Cablefax The Magazine - December 2010 - 43

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THE FAMILY GUY
Michael Riley
Title: Pres, ABC Family
Years in Cable: 14
Education: BA, U of Western
Ontario; MBA, London Business
School
I Watch TV: Live, online, on
demand and TiVo/Recorded
Why Him? In August, Riley
was plucked from an executive
position at Radio Disney
and made President of ABC
Family, inheriting a stable of
hits, including Pretty Little
Liars, The Secret Life of the
American Teenager, Make
It or Break It and Greek. Still he got
right to work. Since joining Family, he
has greenlighted a record six pilots-
double the usual order.
Globe Turner: Riley has extensive
international cable experience, having
served as SVP/GM of Turner Broadcasting
System, Europe, Middle East
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ZIG ZAG-ING TO THE TOP
David Zagin
Title: EVP, Distribution, AETN
Years in Cable: " Almost " half my life
Education: BS, Syracuse U
I Watch TV Mostly: Sports live; everything else recorded
Why Him? With Lifetime properties' added clout, Zagin
has shot up our list, moving from #92 in '09. But it's
more than Lifetime's strength that did it. The veteran exec
has been more visible, beginning with his and AETN's
presence at The
Cable Show '10,
which included
a Vanguard for
Zagin. This elevated
stature helped
Zagin push Lifetime
Movie Network,
BIO and History
International to fast
growth this year.
Well known as a
dealmaker, Zagin's
CableFAX: The Magazine
December 2010
and Africa as well as VP/GM of Turner
Broadcasting System France.
Year Ahead:
ing for the next big thing, so Riley has
to give them something new.
Dinner with A Cable Star: Roger
Sterling from Mad Men, to see how
the ad sales business and drink
Kids are always lookchoices
have changed over time.
Favorite Non-ABC Family Show:
Modern Family
Best Business Books: Blue Ocean
Strategy: How to Create Uncontested
Market Space and Make Competition
Irrelevant by W. Chan Kim and Renée
Mauborgne; and Outliers: The Story of
Success by Malcolm Gladwell
the point-man with AETN's distribution partners in support
of multiplatform initiatives, including VOD, broadband and
authentication.
Numbers Game: AETN is on the verge of reaching the
100mln subscriber mark.
Year Ahead: Zagin will double down with his
excellent hand.
Biggest Threat to Cable's Survival: Cable is well
positioned and will continue to enhance its presence
with the addition of applications that will help expand
relationships with consumers, grow the business and
compete with OTT distributors. TV Everywhere is just
one example.
Non-Cable Co that Runs/Markets Its Business Well:
Nike. Does anyone do it better? It sticks to core competencies,
expands into related product categories and supports
its effort with good products and great marketing.
Favorite Non-AETN Show: Modern Family. But I must
plug Pawn Stars.
Dinner With Anyone: Me, my daughter Ally and her
favorite, Hannah Montana. This would be a BIG win
for me!
Recent Business Book: Outliers-an interesting analysis
on building successful teams.
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