Years at Current Organization: 4
First Job in the Industry: VP, operations in Florida for the
Southeast Region of MediaOne
Bucket List: Hold large employee get-togethers again
Elder guided the company last year through two major events: asset
sales to Astound Broadband and Breezeline (formerly Atlantic
Broadband). Astound acquired WOW!'s Chicago, Evansville, Ind.,
and Anne Arundel, Md., assets for $661 million and Breezeline
bought WOW!'s Columbus and Cleveland operations for $1.125
billion. Both deals have allowed the company to lower debt,
strengthen its financial position and accelerate its broadband-first
strategy. Specifically, Elder has said the goal is to not just enhance
the network, but also to expand WOW!'s footprint through greenfield
and edge-out opportunities.
How many companies have you worked for? 7 or 8-ish
Band I'd go see live: I would have loved to attend
the Alan Jackson " Where I Come From: Tornado
Benefit Concert " that WOW! co-sponsored in support
of disaster relief efforts in Newnan, Jackson's
hometown and one of our WOW! communities. I'd see Gregory Porter
at the Hollywood Bowl anytime!
If I had a time machine, I would... go to the future and experience the
new ways we are all using broadband to make our lives better.
If my company had a mascot, it would be...The magical WOW! dog
featured in our latest commercials delivering " good internet " to
customers across our footprint. ■
Q&A
THE CONTENT
LEADER
Kathleen
Finch
8
Chairman & Chief Content Officer,
U.S. Networks Group
Warner Bros. Discovery
Years at Current Organization: 23
First Job in the Industry: Producing educational videos for
Apple back in the early Steve Jobs days
Bucket List: To live in Europe
Finch is a rainmaker. That's why David Zaslav tapped her to oversee
the new company's combined organization of more than 40 U.S.
networks. She continues to oversee Discovery's 12 U.S. lifestyle
networks, while adding TBS, TNT, truTV, Cartoon and others to her
stable. At Discovery, Finch made sure her brands were overflowing
with content that super serves their respective superfans. It's for this
reason that during Q4 2021, Discovery networks delivered a 20%
share of all pay-TV primetime viewing by W25-54. With the launch
of discovery+, Finch steered the platform's growth while continuing
to attract big-name talent like Melissa McCarthy, who stars with
her cousin Jenna Perusich in a new HGTV series. As she expands
her role, Finch is continuing to build one of the best teams in the
business, mentoring her staff as needed while also giving them the
encouragement and space to soar.
cablefaxmag.com
Band I'd go see live: The Psychedelic Furs
Your YouTube rabbit hole? I don't get sucked into
YouTube often, but I definitely spend way too many
hours scrolling Twitter. Politicians, comedians and
my own network talent make up my eclectic list of
faves.
What childhood memento have you kept? Two ceramic pink flamingos I
bought at a NYC Goodwill for $5. They've had a place of honor in my
childhood bedroom, my college dorm and every home I've lived in
since.
Q&A
If my company had a mascot, it would be: The Energizer Bunny. We just
don't stop.
TV show I always recommend not on my networks: " The Real
Housewives " -an incredibly brilliant franchise that might outlive us
all. I secretly wish I could be one of them. ■
May 2022
TOP POWER
PLAYERS
19
http://www.cablefaxmag.com
Cablefax The Magazine May 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cablefax The Magazine May 2022
