CableFAX: 88. Hired Gun: Tonia O’Connor
Tonia O’Connor
Title: EVP, Distribution Sales & Marketing, Univision
Last Year: Also Influential
Age: 40 (the last time I get to use that answer)
Education: Syracuse University
Why Her? As a company that caters to the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, Univision decided to bypass must-carry this election season and negotiate cash for carriage deals. It’s the first time the company’s ever elected retransmission consent, and it brought aboard former Gemstar-TV Guide affiliate whiz O’Connor to accomplish the task. In addition to broadcast nets Univision and Telefutura, O’Connor is pushing for extensions of cable net Galavisión. She has a tough road ahead, with Time Warner Cable — and its large Hispanic footprint — claiming that it could show Univision’s national feed in markets if it can’t reach a retrans pact for local stations. With talk of Univision asking for $1/sub license fee, O’Connor could be on her way to making history — or infamy.
Proud Moment: Announcing that Univision will plunge into VOD in ’09, with plans to offer about 1K hours of programming, including ’10 World Cup matches.
Year Ahead: 
It’s all about the retrans deals, baby.
Favorite Music: Coldplay and David Gray
Unnecessary Luxury I Like Most Is: My iTouch.
Favorite Show Not on My Network: Gossip Girl — my guilty pleasure!
Favorite Part of My Job: Negotiating retrans deals
Worst Part of My Job: Negotiating retrans deals
Cable’s Biggest Challenge: Integrating old and new media business models
Best Business Advice Received: Don’t get too excited about the wins or too upset about the losses – they all even out…
My Company Is Preparing For The Future By: Developing unique distributor partnerships that will help them retain and acquire subscribers in the fastest growing segment of the US population.
I Wish My Kids Would: appreciate that they can pause, fast forward and rewind live TV … if only that applied to everything else in life!
My Favorite Word Is: Mommy
The Trait You Most Admire In People Is: Integrity – and the ability to perform a mean karaoke
Favorite Sports Team(s): The Phillies – the 3 men in my life require it!
AM