Winfrey and DiGeronimo are credited with developing the framework for carriage agreements of the future, marrying the traditional linear package with their programming partners’ up-and-coming streaming services—a distinction that lands them at the top of our ranking this year. The deals already secured will soon deliver up to $80/month in streaming app retail value to Charter video customers at no additional cost. Spectrum Mobile is also thriving under DiGeronimo’s guidance, surpassing the 10 million mobile line milestone and cementing itself as the third pillar in Charter’s convergence strategy. Winfrey has also pushed Charter to become even more customer-first, adopting the Life Unlimited brand platform with commitments including reliable connectivity, transparency around outages, exceptional service and constant improvement. At the same time, Winfrey is guiding Charter through a merger with Liberty Broadband. He’s also kept a cool head in the face of natural disaster, leading his teams in efforts to ensure as many Los Angeles residents as possible stayed connected during the wildfires that ravaged the city at the start of the year.

By staying on the pulse of rapidly changing consumer viewing preferences, this power trio ensures the Mouse keeps roaring. Pitaro’s ESPN playbook is yielding big wins on television and in digital realms, including the recent bundling of ESPN+, along with Hulu, into Disney+. While building out audiences across platforms, he’s architecting ESPN’s biggest pivot yet—the “Flagship” model that this fall will bring all flagship ESPN channels direct to consumers with a more interactive and personalized experience. Under the leadership of co-chairs Walden and Bergman, Disney Entertainment continues to draw both broad and niche audiences. “Inside Out 2” was last year’s top box office earner with $1.698 billion in global ticket sales, and the Marvel pipeline continues to deliver big. To boot, Disney’s streaming business achieved profitability in 3Q24, and the team is hitting marks with the new join-in-progress option “Streams” on Disney+. In another first, the company raked in 60 Emmy wins, the most for any single company ever.

These three strategists are guiding this Fortune 35 global media and technology company into its latest iteration. Cavanagh, only the third president in Comcast’s 60-year history, was the brains behind the decision to spin off linear cable networks along with digital properties such as Fandango. Holding the money bag is Armstrong, who guides one of the most profitable companies in the U.S. Comcast ended 4Q24 with consolidated revenue of nearly $32 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $8.8 billion. Contributing to the bottom line is the Connectivity & Platforms division, with Watson doubling down on convergence with the company delivering 1.2 million net wireless additions in 2024. Under his leadership, Comcast is gearing up to introduce new wireless and internet packages and pricing this year as the company continues virtualizing its network.

It wasn’t long ago when the prospect of Netflix entering the sports arena was merely a thought. Now the company is not only a competitor but a force to be reckoned with. Spitzer positioned the streaming giant to host multiple marquee events like the two NFL Christmas Day games that recorded an unduplicated audience of nearly 65 million U.S. viewers, and the highly publicized Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson prize fight that set an estimated average minute audience of 108 million live viewers globally. Netflix also began hosting “WWE Raw” at the start of 2025, posting 4.9 million viewers across two days. With popular sports franchises like “Full Swing,” “Formula 1: Drive to Survive” and “Court of Gold,” safe to say Netflix is getting comfortable in the sports crowd.

Not only is Dungey the first woman to run WBTVG, she’s also the first Black executive in that position. She solidified WBTVG’s reputation as a top studio by making it home to lauded storytellers with J.J. Abrams, Greg Berlanti, Quinta Brunson, Mindy Kaling, Chuck Lorre, John Wells and others behind more than 80 projects across multiple streaming, cable and broadcast networks. From scripted dramas like “The Penguin” and “Presumed Innocent” and comedies including “Abbott Elementary” and “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,” to unscripted hits like “The Golden Bachelorette” and “The Voice,” Dungey knows what viewers want and always delivers.

The dream ratings team continues their reign. Fox Sports kicked off the 2024 NFL season with its best start since 2016 and closed with the most-watched Super Bowl in history, with 127.7 million viewers. Shanks is now steering plans to outsize previous viewership for college basketball, NASCAR and Major League Baseball, including the World Series, and revving up plans for the FIFA World Cup 2026. He oversaw the deal to make Fox Sports the exclusive home of the IndyCar series while driving tech innovation including a 360-degree immersive XR studio. Fox News Channel has ranked as the top news network in the U.S. for more than two decades consecutively, according to Nielsen Media Research, and Scott continues to expand the dynasty, which now encompasses eight linear and digital platforms and services including the Fox Nation streaming network that last year reached new subscriber highs and brought in a new Martin Scorsese docudrama.

Greatrex is the mastermind behind Cox’s convergence strategy, and he’s ensuring the operator is leading the way in its service to all customers. Cox launched the Xumo Stream Box in October to expand its options for broadband-only customers beyond its Contour devices. And while Cox Mobile continues to grow, Greatrex has been vocal about the need for the company to be at the forefront of solving the digital divide. Cox was awarded the Rural Connectivity Award during the Broadband Communities Summit’s 2024 Cornerstone Awards, an honor that celebrates an ISP, community or municipality leading initiatives to improve rural connectivity. He also spearheaded the Cox Partner Program, a nationwide initiative hoping to advance digital equity through partnerships with community organizations aiming to bring their neighborhoods into the digital age.

It’s not often you see three people occupy the CEO seat, but Cheeks, McCarthy and Robbins have remained in stride with one another in a pivotal time for Paramount Global. Amid the company’s pursuit of crossing the merger finish line with Skydance, Cheeks helped keep CBS as America’s most-watched network for a record 16th consecutive year with mass appeal hits such as “Tracker” and “Matlock” while helping end the company’s measurement agreement dispute with Nielsen. McCarthy has led the launch of some of the biggest SVOD shows of the year with “Landman,” “MobLand,” “Yellowjackets" and the ever-growing “Yellowstone" franchise which catapulted Paramount+ into the #2 SVOD for Original Minutes watched by the end of 2024 under his Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios unit.  These shows drove Paramount+ to lead the industry with new subscribers, drove a 40% increase in hours watched and a strong improvement in churn, which put Paramount+ on track for full year domestic profitability in record time for a US SVOD service. Meanwhile, Robbins has been busy implementing Paramount’s multiplatform franchise model for franchises like “A Quiet Place,” “SpongeBob SquarePants” and "Paw Patrol.” All three co-CEOs continue to successfully drive franchise expansion and new franchise creation in their separate areas of the company.

The recent influx of skinny bundles is very much thanks to Fubo’s efforts in preventing the launch of Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery’s jv Venu Sports. Gandler was at the forefront of the charge to get consumers more flexible options when it comes to bundling smaller packages of networks, and it was the legal team led by DiGioia that got the job done in the courtroom. A preliminary injunction was granted that halted Venu’s launch after Fubo showed it was likely to be successful in proving the streamer would violate antitrust laws. DiGioia was key in earning support from the likes of Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) along the way. Following the ruling and subsequent dissolution of Venu, DiGioia presided over the deal that’ll see Fubo combine with Hulu + Live TV.

Since taking the helm of Optimum in 2022, Mathew has taken an inside-out approach by rebuilding and transforming the company’s culture internally, focusing on upgrading the network to deliver faster, more reliable service and offering the best customer experience. As Optimum enters its next phase, Mathew is poised to push boundaries and innovate, using AI and constantly looking for ways to improve the network. He and his team continue to revolutionize Optimum’s employee experience and are launching new employee branding this year that will act as a north star for all employees and aim to foster a community of transparency, collaboration and community.

Commisso Weinand and Pascarelli oversaw the introduction of speed enhancements to Xtream Internet offerings as well as the introduction of a low-cost Xtream Connect broadband plan that comes with 100 Mbps down by 20 Mbps up, and they pitched in with Mediacom’s project to upgrade its broadband network in Nebo, Ky., to a new 10G platform. Mediacom also continued to be recognized for its workplace culture under the direction of this dynamic duo. The company was named a U.S. Best Managed company for a fourth consecutive year in an award sponsored by Deloitte Private and the Wall Street Journal and was recognized by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group as one of America’s greatest workplaces for mental wellbeing in 2024.

Dolan’s biggest accomplishment last year was generating $293 million in free cash flow by 3Q24. She did that with strategic partnerships with Netflix and Sky UK, an early renewal with Charter Communications that makes ad-supported AMC+ available at no extra cost to its subscribers, and a deal with BBC Studios to fully acquire BBC America. On the programming side, Dolan oversaw the expansion of AMC’s Walking Dead universe with record-breaking spinoffs “The Ones Who Live” and “Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol.” She also added a third series, “Anne Rice’s The Talamasca,” to AMC’s burgeoning Anne Rice Immortal Universe and solidified Shudder and IFC Films as horror MVPs with titles like “Late Night with the Devil” and “Oddity.”

A-list talent like Kevin Costner, Tom Hanks, LeBron James, Reese Witherspoon and countless others bring their projects to Buccieri because of his reputation for giving creators remarkable freedom in executing their ideas. His vision drives growth at A+E Studios and A+E Factual Studios in supplying not only for A+E Networks but for a growing roster of third-party broadcast and cable networks and steaming services. He’s invested in projects as diverse as Kevin Costner’s 20-part docuseries “The West” for History Channel, Robin Roberts’ authorized Gloria Gaynor biopic for Lifetime and international scripted co-production “The Kollective.” He’s also a champion of A+E Korea, which produces one of that market’s biggest unscripted series, “Nego King.” In 2023, Buccieri created a heart-health awareness campaign, “Don’t Skip A Beat,” in partnership with the American Heart Association which features special content and celebrity-driven PSAs across A&E, Lifetime, and The History Channel’s on-air, digital and social media platforms.

Laulis and Johnson have worked in tandem to put Cable One in a position to invest more than $1 billion during the past three years and expand the company beyond its footprint of the one million customers it serves. Johnson also assisted with the launch of multi-gig internet in Cable One’s Sparklight-branded markets, laying the groundwork to launch speeds of up to 10G and beyond in the future. Both go above and beyond to help others outside the Cable One ecosystem. Laulis not only serves on the boards of The AES Corp., CableLabs and C-SPAN, but she sends a twice-monthly video to multiple associations discussing a variety of topics including emotional and physical wellness, culture, leadership and more. Johnson is a regular presenter and moderator at various conferences hosted by SCTE, CableLabs and the NCTC and serves on the boards of SCTE and the CableLabs Technical Committee.

Morrow and Thun didn’t need to complete a merger with DISH to have a slam dunk of a year. The pair stood on the frontlines against the launch of Venu Sports and worked tirelessly to secure carriage deals allowing DirecTV to launch skinny bundles that better suit the modern video customer. Now they’re riding high on the back of the launches of its MySports offering as well as individual Genre Packs. Morrow’s team is also celebrating successful efforts to retain customers like DirecTV Perks, a loyalty program offering a variety of giveaways to members. Their victories extended to the courtroom, where they were able to win a long-fought battle with Nexstar concerning overpaid retransmission consent fees.

With Comcast’s SpinCo spinoff expected to be completed sometime this year, Lazarus has his work cut out for him. First up is a name, which we’re hearing could come any day. Then there’s the ongoing work behind how to best position this bundle of linear cable networks and digital properties—from MSNBC to Golf Channel to Rotten Tomatoes. That’s likely to include acquisitions as the company navigates the changing world of news, entertainment and sports. Lazarus’ selection to lead the new company makes a lot of sense when you consider his track record overseeing most of Comcast’s entertainment as Chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group. He’s already assembled a group of seasoned leaders to jump straight into action once the spin is complete.

OConnell and Erwich excel at optimizing the vast assets of the Disney empire. OConnell last year stepped into her new role that aligns ABC News with ABC Owned Television Stations, and ABC swept primetime coverage among broadcast nets every night of the 2024 DNC and had the most-watched final night in 16 years. She also expanded news coverage in the streaming space including ABC News Live, which saw 500 million hours streaming in the 2024 fiscal year. Erwich oversees content strategy across ABC Entertainment, Disney Branded Television, Freeform and Hulu Originals—including Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning “The Handmaid’s Tale,” the first-ever streaming series to take home both awards in the drama series category in the same season. ABC Entertainment has ranked No. 1 in entertainment among A18-49 for the past five seasons, fueled by series including “Abbott Elementary.”

Hopkins was right—acquiring MGM in 2023 was a wise move. It paid off quickly, too, when “American Fiction” won 2024’s Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Amid a stream of Prime Video film and television hits is a German original series, “Maxton Hall: The World Between Us,” which became the streamer’s most-watched international original series to date. Hopkins also added more live sports to Prime Video with an 11-year agreement with the NBA and WNBA, which joined “Thursday Night Football,” NASCAR and more. It’s no wonder Prime Video’s first Upfront was such a success last year, especially with the level of customization Hopkins and his team offer.

Led by Herrin, Comcast’s Connectivity and Platforms division has more than delivered on its task of ensuring the company’s network remains smart, flexible, resilient and ready for big events. Among some recent accomplishments: reducing the electricity needed for each byte sent across the network by 40% since 2019, working with Canada’s Rogers Communications on its industry-first implementation of Comcast’s network design last year and reaching several deals and milestones with its broadband-only content offering Xumo. After a successful run as CFO, Croney was named COO of the group in January, while Schwartz, who heads Comcast’s Strategic Development Group, leverages the company’s experience, scale, partnerships and cultures to develop meaningful collaborations at every stage.

Schanman oversees DISH’s legacy satellite and Sling TV streaming video operations, a $10 billion revenue business with about 8 million subscribers. Driving performance without the help of alternative revenue streams like broadband or search, he has consistently optimized operations to maximize cash flow, supporting EchoStar’s broader wireless ambitions. In the past year, DISH reported some of the lowest churn rates and highest operational efficiency in its history, delivered record advertising sales ARPU through advanced advertising solutions, invested in AI- and machine learning-driven marketing efforts, initiated significant cross-sell efforts between DISH services and Hughesnet and Boost Mobile, launched a Netflix bundle and drove the growth of Sling TV subscribers through initiatives like its Rewards program. To boot, he launched FAST service Sling Freestream.

While 2023 was a year of change for the then newly blended Warner Bros. Discovery, Campbell spent 2024 strategizing new revenue streams that maximize the experience and value of individual business units and the overall company. Early on, his team launched Shop with Max and Moments and incorporated KERV’s AI-enhanced technology into WBD’s AdTech platform, all toward delivering an integrated, relevant and engaging experience that lets brands connect with audiences through the movies and series they love. Campbell encourages collaboration among his team as they develop new and authentic ways to incorporate advertising and streaming.

Now in his 20th year with FX, Landgraf led the network to its most successful year ever in 2024 with record ratings, acclaim and awards including a brand-record 93 Emmy noms and 36 trophies including 18 for “Shōgun,” a series 10 years in the making. Among other high marks for the characteristically candid exec were limited series “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans,” “The Veil” and “Clipped.” Next up, he’s tackling FX’s latest global event series, “Alien: Earth.” From creator Noah Hawley (“Fargo”), the TV adaptation of the venerable franchise has been short-listed as a priority for FX’s and Disney’s streaming strategies.

NBCU’s long-awaited restructuring became official in January, landing these two seasoned power players in prime position to exercise their respective chops. Igbokwe continues to lead four powerhouse studios—Universal Television, UCP, Universal Television Alternative Studio and Universal International Studios—and also oversees NBC Entertainment, including scripted, unscripted, late-night, live events and specials, as well as all scripted originals for Peacock. “Saturday Night Live,” “Hacks,” “The Day of the Jackal” and Dick Wolf properties “Law & Order,” “One Chicago” and “FBI”-branded series are among the heavy-hitters under her purview. Berwick now oversees unscripted programming across Bravo and Peacock, rosters that include buzzy series such as “The Traitors” and “Love Island,” documentaries, true crime and first-run syndication.

Sky has made big leaps in content under Strong’s leadership, with Sky Original films and series, major sports rights and an extensive lineup of content from partners like Netflix, BBC and Paramount. The satellite giant expanded its partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery in the U.K. and Ireland in 2024, giving customers bundled access to HBO’s Max streaming service from early 2026. In addition to a multiyear extension of Sky’s collaboration with Amazon’s Prime Video, Sky also secured a five-year partnership with the Women’s Professional League Ltd., securing the rights to show nearly 90% of all Women’s Super League matches from the 2025-26 season, building on the four-year deal announced in 2023 to show a record number of Premier League games.

With more than 20 years in the telecommunications industry, Nair has helped transform Liberty Latin America into a comprehensive telecom company focused on the Caribbean Islands and Latin America. That work has included network upgrades—97% of its fixed networks were able to deliver speeds of 1Gbps at the end of 2024—as well as acquisitions, including EchoStar’s spectrum assets in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and combining operations with Millicom in Costa Rica. Nair also sits on the boards of Charter Communications, Liberty Latin America and Adtran.

Introducing mobile last year has been a game-changer for Astound Broadband. And the company is continuing to provide game-changing speeds for internet customers after unveiling Astound 5 Gig, which houses symmetrical 5 Gig internet service for both residential and SMB customers in addition to lower latency and increased capacity. Astound is also staying rooted in internet accessibility with its “Internet First” low-cost program that provides qualifying households service starting at $9.95/month for 50 Mbps. The guidance of Holanda, Gdovin and Simmons also helped Astound win ACA Connects’ Community Champions Award for its Community Connects initiative and partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

Elder foresaw the seismic shift in the industry toward streaming and guided WOW! to move to a broadband-first strategy, including the launch of WOW! tv+, partnerships with leading streaming service providers Fubo and SlingTV, and the transition to a strategic partnership with YouTube TV. Elder oversaw a 4% increase in HSD revenue in the company’s recent full-year earnings report, underscoring the shift to a high-margin streaming model late last year and driving customer growth. Elder also implemented simplified pricing (the Price Lock Promise) and was instrumental in securing a $200 million Senior Term Loan in October.

Stapf, who celebrated 20 years leading CBS Studios last fall, knows the value of a great franchise. He stewards the top TV franchise, “NCIS,” as well as “Star Trek,” which is approaching its sixth decade on air. Priorities for 2025 include a reworking of the classic “Little House on the Prairie.” Reisenbach’s eye for hits such as “Tracker,” “Elsbeth” and the reimagined “Matlock,” which swept in as a top new series last season, is augmented by her prowess for landing big tentpole specials like the Golden Globes, which CBS revamped in its second year as home to the awards show with host Nikki Glaser, and her scheduling acumen.

McKinney has long wanted to bridge the gap between the cable industry and Silicon Valley, and his vision was on display at the 2024 SCTE TechExpo. Nearly 1,500 companies and organizations participated in the show. At the same time, he continues to push the 10G platform forward with 2024 milestones including latency reduction technologies, zero-trust security practices and NaaS frameworks like Bryte IQ. Powell has served as cable’s connection to Washington for decades, and he’s officially decided to retire later this year. Feathers in his cap include working with McKinney to inform lawmakers of the promise of 10G, the modernization of NCTA and leading the industry through a plethora of battles over Title II regulation.

With this dynamic duo on the case, Comcast’s procurement and financial business are in excellent hands. Kiriacoulacos is responsible for the combined procurement function and developing and guiding strategies to help achieve commercial synergies between Comcast, NBCUniversal and Sky. He and his team are the lead negotiators for enterprise-wide capital and associated operating expenses including all hardware, technology, software licenses, professional services, third-party call centers and service-level agreements. He also oversees Comcast’s supplier diversity initiatives and the Comcast Cable real estate group. Gupta accepted his current role in September 2023 after more than 18 years at General Motors and oversees Comcast’s relationships with financial institutions across its Connectivity & Platforms and Content & Experiences businesses. He also manages its capital allocation, capital formation, credit-related matters and investment management activities.

Fischer is keeping Charter’s bottom line stable in uncertain times, guiding the operator smoothly through the end of the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program and maintaining her strategy around stock buybacks. She’s also worked the numbers to ensure the cost-per-passing related to Charter’s RDOF builds is consistent with original estimates. It’s all part of the company’s larger $9 billion Rural Construction Initiative, a project that will ultimately connect 1.75 million locations. Beyond new builds, she has her eagle eye on all things related to the company’s network evolution initiative to ensure it is able to deliver multi-gig symmetrical speeds to its customers. Through it all, Charter’s revenue has continued to rise, reaching $13.9 billion in 4Q24.

On the heels of the groundbreaking agreement with Charter in September 2023, Connolly once again led the Disney team in a transformative agreement with DirecTV for distribution of Disney’s linear networks and direct-to-consumer services following a nearly two-week blackout. He also played a pivotal role in shaping strategy for the expansion of Disney’s DTC streaming services globally, leading to the creation of innovative partnerships with parties including Verizon, T-Mobile, Kroger and SiriusXM, and he led deals to license thousands of hours of nonbranded library content to clients across SVOD, AVOD, FAST and linear while continuing to prioritize the company’s first-party platforms.

Despite the increasingly fractured television ecosystem, Miller and his team have managed to negotiate numerous carriage renewals with both traditional and nontraditional distribution partners, including a recent deal to bring WBD’s linear channels as well as streaming rights for Max and Discovery+ to Xfinity. Much of that success is due to Miller’s stellar reputation as a fair and trusted negotiator who seeks mutually advantageous deals for WBD’s distribution partners. Miller also leads affiliate negotiations to renew distribution agreements and carriage for the full WBD portfolio of networks while also seeking new opportunities to expand the reach of Max and Discovery+.

Nearly two decades’ worth of industry experience have honed Espinosa’s negotiation skills, but it’s his collaborative nature that’s helped him strike mutually advantageous multiplatform content distribution deals that will keep all Fox brands—entertainment, news, sports and Tubi—accessible to households across the nation. He also secured numerous carriage deal renewals with major distribution partners, and his leadership of the distribution team has put the company on track for long-term revenue growth by ensuring Fox content reaches viewers when and where they want it.

In a barrage of carriage and affiliation renewals, Hopkins stands as a steady negotiator. Paramount inked deals with the likes of Comcast, Charter and Scripps while also avoiding a long-term blackout with YouTube TV during the past 12 months. Not to mention deals with several MVPDs and YouTube TV and the inclusion of DTC offerings like Paramount+ with Showtime and BET+’s Essential Plan, showcasing a new trend in the video landscape. One thing’s for certain: Hopkins knows the power of Paramount’s portfolio, which boasts properties like March Madness, The Masters, “Yellowjackets” and more.

Widely known for his strategic mind and dedication to expanding NBCUniversal’s reach, Schnaars is tackling a new role: heading a nascent organization that consolidates content distribution, affiliate relations and strategic partnerships across NBC, Peacock, Bravo, Telemundo and the company’s FAST channels. He’ll be nurturing sales and marketing relationships with vMVPD, MVPD and streaming partners, too. Along with negotiating renewals of NBCU’s portfolio with major North American distributors, Schnaars is focused on growing Peacock’s subscriber base: he’s collaborated with Comcast, Charter and Verizon on bundling deals to get Peacock and the company’s DTC and linear programming to a larger audience.

Jenckes took the helm of Xumo in 2022, and the Comcast and Charter streaming jv has soared ever since. Xumo TVs are available in nearly 8,000 locations across the U.S., spanning nine national and local retailers. Operators—including Cox, GCI and Mediacom—began offering Xumo Stream Box to their customers, Xumo Enterprise launched FAST channels on Sky in the U.K. and Cox and Xfinity in the U.S., and the company expanded its partnership with Google TV Freeplay. In 2025, the focus will be on growth, engagement and monetization. As the overseer of the strategic direction of Comcast’s content portfolio, Rigdon is laser-focused on negotiating programming agreements as the video marketplace evolves with providers launching more streaming and direct-to-consumer offerings.

Under the endlessly entrepreneurial drive of Allen and distribution innovation of Arouh, Allen Media Group had another stellar year in both the media and tech realms. Highlights include a multiyear carriage renewal with Charter, a partnership with LG Electronics to launch the Local Now FAST channel, the renewal of broadcast affiliation agreements with CBS in five markets, a broad deal with Datafuelx to enhance data-driven linear plans and the announcement of a new 20-game basketball schedule and 26-game football schedule for AMG HBCUGo. Look for more content production and more acquisitions in broadcast and digital platforms from this dynamic duo.

McAdaragh believes the Midwest deserves the best when it comes to broadband speeds, and Midco’s team is delivering. He led a massive expansion of Midco’s fiber footprint, bringing the company’s network to areas including Roberts, Wisc., Lake Minnetonka and Amboy, Minn., and communities along Minnesota’s Highway 10. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz awarded Midco a $689,700 grant to bring broadband to unserved and underserved areas of Washington County, and Midco was also honored recently with a Platinum PAR Award from The WICT Network, recognizing it for consistently ranking as a top company for women to work throughout the history of the PAR Workplace Survey.

Annually, Schrier is responsible for 300-plus titles domestically and internationally in the expanded Disney Television Studios, which now comprises 20th Television Animation and 20th Television. As part of his purview, he oversees Global Originals, producing over 100 series in local regions in local languages. He also oversees the Disney Entertainment Television Business Affairs and Production teams, and his continual quest for talent both in front of and behind the camera has yielded a programming cache—including “Only Murders in the Building”— contributing to the company’s 60 Emmy wins, an all-time high for TWDC—as well as new Hulu hit “Paradise” and legacy series “Grey’s Anatomy.” Upcoming are an Amanda Knox limited series, two new Ryan Murphy drama series and “Malcolm in the Middle” and “King of The Hill” revivals.

Thanks to a restructuring to form Cox’s commercial and residential units, Breaux and Langner are leading a transformation that directs more attention to the company’s broadband, mobile and business services offerings. Under Breaux’s direction, Cox fitted out the Las Vegas Convention Center with more than 2,800 WiFi access points to ensure CES had the best connectivity possible. More than 660 terabytes of data crossed the WiFi network during the four days of the conference, which Cox has been serving since 2014. Langner is passionate about closing the digital divide, and her team launched the Cox Partner Program to broaden the reach of Cox’s low-cost internet solutions. The program includes onboarding and training with partner organizations, support lines and marketing materials. 

Between the 2024 election cycle, the Olympics and natural disasters, Conde and the entire NBCUniversal News Group had a busy and consequential year. They ended 2024 as the most-watched news organization in the nation, reaching about seven of 10 American adults per month. This was thanks to exponential growth in digital, which currently reaches 146 million-plus monthly users, and streaming; the free NBC News NOW streaming news network saw its sixth consecutive year of growth. “Meet the Press” with Kristen Welker is No. 1 in key demos this season; “Today” reclaimed its top slot in morning for the first time in 13 years; and “Dateline” remains the most-watched true crime franchise on TV, in linear minutes. When longtime “NBC Nightly News” anchor Lester Holt announced he would step down later this year to take on a full-time role with Dateline, Conde named NBC News’ Tom Llamas to the role—marking only the fourth Nightly anchor transition in the past 40 years. Llamas will be the first Latino weekday solo evening news anchor and the first evening news anchor to also anchor an hour-long daily streaming program, "NBC News NOW’s Top Story with Tom Llamas." 

 The leadership trio of Jain, Keib and Laurenzano has elevated GFiber into an industry disruptor. Jain’s influence helped the company nab more than 30 deals to build in new cities over the course of 2024, adding several new states on the way to achieving 20% YOY growth in household reach. Keib, the first CTO in the company’s history, was central to the launch of GFiber Labs, an innovation hub that seeks to develop technologies that enhance network performance. That’s led to the introduction of 20 Gig and WiFi 7 service for some customers, the successful trial of 50 Gig on live networks in Kansas City and the deployment of Nokia’s 25G PON. Laurenzano completes the GFiber trinity by ensuring its operational efficiency, having nearly tripled the rate of GFiber expansion over the past five years while ushering in reductions in areas like sign-up-to-connection time, customer service calls and in-home visits.

Sirota has been instrumental in laying a robust financial foundation to enable Optimum to accelerate its efforts in 2025 and beyond, setting aggressive but attainable goals guided by a clear vision for the future of the company. His efforts have added up to reducing Optimum’s expenditures while stabilizing revenue, leading to a dramatic reversal in free cash flow trends and enabling the business to reinvest. Under Ramos, Optimum’s network infrastructure has improved significantly, giving the company the ability to make upgrades to its speed in several communities across its footprint.

From “Shark Week” to “Puppy Bowl,” Lee knows what audiences want and he matches the right programming mix to the appropriate networks. That’s no doubt why he was named Chief Creative Officer of U.S. Networks in December. Discovery remains the top primetime cable network, thanks to hits like “Deadliest Catch,” “Expedition Unknown” and “Gold Rush,” while TLC boasted 13 of the top 30 non-sports/non-news unscripted series on ad-supported cable among W25-54, including “Sister Wives” and “90 Day Fiancé.” Perhaps even more impressive? Last year Lee adopted a “Puppy Bowl” puppy, Fred.

With Fernández at the helm, Telemundo experienced a 28% spike in total viewership and continues to expand its status as a Spanish-language media powerhouse. In 2024, Telemundo was the exclusive Spanish-language U.S. broadcaster of the Paris Olympics, with coverage tailored to Hispanic audiences. Other live tentpole events performed well, too, including the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards, the 73rd Miss Universe pageant and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Fernández kept audiences engaged with a slate of popular scripted and unscripted programming—including, respectively, “El Señor de los Cielos” and “La Casa de los Famosos”—and recently debuted the much-anticipated dramatic series “La Jefa.”

This triple threat keeps the Charter train on the tracks, ensuring roadblocks to any of the operator’s goals are as minimal as possible. Bohigian has lobbied regulators on topics ranging from spectrum innovation to low-income broadband solutions, and she was named to Washingtonian’s 500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy. It’s tough to find something Haughton doesn’t touch from his seat at the top of the legal food chain, and he’s been kept busy with the logistics surrounding the Liberty Broadband-Charter merger. Ray added the nearly $3 billion Spectrum Enterprise operation to his expansive responsibilities in November, doing so while managing launches of the Xumo Stream Box with operator partners Rogers Communications, GCI, Cox and Mediacom.

Powered by increased viewership engagement for both Paramount+ and Pluto TV content including live sports and Paramount+ original programming such as “Tulsa King” and “Landman,” Paramount Global’s DTC streaming segment marked two consecutive quarters of profitability in 2024. Expect innovator Ryan to keep his foot on the gas. Diaz’s rise to oversee development and production for Showtime and MTV Entertainment Studios has seen a succession of high marks including franchise expansions for series including “Dexter” and “Billions,” with “The Chi” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” hitting rating records. She also launched “The Agency,” EP’d by George Clooney. 2025 will see the launch of Guy Ritchie’s crime drama on Paramount+.

Reid continues to play a critical role in everything from the pending SpinCo transaction to government affairs, bringing aboard the well-respected Lance West in September following Mitch Rose’s retirement. Reid’s been with Comcast since 2019 after more than 30 years at Davis Polk. Then there’s Harris, who in her dual role provides legal advice to senior management on everything from the upcoming launch of Universal Epic Universe theme park to the 2024 Paris Olympics. She also finds time to serve on the board of Goldman Sachs and the advisory board for the Yale Law School Center for the Study of Corporate Law. Charytan leads a legal team that supports the entire breadth of the cable business and coordinates closely with the government affairs organization. Her Comcast Corporation role has her overseeing the company’s government investigations team and interfaces with the government affairs and regulatory teams.

It’s been a landmark year for Spellmeyer as ACA Connects scored a major victory after the Sixth Circuit overturned the FCC’s latest attempt to regulate broadband as a Title II service. Beyond that, he fought hard against a proposed ban on bulk billing arrangements and led a partnership with Cartesian that supported giving broadband providers greater flexibility in their definitions of BEAD project areas. He also rallied the association together during Hurricanes Milton and Helene, pledging support to members impacted by the disasters. Borrelli celebrated NCTC’s 40th anniversary last year and has been relentless in his efforts to expand the services NCTC offers as the competitive environment continues to heat up. It now touts a collaboration with CommScope to give members enhanced access to the vendor’s end-to-end network solutions. He’s also been investigating how he can help members best use artificial intelligence and continues to improve NCTC’s MVNO offerings.

It’s been another banner year for ESPN, with captains Magnus and Durant ensuring sports fans continued to flock. Under Magnus’ purview, “Monday Night Football” had its second- most-watched season in 24 years, while “College GameDay” broke records with its most-watched season in its 38-season history. He also led a sweeping restructuring of ESPN’s content department of more than 3,000 employees to streamline collaboration and centralize key functions in preparation for the launch of its Flagship DTC offering this fall. Durant helmed deals for the WNBA/NBA—ESPN will exclusively present the “Inside the NBA” studio show on its platforms starting with the 2025-26 season—College Football Playoff, USTA, NCAA, NFL Flag Football, and more. She also worked with the NFL to bring “The Simpsons Funday Football” and “Dunk the Halls” to life.

Ross led a cross-functional approach to creating Armstrong’s most recent strategic plan, affectionately known as “Foresee” or “4C” for short, to predict where the company will be in five years and then construct a plan to support those predictions. The project was divided into 16 workstreams, ranging from subscribers and competition to technology, employee engagement and M&A, and totaled 208 projections and financial models. In the wake of stiff competition in 2024, Armstrong managed to record internet churn lower than industry benchmarks, besting its 2023 percentage. Look for Ross to keep his focus on growth and engaging employees.

Thanks to the strategic minds of Butman and Petersen, TDS Telecom has been able to increase its already ambitious fiber goals. The company is now targeting 1.8 million marketable fiber service addresses, a 50% increase from its previous long-term goal. Butman has navigated agreements to transfer ownership of TDS Telecom’s Delta County operations and assets to Elevate as well as a deal to shift ownership of two Virginia ILECs to RiverStreet. Petersen is the face of TDS Telecom in so many of the communities across its footprint, and the provider made more than $1 million in philanthropic donations in 2024 to make those neighborhoods better places to live and work. Through its TDS Cares effort, the company prioritizes giving to organizations supporting people’s basic needs.

In 2024, Nafshi’s team put more computing power closer to consumers to deliver a better internet experience for streaming and gaming applications and to develop a standardized platform for providers to distribute their content across Comcast’s network through its deployment of Qwilt’s Open Edge platform. He also launched Janus, an initiative designed to maximize network performance, collaborated with Broadcom Inc. and Charter Communications on the joint development of Unified DOCSIS chipsets and launched the first CommScope FDX amplifier. Rioboli oversees Comcast’s development of AI-powered tools and resources to improve customer and employee experience while at the same time advocating for ongoing education and career development both at Comcast and across the Philadelphia tech community. Stirling leads teams across Comcast Cable and Sky that develop and design products that integrate voice search, discovery, apps and interactive features. He was previously Sky’s Group chief product officer, joining the business in June 2019 from parent company Comcast.

Chang stepped into the CEO role at Liberty Media in February, a move that makes a lot of sense given his years on the company’s board along with his leadership roles at EverPass, the NBA and DirecTV. He has John Malone’s endorsement to drive long-term growth as Liberty embarks on a reorg that includes Charter acquiring Liberty Broadband. We’ll be keeping a close eye on how he brings his own stamp to the business, particularly with Formula 1 media rights up for grabs in the U.S.

Optimum’s Net Promoter Scores rose nearly 13% in the past year, partly due to the launch of an AI assistant AVA (AI Virtual Assistant) that helps agents provide actionable solutions to problems and better product offerings. Roy’s team successfully trained agents to offer mobile and fiber migration solutions after resolving customers’ initial inquiries. Parker joined Optimum in November 2023, spearheading the expansion of Optimum Business products, services and capabilities to existing and prospective business customers, including the launch of Optimum Mobile for SMBs and the expanded availability of Optimum’s Business Phone and Business Hosted Voice services to B2B customers in several markets in its West footprint.

Already America’s top free TV and movie streamer with more than 275,000 movies and TV episodes in its content library, Tubi upped its game last year when Lewinson added Tubi originals—notably the talk show “We Got Time Today” and film “Sidelined: The QB and Me”—to its already popular slate of licensed and acquired titles including Peter Dinklage’s “The Thicket” and Nicola Coughlan’s “Big Mood.” Lewinson plans to further expand Tubi’s original offerings in 2025 by making it easier for upcoming filmmakers of diverse backgrounds to get their work before Tubi’s audience of 97 million-plus monthly active users.

Ferro and her team turned up the volume at the 2024 Disney Upfront, securing record commitments, double-digit gains in steaming, triple-digit growth in women’s sports and overall revenue and volume up more than 5% year-over-year. Already in 2025, she made a splash with Disney’s fifth annual Global Tech & Data Showcase at CES, where her team introduced innovative tools like Disney Compass and Disney Select AI Engine. Ferro also released findings from the company’s first global streaming consumer insights study. Not one to rest on her laurels, she’s already creating new opportunities for advertisers with the upcoming ESPN flagship DTC service.

Halley’s creativity and forward thinking have revolutionized Paramount’s overall advertising strategy that drives short- and long-term growth by channeling the full power of Paramount’s platforms. Implementing cutting-edge technologies, he’s made it easier for advertisers—large or small—to take full advantage of the company’s expansive audience. He’s struck key partnerships with Mastercard, EDO and Shopsense AI; beta-launched Paramount Ad Manager, a self-service platform for small and mid-sized businesses; and is determined to reshape Paramount’s overall advertising ecosystem to better serve the industry going forward.

Collins made quite the splash during his first year in this high-profile role, starting with a strong upfront performance touting upcoming Fox Sports, News, entertainment and Tubi offerings—including “Super Bowl LIX”—and culminating with year-over-year growth in linear and digital advertising commitments and overall portfolio pricing. Another big score: volume was up 25%+ on Tubi. He also realigned the entire ad sales team in a way that emphasizes teamwork and collaboration and seeks out ways to implement new technologies to drive positive results and strong ROI for advertisers.

Kovacs and Levin have scored gold at NBCU, securing the highest Olympic advertising revenue in history during last year’s Paris Games. Levin opened up the Games programmatically for the first time, which created opportunities for smaller marketers, while Kovacs served as a strategic consultant for brands such as Delta, Google, Eli Lilly, Toyota, P&G, Visa and Coca-Cola. They’re optimizing new NBCU AI-driven audience planning tool One Platform Total Audience across brands.  In the beauty, retail and pharmaceutical categories, OPTA campaigns have garnered a 32% increase in purchase intent, 33% increase in brand favorability, 2X increase in search engagement and 64% increase in incremental store visits.

Disney’s streaming segment reached profitability a quarter ahead of schedule, propelled in part by Earley’s maneuvers including the incorporation of Hulu content on Disney+ in the U.S., Star+ on Disney+ in Latin America and the newly launched ESPN tile on Disney+. Earley also pioneered innovative bundle offerings and oversaw the launch on Disney+ of Streams, a suite of six lean-back channels that has driven more than 35 million hours of streaming since its debut in September. Maintaining streaming numbers is a top priority, as is enhancing personalization, optimizing content discovery and expanding Disney’s reach in emerging markets.

It’s been a big year for this power trio. McDermott oversaw the expansion of franchises such as The Walking Dead Universe with the debut of “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live,” which broke all-time viewership and acquisition records on AMC+ and had the largest premiere night audiences in six years. And don’t forget about the continued growth in popularity for the Anne Rice Immortal Universe. Kelleher helped get the AMCN message out with various affiliate, distribution and ad partnerships. That included a nonexclusive licensing agreement to put 17 series on Netflix for a limited time, where AMCN series took up four slots on the Netflix Top 10 within days of the shows being added. Helping power the distribution falls to Mitchko. She amplified AMCN’s content across linear, streaming and digital platforms including a deal with Comcast Technology Solutions to manage most of AMCN’s domestic and global distribution.

It’s never a slow day on the ranch for Boyers, who is serving her fifth year as ACA Connects Chair. Her team successfully brought FTTH to the unincorporated community of Stringtown thanks to a public-private partnership with NTIA and the Missouri Office of Broadband Development. Boycom impressively connected 32% of households in just 30 days. ACAC Vice Chair Reardon has left a mark on Schurz in the first two years of his tenure, entering the wireless space with the launch of Flight Mobile. The service, which he hopes will be a churn mitigator, first became available to Antietam Broadband customers in December.

Mediacom’s year of milestones was fueled by the launch of its mobile service, something Dandnaik had his hands on each step of the way. He also led the rollout of Xumo Stream Boxes to Xtream customers and oversaw the reorganization of Mediacom’s field ops structure. Walden’s focus has been on helping Mediacom launch the most homes with 1 Gig symmetrical speeds on DOCSIS 3.1 of any provider in the U.S. and helping build Mediacom’s mobile foundation. Walden and his team also upgraded Mediacom’s internal network and processes to PCI 4.0 compliance while integrating dynamic ad insertion on its IP video platform. Larsen has stayed busy with regulatory happenings and kept Mediacom involved in different government projects. Customers can stay up-to-date on those projects via the online resources Mediacom released in October.

WBD’s dominance in ad-supported cable comes from its diverse portfolio. Sarlanis, Perry and Ayala all understand that what viewers want differs with each network. TNT and TBS remain cable’s top two entertainment networks in primetime and Investigation Discovery saw its biggest hit yet, “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” under Sarlanis, who’s revitalizing true crime with timely projects like “The Fall of Diddy” and “Who Is Luigi Mangione?” OWN’s longtime Friday night hit, “Belle Collective,” saw double-digit growth under the guidance of Perry, who also launched new unscripted shows like “The Never Ever Mets” and “Family Empire: Houston” and added to OWN’s library of original holiday films. Along with moving Food Network from traditional cooking shows toward culinary competitions like “24 in 24: Last Chef Standing” and “Wildcard Kitchen,” Ayala has found creative ways to cross-promote the company’s networks, like including a Shark Week-themed episode of “Summer Baking Championship.”

Company-owned IP and content is vital to Sharenow’s continued success in attracting A-list creators—take History partnering with Kevin Costner on eight-ep docuseries “The West,” for example—which is made possible due to Scott’s accomplishments at A+E Factual Studios. Last year, A+E created four of cable’s top five new nonfiction series, including “Lost U-Boats of WWII,” which came in at No. 1, and “Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup,” which was Lifetime’s fastest-growing series in 10 years. History Channel boasted two of cable’s top nonfiction series, “Curse of Oak Island” and “Secret of Skinwalker Ranch.” Under Sharenow, A+E-owned YouTube content had a 31% increase in views year-over-year in 2024, and its Crime 360 FAST channel saw 170 million-plus total hours of viewing. Scott’s studio also supplies content to Netflix, Apply and Amazon and she intends to expand its client roster in 2025.

Cheng has made a name for himself by seeing around corners before others, leading his company toward new opportunities and growth. He oversees the Prime Video business across SVOD, TVOD, Prime Video Channels and AVOD in the U.S., plus the company’s programming strategy, marketing, brand, research and distribution. Under his leadership, Apple TV+ became an add-on subscription allowing subscribers access to everything Apple TV+ and Prime Video have to offer, including Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball events. Cheng has helped the player dive into more live content, including an Election Day newscast hosted by Brian Williams. That special has us wondering whether more news may be in Amazon’s future. After all, Cheng has a knack for re-inventing the business, having made ABC the first network with its own online branded media player during his time with the Walt Disney Company.

Cho secured several carriage agreements with some of AMCN’s significant distribution partners, including a multiyear renewal with Charter that enabled access to AMC+ for Spectrum TV Select customers. He also worked with Verizon and Netflix to launch a bundle featuring AMC+’s ad-free tier with Netflix Premium and oversaw the growth of AMCN’s FAST and CTV presence, which now boasts 18 channels live on 12 platforms. Thomasma, who’s been with the company since 2013, guided the team that saw the rollouts of new hit series “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live” and “Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire.” On the digital side, she oversaw the debut of new series targeted for streaming services like “Oddity,” “Infested,” “MadS,” “Stopmotion” and “Late Night with the Devil.”

Fox has been hitting it out of the park across the sports and news realms, thanks in large part to these two leaders. Silverman helped drive 127.7 million viewers to Super Bowl LIX, an all-time high, and made big strides on the MLB front as well as in college football and basketball, plus on the international soccer scene with the UEFA Euros and Conmebol Copa América tournaments. Wallace, meanwhile, oversaw Fox News Media’s election coverage—Fox News was the only network to feature interviews with all four candidates (Trump, Vance, Harris, Walz) in the span of one week—and continues to drive impressive ratings growth in post-election coverage.

Together, Davis and Burke oversee content for the full spectrum of audiences served by the Disney kingdom. Live-action and animated programming for kids and families across Disney+, Disney Jr. and Disney Channel is the purview of Davis, who’s shepherded hits from preschool juggernaut “Bluey” to music special “Elton John: Live from Dodger Stadium,” which took home three Emmys. New on the docket are “Goosebumps: The Vanishing,” and the revival of “Phineas and Ferb.” Davis and Burke also are bringing the world the second (and just announced third) seasons of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.” Burke leads 20th Television, which folded in ABC Signature in late 2024 and launched 13 new series on top of 20 returning shows last year. Among hits are “High Potential,” starring Kaitlin Olson, and “Dying for Sex” for FX and “Paradise” for Hulu.

Along with growing the newly minted A+E Global Media as a multiplatform content provider, in the past year MacDonald—an early supporter of FAST channels—has launched numerous FAST channels in the U.K., Canada, Australia and the Netherlands. That’s fitting, since he also oversees A+E International’s scripted and unscripted projects, including the PBS mystery drama “Miss Scarlet.” He also added more international versions of History Channel’s popular unscripted series “Alone” in Germany, the Netherlands, France and India and made A+E Media Group Korea one of the world’s leading creators of Korean IP with a new original scripted Korean series, “The Witch,” premiering in the U.S., Europe, Asia and A+E Korea’s Lifetime.

Hoffman took on an expanded role at Starz this past year, adding content acquisitions and Canada to her already robust plate and she didn’t miss a beat on innovating. She developed and launched a first-of-its-kind bundle with BritBox and made strides with the acquisition of “Three Women,” starring Shailene Woodley, and “Sweetpea,” starring Ella Purnell. She also oversaw the 10-year anniversaries of both the “Outlander” and “Power” franchises and led evolutions in Starz’s digital presence. Busby remains consciously intent on telling stories that are by, about and for women. Among dramas she championed are “Mary & George,” starring Julianne Moore, “Three Women” and “The Couple Next Door.”

West, the newest member of this group, has hit the ground running since joining Comcast in September. His extensive experience on Capitol Hill—he most recently was VP of federal government relations for the American Petroleum Institute—serves him well as he advocates on spectrum, AI and infrastructure deployment. He gets a strong assist from Johnson, who eats, lives and breathes Comcast’s commitment to digital equity. With his help, Comcast achieved a major milestone in 2024 with the completion of a broadband expansion project in Stafford County, Virginia, that surpassed initial expectations by connecting nearly 700 additional sites. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen joined Johnson and local officials for an on-site tour. Ryvicker has the job of communicating their progress as well as overall company strategy to the investor and shareholder community. Smart and conscientious, she has a reputation for deep analysis backed by her time covering media for Wells Fargo Securities and Wolfe Research.

This past year Monroe debuted five of Nat Geo’s most-watched series on Disney+, including “A Real Bug’s Life” and “Secrets of the Octopus,” and feature docs including “Bobi Wine: The People’s President,” which was nominated for an Academy Award. She continues to modernize the 137-year-old brand, recently helming digital experience Into the Amazon, which features scientific material collected by 17 National Geographic Explorers. Bowen is driving Disney+ subscribers, now 150 million-plus, and double-digit revenue growth. She expanded the content and subscription bundle offerings including Hulu on Disney+, the bundling of Disney+, Hulu and Max, and the recently launched ESPN tile on Disney+. Guided by Tempest’s prowess in licensing, Hulu is home to hits including “Shōgun” and “Only Murders in the Building.” She also continues to elevate the company’s DTC strategy.

Zimmermann’s ability to identify and capitalize on market opportunities and his focus on customer-centric innovations helped drive Comcast Business to new heights. With the successful integration of recent purchases Masergy and Nitel, Comcast Business is continuing to expand its enterprise capabilities and enhance its position in managed services. Rooke was instrumental in forming Universal Ads, which brought 10 of the most prominent media publishers together to simplify access to brand-safe premium content through a unified platform. His work on forming the programmatic partnership between FreeWheel and NBCU for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games fueled advanced digital ad insertion and programmatic capabilities that helped NBCU reach record-breaking ad revenue totals and grow the number of participating advertisers by 90%.

This trio of content mavens keep the pipelines in their respective businesses buzzing. Through Onyx Collective, Duncan continues to uplift voices of color on Hulu, expanding the content slate including, this past year, locking in overall and first-look deals with creators Manolo Caro (“The House of Flowers”) and Oscar-winning filmmaker Joseph Patel (“Summer of Soul”). At FX, co-presidents Grad and Balian kept the hits coming including a new season of “The Bear,” the final season of “What We Do in the Shadows” and new projects like “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans.” Grad was also pivotal in developing critically acclaimed new comedy series “English Teacher,” and Balian was immersed in bringing “Shōgun,” the triumph 10 years in the making, to the screen.

Johnson and Bullock refuse to sit on their success, continuing to push Hotwire to new heights. They scored a major victory at the FCC with the dismissal of a proposed ban on bulk billing that Hotwire argued would ultimately harm consumers. Hotwire also celebrated a major achievement in December with the successfully completed testing of 25G and 50 Gbps broadband speeds over its network using Nokia’s Lightspan MF fiber access platform. Hotwire is one of only a handful of providers in the U.S. to trial 50G speeds. Outside of their day jobs, Bullock is currently serving on the board of ACA Connects while Johnson has been a strong supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation for many years.

Lynch, Jennings and Whitaker, each with decades of experience in the cable industry, have headed their respective regions for years, driving unprecedented growth across the board. Lynch took the helm of the Northeast Division in 2022 and has launched service options such as NOW prepaid services and grew Comcast Business sales teams in new territories across the unit’s 15-state footprint. Jennings was named president of the West Division in 2020 and has been a champion of diversity, equity and inclusion across its 13-state territory. At the Central Division, Whitaker led the expansion of Comcast’s gigabit internet service and has deployed AI-driven customer support to improve service quality and reduce complaints.

Gil drives the marketing and storytelling behind the top Spanish-language network in Monday-Sunday primetime. Her leadership helped Telemundo see a 13% year-over-year growth in audience—drawn to fan faves “El Señor de los Cielos” and “La Casa de los Famosos,” sports coverage and last year’s coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics—as well as a 21% growth in the company’s digital realm including YouTube and FAST channels. Look for her to continue to implement impactful, forward-thinking strategies to build on last year’s milestone of nearly 1,000 hours of original content and build up to coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Both Ardizzone and Cerullo have ridden the INSP horse into new frontiers. Under Cerullo’s leadership, INSP expanded its production of original content in 2024 and rebranded the Cowboy Way FAST channel to Western Bound while also locking down more distribution deals. New premieres included “Elkhorn,” “Blue Ridge,” “Wild West Chronicles” and “Into the Wild Frontier,” which helped INSP spend more than 140 consecutive weeks ranking in the top 10 in 24/7 C3 ratings. Meanwhile, Ardizzone has ushered in revenue growth of more than 1,400% during his tenure, but this year his accomplishments also spanned helping out with the Western Bound rebrand, the launch of the ShopINSP.com retail store and improvements in linear and OTT-related revenue.

Aguiar has her fingerprints on all of ESPN’s current and future businesses. She led strategy for the recent launch of “Where to Watch” on the ESPN App and ESPN.com and helped orchestrate the long-term agreements for ESPN/Disney with the NCAA, College Football Playoff, NBA/WNBA and the USTA. Under Thornton’s leadership, ESPN Creative Studio drove innovation in the alternate broadcast space with animated game telecasts featuring Disney intellectual property like “The Simpsons Funday Football.” She also led the charge on the newly branded ESPN Bet online sportsbook “What a Play” and the continued integration of music and sports including a partnership with J Balvin to curate music for ESPN marketing spots.

Comcast customers can rest a little easier with Davis at the wheel. She works tirelessly on national security and emergency preparedness solutions, overseeing the full range of cybersecurity and product privacy functions. Her team stood up an integrated, centralized 24/7 global cyber operations center serving both Comcast and Sky. She also developed the Comcast Business Cybersecurity Threat Report to help technology and security leaders get a deeper understanding of trends in cybersecurity threats.

Moline prioritized fiber construction throughout Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona and Missouri in 2024 and fought to bring a reliable broadband solution to low-income qualifying families after the Affordable Connectivity Program ended, launching a 100 Mbps discounted product to keep families connected. He initiated the concept of SmartTown and its managed community-wide WiFi and outdoor GigaPro access points combined with ALLO’s hosted WiFi 6 installed base reduced operating expenses and increased efficiency. As ALLO grows—it is launching service in Flagstaff, Ariz., and Boulder, Colo., later this year—Moline remains dedicated to fostering company culture and its commitment to local communities.

As owner and CEO of Newsmax, Ruddy’s had a great year. Newsmax saw ratings highs across all dayparts—it was up 15% in daytime, 26% in primetime and a whopping 43% on weekends—elevating it to the fourth-highest-rated cable news network. Much of those gains are due to distribution deals, including one with YouTube TV that gave 58 million U.S. households access to the network. Ruddy also filed to take Newsmax public in 2025; by late 2024 it had a pre-IPO raise of $150 million. He’s excited for the coming year as the network continues expanding its domestic and international footprints and of course seeing his baby listed on the New York Stock Exchange with a strong debut.

A pioneer in community impact, Wilson-Scott leads Comcast’s $1 billion digital opportunity and project mobility program Project UP and other projects to develop the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and creators. She was instrumental in Comcast’s partnership with the U.S. Conference of Mayors to launch the Talent for Tomorrow: Digital Equity Challenge grant program. As the driving force behind Comcast’s digital and social media strategy, a function she built over the last decade to reflect the rapidly changing communications landscape, Khoury has a deep knowledge of the business and the industry and led strategic comms during several milestone moments, including the 2024 Paris Olympics. With 35 years of HR experience, Strahan leads the human resources function for Comcast Cable and has responsibility for all aspects of talent, compensation, benefits, learning and employee and labor relations.

Zimmer has been at the forefront of the distribution business for more than two decades. With the industry splintering away from legacy MVPDs to include virtual MVPDs, new streaming platforms, network streaming alternatives and more, her role as the chief negotiator is even more critical to Nexstar’s overall success than ever. In 2023, she delivered more than $2.6 billion of distribution revenue to the company and through the first three quarters of 2024, that figure increased significantly to once again account for more than 55% of Nexstar’s total revenue.

Rice continued to expand her leadership after she assumed the role of chair for The WICT Network this past year. She also kept TV One and CLEO TV on a path for growth, scoring a distribution deal with Philo to add the TV One Crime & Justice Channel and introducing shows on TV One, like “Raising Fame,” which features the mothers of Shaquille O’Neal and Steph Curry. She oversaw the launch of CLEO TV on three MVPDs—Mediacom, MCTV and Astound Broadband—last year, helping add 6 million subs to the network’s reach. CLEO TV was also included in Comcast’s Now TV entertainment package through Xumo.

Although Verveer’s role encompasses government relations, public policy and dealing with political stakeholders while Remling’s focus is on attracting, developing and retaining 35,000-plus WBD employees scattered around the globe, both executives rely on their experiences in building relationships and fostering trust. Verveer’s efforts led to the successful rollout of the MAX streaming service—now in 50 European markets and recently launched in Southeast Asia—by using the 2024 Summer Olympics to strengthen relationships with European and American policymakers. Meanwhile, Remling is building strong teams within the company and creating a business culture where people know they are seen, heard and empowered to do their best.

Throughout her tenure, Lins has kept CTAM focused on addressing broad industrywide challenges like combating piracy, driving retention programs and enhancing content discoverability while at the same time connecting industry leaders and fostering strategic alliances and collaborations that drive impact and accelerate progress. Through her podcast “Thinking Out Loud,” Lins engages with an impressive roster of guests, including C-level executives, professors, technologists and other visionaries. She’s continuing to prioritize tackling crucial challenges and opportunities, from protecting revenue and enhancing customer trust to driving lead generation and improving content accessibility.

2024 started off with a bang for Litner, as YES and MSG Networks in January joined forces to form GAME (Gotham Advanced Media and Entertainment), a groundbreaking digital java that capitalizes on the digital infrastructure and expertise of the two companies. Ten months later, GAME launched The Gotham Sports App, the exclusive new TV Everywhere and DTC streaming home of YES and MSG that houses the New York Yankees, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres.

TechExpo24 was Popo’s first since being named SCTE CEO in late 2023, and the event was a rousing success with nearly 1,500 companies and organizations participating, more than 300 exhibits (including 69 new exhibitors) and more than 100 hours of programming. Popo spent her first year at the helm evaluating SCTE educational offerings and designing the roadmap for how to train, upskill and certify the evolving workforce. At Kyrio, the authorized certification lab for all versions of CableLabs DOCSIS, Leget has earned a reputation as an industry leader, focusing on reducing operational costs and freeing resources for innovation and other critical initiatives. Looking ahead he’ll focus on advancing interoperability in key areas such as broadband technology, passive optical networks and Open RAN systems.

Responsible for leading the company’s integrated broadband business, including the Shentel and Glo Fiber brands, McKay joined Shentel in 2004 and has more than 25 years of experience in the telecom industry. Prior to his current role, he served as SVP of engineering and operations and played a key role in the growth and success of Shentel’s former wireless business, led the expansion of the fiber-rich network supporting the company’s cable and wireline business and was responsible for delivering on Shentel’s broadband Fiber First growth strategy for Glo Fiber.

Valenti, Sanders and Anderson make catering to a global audience look easy by delivering what viewers want. Valenti oversees projects as varied as the Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine feature “The Idea of You”—the studio’s No. 1 romcom debut with nearly 50 million worldwide Prime Video viewers in its first two weeks—and Prime Video’s most-watched documentary feature to date, “I Am: Celine Dion.” On the TV side, Sanders developed series including “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and “Fallout” and renewed hits like “The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power” and “The Boys,” both of which exceeded expectations. Anderson recently took on a new role, helping launch a new ad-supported offering and developing original content opportunities between the studio and advertisers. She’s also focused on bringing more game shows to Amazon, like “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” with Colin Jost and “Buy it Now” with JB Smoove.

A runner of half marathons—she has run races in 26 states with a goal to do so in all 50—Slaughter knows what it’s like to be in for the long haul. She led NCTI’s recent brand update, introducing a new tagline, “Train Up,” and multiyear marketing campaign to expand its reach to serve new customers and better tell the company’s story to new prospects. As the demand for fiber networks continues to grow, she’s focused NCTI on helping network operators meet the critical need for a highly trained fiber-optic workforce, introducing a new Master Fiber training and certification program that empowers technology professionals to build, maintain and optimize the networks of tomorrow.

With the Cable Center’s 40th anniversary this year comes new innovative features, a road show of panels in D.C., London, Amsterdam and other cities around the world, and the launch of the Learning and Innovation Award—all feathers in the cap of Cable Pioneers Christman and Formica as they continue to champion Syndeo’s commitment to education, innovation, leadership and industry impact. Among recent milestones: the deployment of a new learning delivery method for the Intrapreneurship Academy, the 27th Annual Cable Hall of Fame Gala, the expansion of the Center’s footprint in international markets and sponsoring and presenting a new award at The Independent Show In 2024.

Kanouff’s contributions to the cable industry are legendary. A 2024 inductee to the Cable Hall of Fame, she won a Lifetime Achievement Emmy for her pioneering technical work in the TV industry—she was a key contributor to the creation of video on demand, CDN, DVD, app stores and other innovations—and is a sought-after speaker and presenter at industry events. At JC2 Ventures, Kanouff helps startups in the portfolio with technology strategy, especially on active technical roles, and was a co-founder of the TechConnect mentoring program and the Multiplier Effect, which focuses on sponsorship.

Asper is equally at home brainstorming new ideas with employees and explaining policy issues to U.S. and Canadian government agencies and lawmakers. He’s made great strides growing Anthem’s content and audience in the past year. Along with strategic hires designed to move the company into a new era, he built brand awareness and spurred fan engagement by adding over 800 hours of sports and entertainment content. TNA Wrestling increased ratings on AXS TV, improved social engagement, doubled subscriptions with the TNA+ app and drew bigger audiences at live events. Asper also has an agreement, awaiting approval, to acquire Canadian movie channel group Hollywood Suite.

The guiding force behind Fuse Media’s march to create and distribute inclusive, purpose-driven content to a culturally diverse audience of young adults, Roggero is expanding Fuse’s position as a leader in the FAST space. He struck a groundbreaking partnership with Lionsgate, Tastemade and TMB to form a new advertising solution, Culture Collective. Roggero is also bringing live sports to the portfolio via a partnership with Combate Global and he launched new Spanish-language FAST channel Somos Novelas. Fuse’s other FAST channels include Shades of Black, Backstage and OUTtv Proud.

The Cablefax 100 focuses largely on the operators and content players who shape the industry. However, their success wouldn’t be possible without some crucial help. That’s why we’ve reserved our 100th spot to recognize some of the leaders, in no particular order, who are essential in helping enterprises grow and innovate.

Click each photo to read about their accomplishments and check out their Q&As.