cfx_april-2024 - 8

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Q&A
WINFREY
WHAT EMERGING INDUSTRY TREND ARE YOU MOST
EXCITED BY? The convergence of wireline and wireless
connectivity combined with the network advances bringing
symmetrical and multi-gig speeds. Together, those two
advancements will lead to the next round of product
innovation, as cable's scaled and uniquely capable platform
is fully deployed nationwide. Ubiquitous high bandwidth,
and seamless and low latency connectivity will spur a level
of advancement similar to what we saw when cable first led
true broadband deployment. From promises of Augmented
CHRIS WINFREY
President & CEO
Charter Communications
Winfrey has quickly put his own stamp on Charter. The
morning after the unprecedented Disney blackout, he led an
investor webcast complete with a PowerPoint presentation
that laid out how the negotiation represented an opportunity
to establish a new hybrid linear and direct-to-consumer video
model. Winfrey has clearly established himself as a leader not
afraid to challenge the status quo, loudly declaring to all programmers
that Charter customers won't pay twice for content
as programmers build out streaming offerings.
When it comes to the Cablefax 100's
No. 1 ranking, we consider which
leaders have made the biggest
moves, influenced the industry's future
direction and kept us guessing
at what's next. When looking back
at the most significant events of the
past 12 months, it's hard not to put
Charter and Disney's blackout and
eventual carriage deal at the top of
the list. A nearly two-week blackout
of ESPN, FX, ABC O&Os and the
rest of the Disney portfolio by one
of the country's largest MVPDs
was once unthinkable. Then again,
so was the idea that direct-to-consumer
offerings could be part of a
traditional pay TV package. This
negotiation toppled both conventions.
The past few years, we've
divided the Cablefax 100 into two
lists-one for operating execs and
another for content leaders. We've
done that again in the rest of the
Reality and AI to the next generation of immersive gaming
and entertainment, we have yet to conceive all the ways this
level of advanced connectivity will change the world around us. Just like high-speed internet led to the creation of new
businesses and even industries, today we are providing the building blocks of something even greater for tomorrow.
WAS CHARTER'S DISNEY DEAL PRECEDENT SETTING? It is certainly precedent setting for Charter. We created a glide
path to bridge from linear video into new growth with both linear and DTC services. Today, Disney Plus and ESPN+
are available to Spectrum video customers at no additional cost, and ViX, a Spanish-language DTC product, will be
available at no extra cost for certain Spectrum TV customers later this year. We established a new hybrid distribution
model for Charter which is good for consumers, and we believe a significant step forward for the video ecosystem. We
plan to modernize all our distribution agreements upon renewal. That means packaging flexibility and value and not
asking customers, or Charter, to pay twice for similar DTC and linear programming. ●
8
April 2024
Cablefax100.com

http://www.Cablefax100.com

cfx_april-2024

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