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List of Speakers
The sponsors of the Fall, Independent Telephone Video Content Conference are pleased with the distinguished individuals that will be presenting from both a content-producer, as well as an independent telco operator viewpoint. A wide array of perspectives will be given from both niche and major content-producers. Similarly, there will be several sessions where operators, represented by both small and large operators, will discuss the challenges and rewards of cable television and advanced interactive television services .
The following is a partial list of confirmed speakers.
Doug Mielke - Director of Innovation for Technicolor Creative Services Media Asset Management Group
David Milloh - Vice President, North America, Bitband
Paul Neilsen - Director of Sales, Seachange International
Taylor Summers, Director of Marketing, Pioneer Communications
Ian Tapp, Vice President, Market Development, NDS Americas
| John Baghdassarian - RVP, MagRack/IFC
V. John Baghdassarian is an industry veteran on the program content side with over 15 years experience. John started out as the Marketing and Promotions Manager with Showtime Networks Inc. working on Showtime, TMC, and Viewer’s Choice PPV service. From there he moved on as the first sales manager for the TV Food Network on the West Coast. Following a stint as the sales director for the Western Region at Comedy Central, John joined Rainbow Media as the Vice President of distribution, Western Division for muchmusic usa, Rainbow Media’s fully interactive digital music service. In 2002 he transitioned to the position of Vice President Affiliate sales and marketing for IFC and MagRack, overseeing the rollout of IFC and MagRack the Rainbow Media VOD service. John Graduated from UCLA with a degree in Sociology and obtained a MBA in Management Sciences from Pepperdine University. Paul Bertino - Director of Marketing, Hickory Tech Biograpy to be provided Mike Curran, Director of Sales, Western U.S. & Canada, Myrio Mike Curran has been in the Telecommunication industry for 12 years, and with Myrio for the over 3. In his role as Director of Sales with Myrio, Mike brings experience in sales, operations and business development. Prior to Myrio, Mike worked for Advanced Radio Telecom (ART) building and selling wireless broadband IP networks. Mike was born and raised in Seattle, attended Washington State University and continues to make Seattle his home. Channing L. Dawson – Senior Vice President, Scripps Networks New Ventures
Channing L. Dawson is senior vice president of Scripps Networks New Ventures. He is responsible for developing programming, distribution and marketing strategies for video on demand, broadband, dvd and interactive television. Part of the founding team of Home & Garden Television (HGTV) and Do-It-Yourself (DIY), Dawson launched the HGTV call center, HGTV Ideas magazine, Home & Garden Village and the HGTV Store. He developed and launched HGTV.COM and DIYnet.com, and was actively involved in the strategic planning for the Fine Living network and web site. Currently he’s leading Scripps Networks’ efforts in VOD and Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD). Scripps Networks launched its On Demand business in Time Warner Cable and Comcast Cable markets and is aggressively pushing VOD throughout the country. Prior to joining Scripps, he served as director of communications for The New York Times Company’s American HomeStyle Group, editorial director of HOME Magazine, editor-in-chief of The Practical Homeowner, and assistant editor of Sunset Magazine. Tony Distefano - Vice President of Operations AllWest Communications Biography to be provided Bruce Eisen - Executive Vice President CinemaNow
Bruce David Eisen is executive vice president of CinemaNow, Inc., an interactive on-line film distribution company (www.cinemanow.com). Eisen parlayed his law degree from the University of Southern California into a 10-year career in the Hollywood entertainment industry. His expertise spans a diversity of business and creative enterprises, ranging from heading up the Legal/ Business Affairs Department for Trimark Pictures to writing and producing films. Eisen most recently served as senior vice president of Trimark’s Production/ Business Affairs Department. In that capacity Mr. Eisen negotiated actor, director, producer and other talent agreements and negotiated with all of the Hollywood labor guilds. In his previous position as vice president of Trimark’s Legal/ Business Affairs Department, Eisen was instrumental in negotiating film acquisition, music, financing and distribution agreements as well as Trimark’s $25 million line of credit from Bank of America. Eisen’s experience in the legal arena of the entertainment industry is matched by his creative endeavors. His producing credits include cult genre favorites “Warlock: The End of Innocence,” starring Bruce Payne, “The Dentist 2,” starring Corbin Bernsen “Leprechaun in the Hood,” starring Warwick Davis and Ice-T as well as two films based on Stephen King properties, “Trucks,” and “Sometimes They Come Back For More.” In addition, he shares a writing credit on “Warlock: The End of Innocence,” the third installment in the popular series. Eisen’s professional involvements reflect his orientation and understanding of the world of independent film; financially, legally, and creatively. In addition to his numerous bar memberships, Eisen is a board member of the Independent Producer’s Alliance, a pro-active independent filmmakers coalition which negotiates with Hollywood labor guilds on the behalf of independent studios. Eisen received his J.D. from the University of Southern California in 1991, and his B.A. cum laude with high honors in Philosophy from Clark University in 1984. Eisen is often sought after to share his expertise in independent film financing, motion picture deal negotiations, home entertainment rights and the emerging field of digital film distribution. He was the instructor of the Entertainment Law Class in the Paralegal Program of the University of West Los Angeles School of Law in 1995 and 1996. In addition Eisen has been a guest lecturer for the American Film Institute, U.C.L.A. Extension, the Beverly Hills Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Showbiz Expo, Streaming Media East and Streaming Media West, amongst others. David Ernst -V.P. Research, Initiative Media Biography to be provided
Tom Gove is Senior Director, New Media, for Starz Encore Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary for Liberty Media Corporation. Tom's sales and marketing group focuses on selling the Starz Encore pay TV movie channels, collectively bundled as the Starz Super Pak, to a variety of alternative distribution platforms including Competitive Broadband Providers, Telcos, C-Band, SMATV and Hotel/Motel distributors. Prior to Starz Encore, Tom was the Southwest Regional Director for The Walt Disney Company, responsible for distribution of the Disney/ABC Cable Networks. Prior to that, Tom was on the cable operator side of the business, working for Media General Cable based in Fairfax, Virginia. Laurie Hughes - Director of Business Affairs for ASCAP Laurie Hughes is Director of Business Affairs for ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. A graduate of Smith College and Memphis State University Law School, Laurie was General Counsel and then Vice President Legal & International Affairs at SESAC. She joined ASCAP in 1995. Laurie’s primary responsibilities include devising and negotiating ASCAP’s licenses for the dozens of types of businesses which use music. Ms. Hughes has been a featured speaker for the Copyright Society of the South, Memphis State, Franklin Pierce Law School, Belmont College, Chicago Bar Association and Nashville Bar Association. She is a trustee of the Copyright Society of the USA, and a member of the Copyright Society of the South, Tennessee Bar Association, and Leadership Music Alumnae Association. David Irwin - Managing Partner, Irwin, Campbell & Tannenwald, PC
DAVID A. IRWIN, has over 30 years of experience in regulatory and business matters. He is the Managing Partner of Irwin, Campbell & Tannenwald, P.C. Mr. Irwin is a graduate of the Washington College of Law of American University. He formerly held key positions at the FCC's Common Carrier Bureau including: Deputy Chief-Policy, Acting Chief of the Policy and Rules Division, Chief of the Program Evaluation Staff and Special Counsel to the Chief of the Bureau. In addition to having held corporate legal positions at Western Union and American Satellite Corporation, Mr. Irwin served as law clerk to two federal district court judges. He has been an adjunct Professor of Law at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law since 1985, where he teaches Telecommunications Carrier Regulation. He has also taught Telecommunications Law at Florida State University Law School via a live, interactive video link and at Howard University Law School. Mr. Irwin's practice encompasses emerging technologies, long-distance and satellite companies, manufacturers, independent and competitive telephone companies, cable television systems, radio common carriers and wireless companies. Garry Kitchen - President/CEO, Skyworks Garry Kitchen is one of the world's leading experts on branded online entertainment. Since founding Skyworks in 1995, he has orchestrated the creation of over 125 branded games for Abbott Labs, ESPN, Ford, Fox Sports, GlaxoSmithKline, Kraft Foods, Mattel, Microsoft, MTV, Nabisco, Pepsi, Post Cereal, Toyota, and many others. Peter Lowten - Principle Consultant, Pixel Consulting Peter Lowten has over twenty five years of experience in management and senior operational roles in an extensive range of technology, communications and media companies. Prior to returning to consulting he held a number of senior positions with Ericsson Telecoms AB in the USA and Sweden. Some of his accomplishments there include project and program management of a number of leading edge video on demand and streamed video projects - combining the talents of a variety of partners; directing sales support for broadband products; finally building and driving a worldwide three year initiative in the marketing of high speed wireless data services, for GPRS and third generation infrastructures. He has previously served as Vice President of Marketing and Engineering for Quanta Corporation, as Manager of Product Management for Sony Broadcast, Operations Manager for Compression Labs Inc during their IPO, and as Senior Consultant with Pixel Consulting. HDTV has intruded into almost all these endeavours. His experience in varied telecoms and video industries, and with a broad array of players from manufacturers to service providers, gives him a wide-ranging perspective of the opportunities and challenges that face the business today. Karen M. McKee - Director of Marketing, Horizon Chillicothe Telephone
Karen, a career Chillicothe Telephone employee, has had positions with the Company in customer service, business equipment sales and Separations & Access. She was promoted to Product Manager in the Marketing Department in 1996; Horizon Marketing Manager in 1999 and in February 2000 was elevated to Director of Marketing for Horizon Chillicothe Telephone. Karen is responsible for the marketing and sales plans for all ILEC products and services including the VDSL service offering, Horizon View. Industry Involvement Member of the Marketing Committee for OPASTCO (Organization for the Protection and Advancement of Small Telephone Companies) Member of Next Level User Group’s Marketing Committee Community Involvement Board Member and Past President of Altrusa International of Chillicothe, Ohio Board Member of The First Capital District in Chillicothe, Ohio Board Member of the Building Industry Association of Chillicothe, Ohio Board Member of the Chillicothe-Ross Chamber of Commerce Member of the Budget and Allocations Committee for the
Ross County United Way Andrew
Mellett - Vice President, Video-on-Demand and Pay Per View Biography to be provided Doug Mielke - Director of Innovation for Technicolor Creative Services Media Asset Management Group
Doug Mielke joined Technicolor as a founding member of the Media Asset Management group in January 2002. He, along with the other members of the team, have translated a content management concept into an operating, resolution independent system and service. Many of the features of this model have direct and positive implications for compression in general and VOD encoding specifically. Doug is suitably prepared for this challenge with over 25 years of experience spanning the production, postproduction and advanced technology industries. His diverse background of progressive technological experience has established him as an industry authority on emerging trends. With facilities in Los Angeles, Montreal, London, Rome and now New York City, Technicolor Creative Services represents a diverse and integrated set of production and postproduction-based services for the feature, broadcast, cable, commercial advertising, audio, DVD, studio and independent filmmaking communities. Working closely with parent company, Thomson, as well as Technicolor's worldwide release-printing and home entertainment replication businesses, Technicolor Creative Services has brought together world-renown talent and "best of breed" technology to serve our customers, including all the major motion picture studios, broadcast and cable entities. David Milloh - Vice President, Bitband
David has more than 20 years of management experience in marketing, sales and project management for Internet, IT, communications, imaging, and other technologies. He joined BitBand in 2000 from Net2Wireless, a technology provider for content delivery over cellular networks, where he was VP International Operations. Previously, David held marketing and sales management positions with IBM Corporation and major Sun Microsystems distribution channels. David was involved in large scale technology-based projects for the Telco, government and defense sectors. David served eight years in the Israel Defense Forces, where he managed the infrastructure and systems of the main IT center. David holds a B.A. in mathematics and computer sciences from Bar-Ilan University in Israel. David is a keen photographer, listens to Jazz and Classics, and when not traveling (rare), takes off again in his Flight Simulator. A cognac and a good cigar top it off. Paul Neilsen - Director of Sales, Seachange International
For over a decade, SeaChange has focused exclusively on high-bit-rate video streaming, providing the prevailing video-on-demand, insertion and broadcast platforms for thousands of customers worldwide. Paul Nielsen has been a director of sales for SeaChange since 1998. In that time, the company's systems have been deployed by hundreds of customers throughout Nielsen's territories in The Americas. Working with media and telecommunications customers and partners for 10 years, Nielsen garnered unique experience on the widely varied requirements for launching analog and advanced digital services. Early on, the was responsible for establishing SeaChange's 24x7 live customer support operation, which is now a worldwide force behind SeaChange-based video services. He was also responsible for developing SeaChange's network of television and telecommunications systems distributors and integrators to serve Latin America, Asia and Canada. Nielsen earned his bachelor's degree in computer science at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Pete Pifer - President, ETI, Inc Mr. Pifer is President and CEO of Enhanced Telecommunications, Inc. (ETI), a seasoned provider of cable TV OSS solutions for telephone companies and utilities. Mr. Pifer holds a BSEE from Ohio State University and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School. He has over 25 years experience in the telecommunications industry. Prior to founding ETI in 1992, Mr. Pifer was President of Microwave Associates Communications, a manufacturer of microwave and satellite equipment for the broadcast and cable TV industries. At Microwave Associates, Mr. Pifer led the company into the field of satellite and data communications, which dramatically increased the revenues for the company through diversification. Mr. Pifer was also CEO of EASICOM, whose business was software for long distance call processing, automated operator, and smart pay phone equipment for the telephone industry. At this company, Mr. Pifer became familiar with many of the operating systems in place with telephone companies. Mr. Pifer held various engineering and management positions with Scientific-Atlanta, a leading manufacturer of cable TV equipment. Under his direction, as Division Manager, the company developed the INMARSAT standard shipboard satellite communications as well as the television satellite equipment used by most of the cable TV networks for distribution and reception of cable programming. Ken Pyle - Vice President, Viodi, LLC
Ken Pyle is co-founder of Viodi, LLC and has been intimately involved with all of Viodi’s clients. He created Digital Rights Management Reports that were approved by studios for several clients. He created processes for clients to use for their PPV and VOD operations. He has long standing relationships with service vendors such as Technicolor and Microspace, as well as many telecommunication manufacturers. Additionally, he produced the Video Solutions for Independence interactive CD-ROM, edited and produced interactive CD-ROMs for NTCA and USTA, is the producer of the Telco Video Content Conference in conjunction with USTA, the Local Content Workshop and publishes the Viodi View newsletter, which is sent to over 2,700 recipients. Prior to Viodi, LLC, Pyle was Director of Technical Sales for Demand Video, a Video On Demand application service provider which targeted cable television overbuilders. His independent telco experience dates to 1991 with product, project and sales management roles at Raynet and E/O Networks. His experience in the cable industry dates to 1979 with manufacturing, engineering and field service roles at companies such as Catel and C-Cor. A graduate of San Jose State University, he is the volunteer web master for his sons’ preschool, http://www.cppp.com and is an active member of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Saratoga, CA, serving on the Church Council and on the Evangelizing team. Click here for Pyle's complete Resume. John Reagan - Digital Media Consulting
Between 1980 and 1999, John Reagan, the principal of Digital Media Consulting, worked as a lawyer and business affairs executive for four major Hollywood studios. Between 1980 and 1984, he was Vice-President of Legal and Business Affairs for the television syndication, pay television and home video divisions of Paramount Pictures Corporation. From 1985 through 1995, he was Senior Vice-President for Legal and Business Affairs for network and syndicated television, international theatrical and television, and worldwide pay television and home video for Walt Disney Pictures and Television. In 1995 he left Disney to join DreamWorks SKG, the studio created by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg. At DreamWorks, John worked in all areas of television and video distribution, as well as in merchandising and licensing, and digital game development, production and distribution for GamesWorks, a joint venture between DreamWorks and Microsoft. In 1997, John joined MGM Home Entertainment as Executive Vice-President. The MGM Home Entertainment group contained MGM’s worldwide home video and merchandising and licensing divisions. In 2000, John was appointed General Counsel of Netflix, the leading renter of movies on DVD to consumers by subscription via online rental. When John joined the company they had less than a 500,000 subscribers. John secured long term revenue sharing licensing agreements with six of the eight Hollywood majors, helping the company go public in 2002. In February, 2003, the company reached a million subscribers. In 2002, John launched Digital Media Consulting, and spent almost the entire year working exclusively for TVN Entertainment, in Burbank, California. TVN is the only company providing a complete end to end solution of encryption, encoding and satellite delivery of pay-per-view and video-on-demand programming to the American pay television industry. There is virtually no aspect of content acquisition and licensing with which John Reagan is not fully conversant and experienced. This includes all of the related areas of distribution, including music licensing, dubbing and subtitling matters, piracy protection, and digital rights management. Howard Shapiro - Bennet & Bennet, PLLC
Mr. Shapiro has over twenty years experience in wireline video distribution, both as a consultant and as an attorney. In both capacities, he has had occasion to represent cable television companies, competing multichannel video programming providers and local franchising authorities as to both regulatory and transactional matters. Mr. Shapiro has been involved in numerous proceedings implementing the 1984 and 1992 Cable Acts, as well as the 1996 Telecommunications Act, including such diverse matters as: must carry and retransmission consent; syndicated exclusivity, network non-duplication, and sports blackout; rate regulation; home wiring; access to premises; over-the-air reception devices; equal employment opportunity; equipment compatibility and navigation devices; closed captioning; emergency alert; provision of advanced services over cable systems; and the licensing and regulation of Open Video Systems. He has lectured and authored articles concerning the regulatory issues involved in offering video services over copper and content acquisition. Mr. Shapiro is also an expert on matters involving the compulsory copyright licensing scheme for television and radio broadcast retransmissions established by the 1976 Copyright Act, as well as matters involving local video franchise regulation. He is a member of the Federal Communications Bar Association's Cable Television and Online Practice Committees. Bar Admissions: District of Columbia; Virginia; Florida. Education: Florida State University: J.D., with High Honors, 1980; B.A., Magna Cum Laude, 1977. Taylor Summers, Director of Marketing, Pioneer Communications
Taylor
Summers is Director of Marketing and Media for Pioneer Communications, an independent
telephone, cable television, Internet, and GSM wireless network provider in Kansas. Ian Tapp, Vice President, Market Development, NDS Americas Ian Tapp graduated in Electronic Engineering from the University of Hertfordshire in the UK in 1982 and in 1995 obtained a Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. He has spent 15 years in the field of digital communications systems in R&D, Product Marketing and Business Development. In 1992 he joined NDS, a software company specializing in content protection solutions for digital media. His current position is Vice President of Market Development for NDS Americas with a primary focus on the telcoTV market. | ||||||||||
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