The Digital Hollywood Experience

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"The Conference that Defines the Future of the Industry"

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Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

3:50 PM - 5:00 PM

Session B: Prague Room A, 3rd Floor - Live Webcast from This Room

Cable, TV and Broadband - New Content - New Networks - Streams, Platforms, Devices

Emil Rensing, Chief Digital Officer, EPIX

Ben Grad, Content Strategy & Acquisition - FiOS TV, Verizon Communications

Bill Martens, Vice President and General Manager, News, CBS Interactive

Hilary Perchard, Vice President - Business Development, BSkyB (Sky)

Adam Ware, Senior Vice President, Head of Digital Media, Tennis Channel

Scott Barton, Senior Vice President of Branded Digital Content and Products, Starz

Shahid Khan, Chairman and Chief Strategist, MediaMorph, Inc., Moderator

Ben Grad, Executive Director - Content Strategy & Acquisition, Verizon: As Executive Director, Content Strategy & Acquisition for Verizon, Ben Grad is responsible for FiOS TV’s content acquisition and strategy, including leading content acquisition negotiations with national cable networks and regional sports networks, developing FiOS TV’s multiplatform content offering, and managing financial and strategic analysis for key content-related initiatives at Verizon. Prior to joining Verizon in 2007, Ben held management positions at fuse, Time Warner and Universal Music Group.Ben started his career at Marakon Associates, a strategy consulting firm. He received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Princeton University and an MBA in finance and marketing from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Bill Martens, VP and General Manager, CBSNews.com:  Bill Martens was named vice president and general manager of CBSNews.com in 2012.  Prior to that Martens had been vice president of product since 2008, responsible for product strategy and management of CBS News products across all digital platforms, including the flagship website CBSNews.com, as well as mobile apps such as 60 Minutes, CBS This Morning and 48 Hours. Martens joined CBS Digital Media as director of business development for CBSNews.com in 2005. In that capacity, he played an integral role in securing and implementing partnerships for CBSNews.com and CBS Interactive.  Previously, Martens was director of text strategy and development at Reuters, where he was responsible for newswire strategy and development in the Media Group (2002-05). Before joining Reuters, Martens was the markets editor at the Asia Times (1995-97). He also served as a senior analyst for MBIA, a financial services company (1997-99). While there,Martens was part of a group that helped advise Asian governments and financial institutions on the development of the region's structured finance markets. He was born in Norfolk, Va. Martens graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1994 with a B.A. in English Literature and from Columbia University in 2002 with an M.B.A and a Masters degree in international affairs.

Emil Rensing, Chief Digital Officer, EPIX: a joint venture between Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM. As a digital media pioneer, Emil has been instrumental in the early success of America Online and MTV Networks Online. As a partner at Frederator Studios and co-founder of Next New Networks, he's parlayed that expertise in to original programming and audience development in the on-air and online world. In his latest undertaking, Emil oversaw the October 30 launch of EpixHD.com.

Hilary Perchard, Vice President - Business Development, BSkyB (Sky):  Sky TV is the UK’s largest Pay TV, Media and Telecommunications company with over 11.5 million subscribers across satellite, OTT and broadband. It also creates a range of pay TV channels including Sky Sports, Sky Movies, Sky News, Sky 1, Sky Atlantic and Sky Arts that reach 60% of UK households.  Hilary has been a key member of the Sky management team for over 10 years.  Of this, 8 years were spent leading the Product Management and Marketing function launching and taking to scale products such as HD (5 million subscribers), VOD (50% connected), TV Everywhere (3.5 million unique users) and Broadband (5 million subscribers). More recently Hilary spent two years leading the customer retention function at Sky, during which Sky demonstrated world-leading levels of customer loyalty.  He now works for Sky in San Francisco helping engage with technology and media companies on the West Coast.  For example, Sky has enjoyed significant success partnering with Roku in the UK to support its move into OTT by white labeling its IP box under the brand, NowTV.

Scott Barton is Senior Vice President of Branded Digital Content and Products for Starz. Barton is responsible for leading the programming and product vision at Starz for all on demand, online, digital and consumer-facing video products and platforms. Barton will also identify and develop programming strategies that leverage the Starz catalog across new and emerging platforms.  Previously serving as Vice President for Digital and On Demand Programming, Barton oversaw the programming, product development, and promotion of Starz’ advanced services and digital products, including Starz.com, on demand, STARZ PLAY, and other TV Everywhere services. Barton plays a strategic role in the future development and implementation of new products and business opportunities across emerging platforms.  Prior to that, Barton served as Executive Director, Advanced Services product development for the STARZ PLAY and Vongo broadband services.  Including user experience, programming promotion, personalized content discovery, registration purchase flow, and deployment with affiliates. Prior to that, Barton was Director, Subscription Video-On-Demand during the period when STARZ ON DEMAND was initially sold in and deployed to key Starz distributors. Prior to joining Starz in 2002, Barton served as Director, National Accounts for On Command, the leading provider of in-room interactive entertainment, Internet services, business information and guest services for the lodging industry and its guests. While at On Command, Barton helped negotiate multi-year partnership agreements and contractual arrangements for all Marriott full service and limited lodging brands, the Adam’s Mark Hotel chain, and others.  Barton holds a BA in Economics from the University of California, Davis.

Shahid Khan, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board, MediaMorph, Inc.:  Shahid Khan is an acclaimed thought leader, consultant and entrepreneur in the Digital Media industry, with a tremendous twenty-year track-record. Shahid is the Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of MediaMorph, the leading global provider of Cloud-based Software and Big-Data provider for content creators, programmers and distributors, with offerings including cross-platform media tracking, audience measurement, analytics, licensing and royalties management services.  Mediamorph’s clients include Comcast, Dish, Cablevision, Mediacom, NBCU, HBO, Lionsgate, Sony Pictures, Starz, Warner Bros, AMC, BBC Worldwide, Epix, Vevo and many others.  Mediamorph’s investors include Google, Liberty Global and Smedvig Capital.  Shahid is the Managing Partner for MAG (Meridian Advisory Group, LLC), a premier boutique management consulting firm that focuses on the entire Content Ecosystem, from Media firms to Device firms to Cable MSOs and Telcos.  At MAG, Shahid leads strategy, vision and sales, while managing major client relationships and strategy engagements.  As a sought-after consultant and industry advisor, Shahid works w/ senior management at leading Media, Entertainment, and Cable companies, including Liberty Global, Charter, Scholastic, Conde Nast, Cablevision, Motorola, A&E, Barnes & Noble and Disney.  In addition, Shahid leverages his expertise in the industry, as well as his relationships across the industry ecosystem players to incubate and invest in new ventures.  Under Shahid’s leadership, MAG was selected by Consulting Magazine as one of its “Seven Small Jewels” for 2014, an annual award given to small, high-growth consulting and advisory firms. Prior to embarking upon his entrepreneurship forays, Shahid played senior executive roles at leading consulting and technology firms.   He has served as Senior Partner at IBB Consulting, a leading consulting firm serving Cable, Mobile and Media companies; Managing Director and Head of Entertainment and Information Services industry practices at KPMG Consulting/BearingPoint and Partner at IBM Global Services in Communication Industry. Shahid holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance from NYU’s Stern School of Business, and is a Fellow at U. Penn’s Wharton School of Business.  Shahid was named as one of the “50 Outstanding Asian Americans in Business” in 2014 by the Asian American Business Development Center in the US.  He is also a member of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO).  As an expert in Media, Shahid frequently appears on TV interviews with CNBC and Bloomberg TV; is often quoted in leading publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, the New York Times, etc.; and is a frequent speaker at leading industry conferences, including CES, Media Summit, Rutberg, Monaco Media Forum, Abu Dhabi Media Summit, etc.  Shahid is an active investor and advisor to Silicon Valley start-ups in the Digital and Technology arena.  He serves on the Advisory Boards of Kaybus, Guavus, FanKave and Secret Builders.  He also serves on the Boards of two non-profit organizations, OPEN and Developments in Literacy.