SBJ's 20 Most Influential In Digital Sports: Kosner, Bowman, Miller Lead
This story was written by Staci D. Kramer.
The Sports Business Journal is out with their list of the 20 most influential figures in digital sports media:
#1, John Kosner, SVP/GM, digital media, ESPN: "Content chief John Skipper plays a big role in obtaining digital rights for ESPN (NYSE: DIS). But Kosner is the main man for packaging, disseminating and monetizing that material in a meaningful fashion, and he has been instrumental in spreading ESPN's online profile successfully into niche areas such as cricket, mixed martial arts and rugby."
#2, Bob Bowman, president and CEO, MLBAM: " Bowman has maintained MLBAM's fervent economic ascendancy and cultural relevance without interruption."
#3, Perkins Miller, SVP-digital media, NBC Sports: "Miller is the lead executive for the network that saw its Web operations go from 0 to 50 in the span of a year."
#4, Brian Rolapp, SVP-digital media, NFL: "Smart, steady and calm in nearly every situation, Rolapp provides a counterbalance to many of the more high-strung executives and team owners around him."
#5, Jimmy Pitaro, VP/GM, Yahoo! (NSDQ: YHOO) Sports & Entertainment: "An active dealmaker, Pitaro followed his landmark 2007 purchase of Rivals.com with new pacts with MLBAM, the NHL, the NFL and Turner Sports, among others, covering a broad swath of content, distribution and advertising initiatives."
The rest of the top 10 in order: Jeff Price, president, SI Digital: Ted Leonsis, majority owner, Washington Capitals; Jason Kint, Lenny Daniels, SVP-sports production and new media, Turner Sports; Chris Russo, Fantasy Sports Ventures.
11-20: Andr Mika, SVP, NHL; Paul Johnson, SVP, PGA Tour; Charles Wang, majority owner, New York Islanders, chairman, NeuLion; Shannon Terry, CEO, Rovals.com; Artie Bulgrin, SVP-research and sales development, ESPN; Bryan Perez, SVP, NBA Digital; Jeff Husvar, SVP, Fox Sports Interactive; Derrick Heggans, GM, AOL (NYSE: TWX) Sports; Ed Baker,publisher, Sporting News; James Dolan, chairman, Madison Square Garden LP.
You may have noticed a lack of women here. We did. Who would you add? Substitute? Rank differently.?
Bob Bowman, Jimmy Pitaro, Jeff Price and Chris Russo are among the speakers at our EconSports conference Oct. 29 in New York.
By Staci D. Kramer