Monday, January 7th, 2019

1 - 2 PM

Session II

LVCC, North Hall, N253

The Future of TV: From Primetime to Multi-Platforms

Television 3.0 is here. Somewhere between Netflix, Amazon, the Internet TV App and the cable packages and viewer platforms resides the future of what was once known as “Television”. How media, advertising and technology companies position themselves around "the set” is the question.

David Cohen, President, NA, MAGNA

Stefanie Schwartz, Executive Vice President, Media Networks Digital Partnerships and Digital Studios Strategy & Operations, Viacom

Laura Froelich, Senior Director, Partner Management, Global Content Partnerships, Twitter

Colby Smith, Senior Vice President, Content & Partnerships, ABC News

Ira Rubenstein, Chief Digital & Marketing Officer, PBS Digital

Soumya Sriraman, President, BritBox

Moderator - Jonathan Hurd, Director, Altman Vilandrie & Company

Laura Froelich, Senior Director, Head of U.S. Content Partnerships, Twitter: Laura leads U.S. Content Partnerships at Twitter, bringing exceptional content from Sports, News and Entertainment publishers to the most valuable audiences when they’re most receptive, while driving reach and revenue for these strategic partners and Twitter. Prior to joining Twitter in February 2014, she spent five years at CBS Interactive devising product marketing and monetization strategies for premium sports content including NCAA March Madness, NFL and college football, The Masters, PGA Tour golf, as well as the suite of fantasy games from CBSSports.com. Her efforts led to multiple years of record-setting revenues for the properties. Prior to CBS, Laura focused her career in sales and marketing at such notable publishers as CNET, Ziff-Davis, and Condé Nast. Laura is a graduate of Brown University where she received a BA in International Relations. Follow her on Twitter at @laurafrofro.

Ira Rubenstein, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer, PBS: As Chief Digital and Marketing Officer, Ira Rubenstein leads digital consumer experiences and marketing for PBS. In this role, Mr. Rubenstein focuses on continuing PBS’ digital evolution through the development, implementation and scaling of world-class digital services and marketing content strategies. He also oversees the business intelligence group and leads comprehensive marketing programs to acquire, retain and engage audiences across platforms for the benefit of member stations. Mr. Rubenstein joined PBS in 2014 as Senior Vice President and General Manager, PBS Digital, and led the expansion of PBS’ general audience and children’s content to mobile devices, over-the-top (OTT) services and other digital platforms. His accomplishments include an updated PBS.org, which yielded dramatic growth in traffic to station websites and online station donations. He spearheaded the development of Passport, a video offering available through member stations that provides donors on-demand access to a rich library of public television programming. He also led the expansion of PBS Digital Studios, PBS’ network of online-original content. Mr. Rubenstein has more than 20 years of experience leading digital entertainment businesses. Prior to PBS, he was Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors for mobile media company MeeMee Media. Mr. Rubenstein also served as Executive Vice President, Digital Marketing for 20th Century Fox where he established the Digital Marketing organization and led the team behind ground breaking social and mobile campaigns for Prometheus, Chronicle, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, X-Men: First Class, and other major motion pictures. Before joining Fox in 2011, Mr. Rubenstein was Executive Vice President of Marvel Entertainment’s Global Digital Media Group. During his tenure, he led strategic global digital initiatives related to websites, digital comics, games, digital video distribution, and launched the award-winning Marvel Digital Comics iPad app. Mr. Rubenstein joined Marvel after more than 12 years at Sony, most recently as Executive Vice President, Content Strategy and Acquisitions. In that position, Mr. Rubenstein led the organization’s acquisition of content for all Sony devices and negotiated global content deals with major networks, movie studios, game companies and music labels. While at Sony, he also developed worldwide digital marketing, product and distribution strategy for Sony Pictures, and oversaw the rapid growth of sonypictures.com, which ultimately became a top 10 entertainment site. In addition, he led the establishment of Movielink, a first-of-its-kind online, video on-demand service, and managed the digital growth of the studio’s most important brands, including Wheel of Fortune, JEOPARDY! and Seinfeld. Mr. Rubenstein holds a B.A. in Management Science from the University of California, San Diego and has an M.F.A. from the Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Producers Guild of America. In addition to awards for his work from Clio, Promax, Key Art, the Webby Awards, and others, Mr. Rubenstein has twice appeared on The Hollywood Reporter’s “Digital Power 50” list and has also been featured on the PGA’s “Digital 50” list, which recognizes new media innovators.

Colby Smith, Senior Vice President, Content & Partnerships, ABC News: Colby Smith serves as Senior Vice President, Content & Partnerships. In this position he oversees the development of ABC News across all emerging platforms from editorial, product and audience development to partnerships, distribution and marketing. In addition, he is responsible for developing original programming for non-linear platforms and new digital video services. In this integral role Smith has retooled ABC News’ content and distribution strategy and revamped its suite of products to grow reach, engagement and monetization around the world. In 2018, he spearheaded the launch of ABC News Live, a new 24/7 livestream service, as well as a new digital portfolio for “Good Morning America.” Smith played a vital role in bringing FiveThirtyEight to ABC News to supercharge its political coverage. Under Smith’s leadership ABC News received the prestigious Edward R. Murrow award for ‘Best Website’ for the first time since 2001 and became the first digital team to win back-to-back News and Documentary Emmy Awards in the history of the TV news industry in 2016 and 2017. He instituted a new data-driven approach to editorial and product design to drive monthly video views from 60 million to over 1 billion. Smith joined ABC News in 2011 as part of the business development team with a focus on mobile products. Within a year Smith was promoted to head of digital business development, where he managed partnerships across tech and editorial, and was instrumental in obtaining new distribution deals with Hulu, Apple and Roku. He also introduced the concept of Audience Development to the Disney I ABC Television Group. Smith’s career in media began at KPSP in Palm Desert, California as Senior Executive Producer. He is a graduate of Stanford University and received his MBA from UCLA.

David Cohen, President, North America, MAGNA: Innately driven to push boundaries and challenge the status quo, David heads MAGNA’s North America business driving investment, intelligence and innovation in his role as President. David also leads Global Partnerships for MAGNA and has helped set the overall vision and remit for the organization. MAGNA uses its best-in-class marketplace and audience intelligence to drive agility, efficiency and effectiveness for clients. David has been with IPG Mediabrands since 2001, when he launched the digital practice at UM as Interactive Media Director. A year later, he became a Senior Vice President, overseeing all digital media strategy, planning, buying and analysis operations for the agency. In 2006, David was named U.S. Director of Digital Communications. He was promoted in 2011 to Global Digital Officer, and then elevated in 2013 to Chief Investment Officer. David has been recognized as a “Media All-Star” by Adweek, one of the “Adweek 50” and an “Online All-Star” by Media Magazine. David served as the Chair of the 4A’s (American Association of Advertising Agencies) Digital Marketing Committee from 2009-2012. He serves on the IAB Video and Advisory Board, as well as Google, Facebook, and Snapchat advisory boards. In 2016, David was elected to the Board of Directors of Partnership with Children a non-profit whose mission is to strengthen the social, emotional and cognitive skills of vulnerable children in New York City. David enjoys spending time with his wife and two teenage daughters. A self-described gadget-geek and sometimes fitness fanatic – he can talk for hours about the latest in high-tech gear

Soumya Sriraman, President, BritBox: In February of 2017, Soumya Srirman was appointed President, North America for BritBox, a joint venture between BBC Studios, the commercial arm of BBC, and ITV, the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster. Sriraman is responsible for the overall strategy and operation of BritBox, with a focus on bringing the best British content to the service through acquisitions, licensing, co-productions, and key partnerships, with an emphasis on reach, engagement, and retention. Prior to her current role, Sriraman served as Executive Vice President of Franchise and Digital Enterprises at BBC Worldwide North America. In her role, she has expanded brand platforms, maximized distribution outlets, developed new product and grew the home entertainment and licensing businesses to record breaking heights; adding a new distribution line up of theatrical events for the key BBC brands including Doctor Who, and BBC Earth. Prior to joining BBC Worldwide North America, Soumya was President and Chief Executive Officer for Palisades Tartan US and UK where, she spearheaded the releasing of independent and arthouse films, relaunched the Tartan brand, and increased sales against a declining market. Soumya was named among Home Media Magazine’s 40 Under 40 executives and held positions at Warner Home Video and Universal Home Entertainment. Soumya was also the Senior Vice President of theatrical marketing at Universal Music and Video’s filmed entertainment arm, Vivendi Entertainment. She is a member of the British American Business Association and is delighted to serve on the Advisory Board of the Bentonville Film Festival.

Stefanie Schwartz is Executive Vice President of Strategy & Operations for Viacom Digital Studios (VDS), a leading digital content studio focused on the creation of premium programming for Viacom’s flagship brands including MTV, BET, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central. In this role, Schwartz is responsible for distributing, marketing and monetizing Viacom’s brands and original digital content across the leading and emerging digital and social platforms. In addition to her role on VDS, Schwartz also oversees Digital Partnerships across Viacom, managing the distribution of Viacom’s digital portfolio including voice products, subscription services, mobile apps & emerging technologies. Schwartz has served in a variety of different roles and groups within Viacom over the past 18 years, including marketing and operations, strategy and business development. She most recently served as the Senior Vice President of Digital and Business Development for Nickelodeon, where she managed the brand’s digital entertainment portfolio, including mobile apps, e-books, digital video, games and distribution relationships. Prior to joining Viacom, Schwartz advised companies on strategic issues and new business opportunities as a consultant for Mercer Management Consulting. Schwartz graduated Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania. She also holds an MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and resides in Los Angeles.

Jonathan Hurd has been a Director at Altman Vilandrie & Company (AV&Co.)—a 120+-person strategy consulting firm focused on technology, media, and telecom—since 2006.  He has more than 25 years of consulting and industry experience in communications, media and related technology sectors.  Jonathan’s primary areas of expertise include corporate strategy, product innovation, marketing management, customer segmentation, pricing strategy, and new business planning and development.  Jonathan has recently been leading AV&Co.’s unique proprietary consumer survey and simulation techniques to analyze the impact of “skinny bundles” of TV channels, working with video distributors on product design and pricing of traditional and “over-the-top” video services, and advising broadcast and cable TV networks on product and pricing strategy for new video offers.  Jonathan is a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the group charged with investigating and selecting EMMY award recipients for innovative TV technology.  Prior to joining AV&Co., Jonathan was a Vice President with ADVENTIS, a TMT-focused strategy firm, and was a partner at Mercer Management Consulting.  He has also served as Vice President of Marketing for a computer peripherals manufacturer, and held marketing and strategic planning positions at Lotus Development Corporation.  In addition, he has been a software development manager in industries including financial services, computer peripherals, and video game development—he designed and created the Atari arcade video game “Food Fight”.  Jonathan received a BS in Computer Science and Engineering from MIT, where his thesis advisor was Nicholas Negroponte of the Media Lab, and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he received First Year Honors.  He is a member of the Eta Kappa Nu Electrical Engineering Honor Society and the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.