Thursday, October 23rd

12:50 PM - 2:00 PM

ThinkTank IV: Plaza Room

TV Everywhere: The Content & Commerce Opportunity - From Live Streaming & Video Syndication to Video Ad Insertion

Fuad Hawit, CEO and Founder, Groopie

Gene Pao, VP of Digital Media, Shout Factory

Matt Smith, Chief Evangelist, Anvato

Jason Lopatecki, Chief Strategy Officer, Tube Mogul

Joshua Lennox, Co-Founder, Bulldog Digital Media

Ron Yurman, founder, Spud!, Moderator

Gene Pao is currently Vice President of Digital Media at Shout! Factory, where he leads all digital video efforts for the company—including direct-to-consumer video businesses, YouTube channels, and digital video production. Gene has a 15 year career in digital video, starting in 1999 at Firstlook.com, an idealab! Company, who pioneered the use of digital video in the promotion of music, movies, and video game products.  From 2001 to 2007, Gene developed digital and interactive video businesses for Disney and ESPN Media Networks including two of the first cable video-on-demand products, Disney Channel on Demand and Radio Disney on Demand.  From 2008 to 2011, he was VP, Digital Media and International Development for Fuel TV, the action sports cable network owned by Fox, where he applied television broadcasting principals to live webcasts of action sports events such as surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding.  From 2011 to 2013, Gene held a number of digital media roles including Action Sports Consultant in YouTube’s Sports Partnership Group; VP Marketing for Golf Channel, part of the NBC Sports Network; and General Manager of Biggest Loser Digital, a joint initiative between NBC Universal and Shine America. Gene holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Masters from Cornell University, and a BS from North Carolina State University.

Matt Smith, Chief Evangelist, Anvato: Matt Smith is a recognized digital media industry evangelist and thought leader, having spoken at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show, TVNext, Streaming Media East & West, NewTeeVee, among others. Matt is presently Chief Evangelist for Anvato - the leading, turnkey platform solution that enables media companies, content providers and broadcasters with a robust, powerful and complete toolset to enable their content to reach any screen, anytime. Prior to Anvato, Matt was Vice President, Technology for Chideo - a next generation network for charitable giving, connecting fans with the personalities they follow and providing exclusive media experiences on any screen. Chideo is founded by Internet pioneer and billionaire philanthropist Todd Wagner. Previously, Matt was Vice President, Internet Television at Envivio, Smith worked closely with premier customers and technology partners like Apple, Microsoft, Adobe, to ensure that key digital media strategies are carefully planned and brought to market quickly & successfully. In addition to his architectural duties, Matt has deep expertise in the adaptive bitrate technologies that are revolutionizing the streaming and digital media spaces. Prior to joining Envivio, Smith was an Architect at Cisco Systems and Vice President and Chief Systems Architect at Inlet Technologies. Prior to Inlet, Smith served as a key video architect and evangelist for Yahoo!, where he worked for 9 years, designing, delivering and managing leading-edge video compression technologies and workflows to execute live events and create other digital media offerings. Prior to Yahoo!, Smith spent several years at NBC, first at the affiliate level and later with the network.

Jason Lopatecki, Chief Strategy Officer, Tube Mogul: Jason co-founded Illumenix, a first-to-market video analytics startup that measures in-player audience engagement. At Illumenix, Jason grew the business from concept to successful product launch and an early leader in the video analytics market. Prior to Illumenix, Jason was an early member of IPTV/Communications startup Calix Networks. At Calix Networks, Jason helped lead the development of multiple successful products, from inception to marketplace. Jason has a BS in electrical engineering and computer science from UC Berkeley.

Joshua Lennox, Co-Founder of Bulldog Digital Media: Joshua Lennox is an innovative media and entertainment executive with 20 years of expertise and experience in the digital media industry. He is a proven leader in all areas of content development, business strategy, digital media, television operations, production, and branding. A former Senior Director of Products at AEG Digital Media, Joshua has managed products, timelines, budgets, marketing and partnerships across all platforms for clients like Google, ABC, The Grammys, and others. He has a complete understanding of technology, device enablement and video workflows for both broadcast and digital. Prior to AEG, Joshua consulted with media companies (FX, BBC, NBC and others) to create branded entertainment for both online and broadcast. The online content complimented broadcast shows while also giving exposure to brands. Joshua also ran a 60-person team at Universal Sports, where he created and administered a program of premium video content for this division of NBC Universal. Universal Sports reached 50 million homes and streamed more than 2000 live hours per year. Joshua knows how to turn a strategic vision into a successful business reality and has the capacity to manage development through deployment and into continued operation.

Ron Yurman, Co-Founder, Spud!: Ron Yurman is a senior media and technology professional with over 25 years of management experience with expertise in strategy, business development, product innovation and broadcast operations. Prior to Spud!, Ron founded Short Hills Media Group, whose core product, Storytime to Go, brought children’s picture books to portable electronics, prior to today’s “smart devices”. Earlier, Ron ran business development for Music Choice, a joint venture of Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Cable, Microsoft, Motorola, Sony Music & EMI, where he oversaw all business development efforts across cable, wireless and broadband platforms. His start at Music Choice involved managing the construction, expansion and operation of the company’s broadcast facilities and 24/7 operations staff. Ron started his career with a variety of positions at NBC, Westwood One, IDB Communications Group and various radio broadcasting companies. Ron has an M.A. in Media Studies and a B.A. in Liberal Studies from the New School University in New York City. He previously attended Boston University and Columbia University. He is co-author of numerous patents for interactive technologies and currently lives in a suburb of Kansas City.

Thursday, October 23rd

Video, Social Media & Crowdfunding