The Stern Opportunity

Issue date: 3/9/10 Section: News

Twenty Stern Langone and full-time students had the amazing opportunity to visit HBO offices in midtown last Friday, March 5. The group was greeted and escorted to the HBO viewing room on the 6th floor. Before the panelists arrived, the recruiting manager showed the group a five-minute video that highlighted the programming that HBO offers, after which the group was introduced to extremely successful panelists. The first panelist was Doris Casap, Senior Vice President of Film Programming, who is responsible for managing the Film Programming group and for film acquisition activities including major studio output and library deals and independent file acquisition for HBO, Cinemax and HBO Video. The next panelist was Jason Mulderig, Director of Affiliate Marketing in charge of strategic panning and implementation of marketing and advertising efforts around the Cinemax brand and its core products. Portia Archer, Vice President of International On-Demand, was also on the panel. As the Vice President of International On-Demand, Archer manages the launch, administration, and general management of HBO's Video On Demand channels and business outside of the US. Lastly, panelist Meredith Gertler, Vice President of Product Management, is responsible for North American P & L for HBO's Home Entertainment business (DVD and digital transactions). Meredith earned an MBA from New York University. The panelists explained that in order to penetrate the media industry, demonstrating passion and commitment for is extremely important. In many cases, individuals may have to swallow their pride to work for a media organization for free or for low wages to gain exposure and form relationships within the organization before securing a full-time position. Stern Alum Meredith Gertler stressed taking night classes and networking with Langone students who may be able to make valuable introductions. The panelists then emphasized that an MBA is not required or particularly useful for the creative side of the media industry. Producers, directors, and writers traditionally start as assistants and work their way up to senior roles. However, on the administrative side of the media industry, an MBA is extremely useful and in most cases a mandatory qualification. Although in the last fifteen years HBO has diversified its viewers with shows such as "Sex in the City," "True Blood," and "The Sopranos," market research indicates that most viewers subscribe to HBO for its movie programming not the scripted shows. Therefore, maintaining relationships with film studios and buying the rights to air blockbuster hits is still very important to HBO's revenue. HBO plans to expand by penetrating more international markets and by utilizing online viewing. At this time, HBO does not plan to invest in mobile HBO applications but continues to build on HBO and Cinemax On-Demand programming.

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