1 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: Welcome to Strictly Business, Variety's weekly podcast featuring conversations with 2 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: industry leaders about the business of media and entertainment. I'm 3 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:20,479 Speaker 1: Cynthia Lyttleton, co editor in chief of Variety Today. My 4 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: guest is Kristin Dolan, who just passed her one year 5 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: anniversary as CEO of AMC Networks. It's been a roller 6 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: coaster ride for her from day one, as she plugged 7 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 1: back into the world of cable programming at a fraught 8 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 1: moment for the sector. But it's a world she knows well, 9 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: having started her career as a marketing executive for Cablevision, 10 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: AMC's former parent company. She is a member by marriage 11 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: of the Dolan family that controls AMC Networks. Kristin Dolan 12 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: rose through the ranks at Cablevision for sixteen years. She 13 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 1: was a key player in orchestrating its record setting sale 14 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 1: to Alties in twenty fifteen. After that, she launched her 15 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 1: own data analytics and marketing firm six SO five. But 16 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: her new gig is also a homecoming after more than 17 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: three decades. The earliest days of her career were spent 18 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:15,119 Speaker 1: in affiliate marketing for AMC back when it was in 19 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 1: fact a channel primarily devoted to American movie classics. AMC's 20 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:24,759 Speaker 1: recent fourth quarter earnings report lays out the company's challenges. 21 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: Linear cable is shrinking and AD sales across the industry 22 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 1: have been in a slump for more than a year, 23 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 1: but Dolan sounded nothing but confident on February sixth, as 24 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 1: we spoke at the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, just 25 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 1: before AMC Networks did its Television Critics Association presentation. Dolan 26 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: has faith in the company's ability to quote be the 27 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: French Fries to anyone's happy meal end quote. That means 28 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: she knows that AMC's streaming bouquet of channels will have 29 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 1: to be bund with bigger engines over the long term. 30 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: Our conversation also touches on the future of IFC Films 31 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: and her interest in Zuomo, the new app bundling streaming 32 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 1: box option that cable giants Comcast and Charter are pushing. 33 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: So don't touch that dial. We'll be back with AMC 34 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: Network CEO Kristin Dolan after the break, And we're back 35 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 1: with Kristin Dolan, CEO of AMC Networks. Kristin Dolan, CEO 36 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 1: of AMC Networks. Thank you so much for making time 37 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: for me today. 38 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me appreciate anything to 39 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 2: do with Variety. 40 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,399 Speaker 1: Oh, thank you. Well, you had me at you had 41 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: me at Variety. Since it's been just about one year 42 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: since you took the reins of AMC Networks, I would 43 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: love to get your impressions. Having you work for many 44 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 1: years at Cablevision, one of the largest and most innovative 45 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,959 Speaker 1: cable system operators. After that you launched your own marketing 46 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 1: and data analytics firm six h five, I would love 47 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 1: those experiences that were connected, but a little bit outside 48 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: of the Hollywood and the programming business that AMC is 49 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 1: squarely and what coming into taking the reins at AMC Networks, 50 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 1: what were your perceptions of the programming business, how cable 51 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 1: TV and the content business makes money versus the kind 52 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 1: of businesses that you had previously worked in. What are 53 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: the distinctions there? 54 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 2: Great question, They've always been inextricably entwined. So even when 55 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 2: I was at Cablevision, when I ended my career there 56 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 2: when we sold the company, I was in the chief 57 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 2: operating officer role, so I had oversight over the programming 58 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 2: department as well. As ads sales, you know, the call centers, 59 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 2: the guys in the trucks, certain aspects of inside and 60 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 2: outside plant, and you know the whole gamut. And so 61 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 2: I actively participated in our negotiations with programmers for a 62 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 2: number of years. And then to your point, I worked 63 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:18,159 Speaker 2: at AMC Networks the first eight years of my career, 64 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 2: so I understood the programming side. But the thing I 65 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 2: say a lot is that I'm not a content person. 66 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 2: So I know what I like, but I'm much more 67 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 2: I spend a lot more of my time in what 68 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 2: we lovingly call the engine room, so working on the infrastructure. 69 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 2: And really, at this point in time, we focus a 70 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 2: lot on the transition from what used to be a 71 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 2: B to B business in programming, where you'd sell to 72 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:46,599 Speaker 2: distributors and they were responsible for the relationship with the. 73 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: Customers basically wholesale. 74 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 2: Model exactly, and now it's much more of a B 75 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 2: two C, even if like with AMC Networks, our goal 76 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,039 Speaker 2: is to get our content in as many platforms with 77 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 2: as many partners as possible. I'm a big fan of 78 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 2: the wholesale model for a bunch of reasons which we 79 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 2: can get into later, but really focusing on what the 80 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 2: end customer is interested in, whether it is an up 81 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 2: and coming virtual MVPD, whether it's a traditional distributor like 82 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 2: a charter or a Comcast who's reevaluating their approach to 83 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 2: the marketplace. As a programmer, we have to be aware 84 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 2: and available to engage in a much wider variety of 85 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 2: ways than we would have in a traditional cable system 86 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:35,360 Speaker 2: or satellite system fifteen years ago. So coming in, it's 87 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 2: a long winded answer to your question, but I feel 88 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 2: like the parts of my career that you pointed out 89 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 2: are ones that really got me, I think, ready to 90 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 2: take this. It was the right time for this job 91 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:52,839 Speaker 2: at this point in our industry. So it's been a 92 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:54,040 Speaker 2: fun year, a busy year. 93 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: Well, there's a lot going on in the business, and 94 00:05:58,000 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: then for six months of last year there was a 95 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: whole lot not going on in production. May ask you 96 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: kind of the fundamental dilemma right now for AMC Networks, 97 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: for Paramount Global, for a lot of companies invested in 98 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: the world of traditional pay what was traditionally known as 99 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,559 Speaker 1: pay and basic cable. You know that transition right now 100 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: as audiences are going more and more to streaming platforms. 101 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 1: The you know the economics of that transition or something 102 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 1: we write about in variety. Literally every day, we most 103 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 1: most podcast episodes of this podcast are dedicated to that. 104 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 1: How are you balancing those demand curves? Linear is obviously 105 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 1: still a profitable business, but it is a shrinking business 106 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 1: just given the macro audience trends, and streaming is very, 107 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 1: very challenging and very you know, a very voracious eater 108 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: of capital. Yes, how are you balancing those demands in 109 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: a company of the size of AMC Networks, which by 110 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 1: design has always been a little more boutique than some 111 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 1: of your larger rivals. 112 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 2: That's the question of the day. So we're actually really 113 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 2: confident about our approach because, in a weird way, smaller 114 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 2: is better for us. We're not vertically integrated, so we're 115 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 2: not owned by a broadcaster, and we're not owned by 116 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 2: a distribution company, so we can really partner with anybody 117 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 2: on bundles and packages for our streaming services. But we've 118 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 2: never decoupled linear from streaming in any of our relationships. 119 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 2: Right so at this point, the bulk of our partners 120 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 2: in the US have accessible to AMC Plus as well 121 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 2: as our linear services, same as in Canada. And the 122 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:35,559 Speaker 2: services that we provide in streaming are they're beyond niches. 123 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 2: I don't want to say that they're niche, but they 124 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 2: provide specific content for very voracious audiences. Right. So we 125 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 2: have Shutter for horror, we have Acorn for British dramas, 126 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 2: we have All Black for black audiences. I could go 127 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 2: through the whole list, but each of them is appropriately priced, 128 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 2: so not super expensive. It provides a very good value 129 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 2: for what it is. Same with our line services, like 130 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 2: the cost for the AMC suite of linear channels is 131 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 2: significantly lower based on the performance that it does in ratings, 132 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 2: right than a lot of the other packages. So we've 133 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 2: kept our traditional services and our new services together. And 134 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 2: what I've been working on with the team over the 135 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 2: past year is really looking at how we can better 136 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 2: cross promote between linear and streaming and really you know, 137 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 2: kind of breaking down what had been you know, silos 138 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 2: that were formed not intentionally, but each linear network had 139 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 2: its own team, even in our building, its own floor. 140 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 2: Not similar to you know the old viacom where it 141 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 2: was like the Nickelodeon floor and the MTV floor and whatever. 142 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,680 Speaker 2: So you create these brand identities and teams that support them. 143 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 2: But over time we really realized it's the value of 144 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 2: the full portfolio, right, and we can actually use our 145 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 2: content in a variety of ways because the audiences don't 146 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 2: necessarily cross over that much. So a showlike Happy Valley, 147 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 2: which is an incredible crime drama from the BBC that 148 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 2: can work really well on Acorn, it can also work 149 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 2: well on BBC America. It had its time on AMC Plus, 150 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 2: and the audiences don't necessarily overlap, so you're not cannibalizing 151 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 2: yourself by putting really good content in different places and 152 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 2: packaging it differently. So we've been doing a lot of 153 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 2: that and hopefully to the benefit of our distribution partners, 154 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 2: our streaming customers, and to the business overall. One of 155 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 2: the things that is we've talked about a lot is 156 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 2: just what is a premiere in this day and age, right, 157 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 2: So it's sort of the suits effect or the friends 158 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 2: effect during the pandemic. It's like it's a premiere for 159 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 2: the first time. When you see it, you're the first time. 160 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 2: It's no longer Thursday nights at nine o'clock, and so 161 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:44,079 Speaker 2: as you call them through the library and as a 162 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 2: as a parent of teenagers, and also thirty somethings like 163 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 2: really seeing multi generational viewing, like what can you introduce 164 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 2: your kids to? What do they introduce you to? A 165 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 2: lot of co viewing, and just really saying great quality 166 00:09:56,520 --> 00:10:00,160 Speaker 2: content is great quality content, and generally, other than maybe 167 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 2: the cell phone's really big, you wouldn't necessarily know it's 168 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 2: the show's ten or fifteen years old, right, If it 169 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:09,320 Speaker 2: withstands time because it's good, it will tend to have 170 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:11,560 Speaker 2: a life that goes on, you know, for a long time, 171 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 2: which is really an asset value. People are consuming more 172 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 2: video than ever. I think it's just the platform that's changing, 173 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:20,839 Speaker 2: and so linear is still a very very big piece 174 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 2: of what we do, albeit one that is slowly declining. 175 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 2: But the thing that I'm really optimistic about, again maybe 176 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:31,200 Speaker 2: from being a cable operator for so long, is products 177 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 2: like Zumo what Comcast and Charter are doing to sort 178 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 2: of I don't want to say obfuscape, but to eliminate 179 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 2: people having to determine am I watching it live? Am 180 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:42,840 Speaker 2: I watching it on linear? Or am I watching it 181 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 2: on demand? Am I watching it? You know streaming? It's 182 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 2: all just available through a good interface. You can upgrade, 183 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 2: you can downgrade, you have a person that will answer 184 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:55,320 Speaker 2: the phone if you have a problem. You have a 185 00:10:55,360 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 2: technician you can call if something's not working right. And 186 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 2: I feel like the opportunity for the distributors to create 187 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 2: an environment that takes the angst and the stress and 188 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 2: the complexity out for the average consumer will be really, 189 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 2: really important in the coming years because people still are 190 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 2: watching as much as ever, They're just watching it in 191 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 2: different places, right, and. 192 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: Those places and times are different than they used to 193 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 1: be and harder to capture. Do you think I mean, 194 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 1: is it too simple to say that the emergence of 195 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 1: things like zoomo and the growth of the fast incredible, 196 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 1: the very fast growth of all the fast channels. Is 197 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 1: it too simple to say that this is a new 198 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: form of bundling. 199 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:42,079 Speaker 2: It's absolutely everything else is new again. It really is. 200 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 2: And I think in the past, I think where we 201 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 2: may have fallen short as a cable industry was really 202 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 2: in that user interface and the user experience, because you know, 203 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 2: you remember back again, We're I've been around for a 204 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 2: long time. But the idea, like when direct TV started 205 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 2: bucketing things, you know, the one who channels were this, 206 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 2: the two hundred channels were international, the three hundred channels 207 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 2: were sports or whatever it was. We made it easy 208 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:08,440 Speaker 2: for people to find what they needed, and that's where 209 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 2: the value perception improved. And so with Zuomo or with 210 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 2: YouTube TV, or with Filo or any of these products. 211 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 2: Roku does a really good job with their fast channels. 212 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 2: I think making it easy for people to find what 213 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 2: they want is going to allow the value perception to 214 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 2: be strong enough that that hopefully there'll be less of 215 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:31,679 Speaker 2: the sort of exhaustive churn and spinning and people you know, 216 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:34,679 Speaker 2: signing up, signing down. So if it's if it's reasonably 217 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 2: priced and a good experience, just like when the cable 218 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:41,320 Speaker 2: bundles came into play, it's like because everybody's doing the 219 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 2: math now and saying, Okay, this streaming service, this streaming service, 220 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 2: this streaming service. Now I am paying one hundred and 221 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 2: eighty dollars a month for what I probably used to 222 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,440 Speaker 2: get in my cable bundle five years ago. And so 223 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 2: I think the ship will write itself. It's just a 224 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 2: matter of the technology and the presentation layer catching up 225 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 2: to where it makes a consumer's life easier. 226 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: You have been doing some experimenting with AMC plus in 227 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: terms of bundling, making it available. I know you've said that, 228 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: you know, just ubiquity and making it available to where 229 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 1: fans are is important to you. What you did a 230 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 1: recent kind of an experiment with HBO Max in bundling 231 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:23,120 Speaker 1: the and making a version of the AMC Plus feed 232 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:27,079 Speaker 1: available to subscribers for a short amount of time. How 233 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 1: did that come up and what did you learn from it? 234 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 2: So that came up just you know, casual conversation and 235 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 2: an opportunity with David Aslov and team to just try 236 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 2: something out. So we took five series older version not 237 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:45,960 Speaker 2: older versions, but not current seasons of some of our products. 238 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 2: So we put five series on Max for two months 239 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 2: and to see just what it would do both for 240 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 2: viewership and engagement for the Max customers, but also for 241 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 2: driving incremental viewership to AMC Plus and incremental signups frames 242 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,559 Speaker 2: C Plus. So you know, we had over the course 243 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 2: of the two months, you know, anywhere from five to 244 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 2: seven of the top ten shows in viewership on Max 245 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 2: during the duration. And then we did see that it 246 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:13,200 Speaker 2: benefited us on AMC Plus through new sign ups and 247 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 2: also deeper engagement on the newer series. So, you know, 248 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 2: an interesting partnership we loved working with them. We you know, 249 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 2: we're going to continue to pursue partnerships with others, but 250 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 2: to really see did somebody watch a prior season on 251 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 2: Max and we you know, we were able to in 252 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 2: a privacy compliant way share the data and then say, okay, 253 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 2: did that person then come back to AMC Plus for 254 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 2: season two of Dark Winds or you know, season three 255 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 2: of something Else. And the other kind of nugget that 256 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 2: was fascinating is a Discovery of Witches, which is an 257 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 2: older show, it's five or six years old, got massive. 258 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 2: It kind of had the suits effect. Everybody watched a 259 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 2: Discovery which is on Max on the AMC Plus pop up. 260 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 2: So you find these little nuggets and you know they're 261 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 2: fortuitous at times. 262 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 1: Might that partnership, I mean, might that partnership continue in 263 00:14:59,000 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 1: some form? I hope. 264 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 2: So, so we'll continue to talk to them, and then 265 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 2: we're talking to a lot of others. But you know, 266 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 2: as we were talking during the course of this, like 267 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:08,720 Speaker 2: the relationships that exist in the industry and people being 268 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:12,720 Speaker 2: creative and enthusiastic about testing and learning is really beneficial. 269 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 2: I think to everybody. 270 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 1: Is there an appreciable difference in terms of the margins 271 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: for AMC networks, if you are distributed traditional a Charter, 272 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 1: a Comcast, a Cox, a Altese versus being distributed by 273 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: a YouTube, TV or AMC plus being added into the 274 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 1: number of the bundles that you now come in, is 275 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: there one area where it's sort of most lucrative for 276 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 1: AMC networks? Are they all about equal at this point? 277 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 2: We don't look at the partnerships by margin because it's 278 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 2: really hard to do that. So it's much more about 279 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 2: we look at a piece of content, right, And this 280 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:54,200 Speaker 2: is one of the things that was really interesting for 281 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 2: me to learn when I came into AMC Networks a 282 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 2: year ago, is like how to amortize content, right, because 283 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:03,240 Speaker 2: because when you go from like green light to production 284 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:07,680 Speaker 2: to airing to second window to multi years, it's like 285 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 2: it's so like it takes two years to actually start 286 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 2: to anortize something from when you first start thinking about it, 287 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 2: and that two years can be two plus years, right, 288 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 2: So we don't really look at margins by distributors. We 289 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 2: look at, Okay, how effective is the content that we 290 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 2: have and where can we utilize it and what does 291 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 2: it drive? 292 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 1: Right? 293 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 2: So I just again for me like I focus a 294 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 2: lot on the business side, and I leave the content 295 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 2: and creative work to other folks. But I think the 296 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 2: programming community is now starting to create some of the models, 297 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 2: the financial models, and the analysis and the predictive analytics 298 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 2: around what things will do and how they will be 299 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 2: monetized and what are the right choices and so thinking 300 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 2: about again like predictive Churren analytics and things like that. 301 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 2: If a show can have multiple windows, multiple legs can 302 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 2: be used on a variety of services, that's a big deal. 303 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:08,880 Speaker 2: So to your point, like something like Mayfair Witches could 304 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:12,439 Speaker 2: work really well on linear AMC, it could work on 305 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 2: Acorn because it's got a little bit of you know, 306 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:20,040 Speaker 2: the occult. So we have between sanctuary and discovery, which 307 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:23,439 Speaker 2: is like we kind of have which is gay vampires 308 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 2: and zombies are kind of. 309 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:27,919 Speaker 1: Like this something whatever natural. 310 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:30,440 Speaker 2: But you can take something that and you can sort 311 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 2: of think about how can I flow this through in 312 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,479 Speaker 2: ways that it provides as much value as possible. So 313 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 2: I think we look at things more about what we're 314 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 2: creating and how we can use it to drive the 315 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:43,679 Speaker 2: business forward, as opposed to specific margin analysis against a 316 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 2: platform or a distributor. 317 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:49,359 Speaker 1: To your point about shows more so than do you 318 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 1: think in that world is it Is it still important 319 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:55,880 Speaker 1: for AMC, especially the mothership AMC channel, Is it still 320 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: important for it to have that that profile, the reputation 321 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 1: of home of edgy dramas, things you won't see anywhere else, 322 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 1: talent that you'll take a real swing on with very 323 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 1: you know, offbeat efforts to you know, offbeat storytelling. 324 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:13,160 Speaker 2: Yes, for sure. I mean, we're one of the few 325 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 2: networks that still does scripted dramas right, high quality scripted dramas. 326 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 2: We run them on linear if they launch on linear, 327 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 2: and they're also on streaming, and we've really kind of 328 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:26,160 Speaker 2: preserved that commitment. We've never cherry picked out from our 329 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 2: linear channels to put stuff, you know first on streaming. 330 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:31,960 Speaker 2: And so for us, it's like we want to meet 331 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:35,080 Speaker 2: customers where they are with content that they appreciate. And 332 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:37,439 Speaker 2: then the legacy to your point of what we've created 333 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:39,679 Speaker 2: in the past, the franchises that we've been able to 334 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:42,880 Speaker 2: create and the franchises that we continue to develop, whether 335 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:47,119 Speaker 2: it's a race or Orphan Black or we have this 336 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 2: little area after our press releases today, but we're we 337 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:52,400 Speaker 2: have a couple of announcements like we're doing a new 338 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 2: series around the Terror, so it'll be the third time 339 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 2: that we've done you know, sort of pror based scripted 340 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 2: series that we're excited about, so you know, sort of 341 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 2: advancing that and then the talent that we've been so 342 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:06,920 Speaker 2: lucky to work with. So today we're talking about on 343 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 2: one of the panels, the new show was gian Carlo 344 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:13,280 Speaker 2: Esposito called Parish, which is not in the Breaking Bed 345 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:18,399 Speaker 2: better call Saul family, but him as a character is 346 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:21,680 Speaker 2: so you know, sort of inextricably connected to the types 347 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 2: of dramas that we do. And this new show Parish 348 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 2: is amazing, but it's action packed. You know, he's a driver, 349 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 2: he's a former driver for the Mob, and it's just 350 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 2: you know, when we watch the stuff, when we watch 351 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:34,800 Speaker 2: the screen or copies and we see like it feels 352 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 2: like AMC, you know what you're producing, and the same 353 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 2: with we. You know, we have some other exciting announcements 354 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 2: today with WE TV and are unscripted, and then with 355 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 2: All Black in our scripted black content. And then you know, 356 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 2: as I said earlier, like each of the brands has 357 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 2: their sweet spot of what they're known for, and so 358 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 2: we want to continue to develop that so that even 359 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 2: if a show is in a second window or a 360 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 2: third window and it's on Netflix, you would still know 361 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:01,200 Speaker 2: that it's an AMC show just based on the type 362 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:04,919 Speaker 2: of content that it is. So it's really important to 363 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:05,479 Speaker 2: preserve that. 364 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:10,359 Speaker 1: I want to ask you about learnings from the AMC 365 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:12,440 Speaker 1: Plus now that it's been around for a couple of years. 366 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:15,119 Speaker 1: But before that, I want to ask you about has 367 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:18,879 Speaker 1: I mean you've talked any of the major conglomerates. Twenty 368 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 1: twenty three was a rough year in advertising. It was, 369 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:25,840 Speaker 1: you know, just the market was down. Any any sense 370 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:28,360 Speaker 1: of do you see any green shoots in twenty twenty four? 371 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 2: Do you see that? 372 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: Is that sort of kind of depression in market or spending? 373 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 1: Do you think is that going to hang in for 374 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:37,399 Speaker 1: the first quarter, second quarter? Please say no, Please say no. 375 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 2: Well, you know, we love a political year. Everybody does, 376 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:45,880 Speaker 2: so that's important. You know, our advantage here again is technology, 377 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:48,160 Speaker 2: and that's one of the other things that I loved 378 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 2: about coming back to AMC Networks is our head of 379 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:54,120 Speaker 2: advertising and our chief commercial officer both came from digital 380 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 2: and so they've been really proactive about things like we 381 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 2: have national addressable. You know, we're able to have that technology. 382 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 2: We have programmatics, so we actually sell our advertising in 383 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:08,360 Speaker 2: the same way that digital providers sell, So like we 384 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 2: monetize and optimize our inventory in ways that I think 385 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:13,400 Speaker 2: really punch above. 386 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:16,400 Speaker 1: Our weight, even on linear. On linear, we. 387 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 2: Do programmatic linear. And then with the national addressable, you know, 388 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 2: we're selling segments and you can insert nationally against a 389 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:26,639 Speaker 2: specific segment. And then obviously AMC Plus we launched our 390 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:29,479 Speaker 2: ad supported version of that in October, so that's starting 391 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:32,199 Speaker 2: to roll out. So we're super creative in how we 392 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 2: use the inventory and then how we deliver to our partners. 393 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 2: So I think we do actually have opportunities to continue 394 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 2: advance on CPMs and different audiences and then provide really 395 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:49,720 Speaker 2: sophisticated analytics and reporting back to the advertisers to prove 396 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:51,639 Speaker 2: the value of what we've done for them so that 397 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 2: we maintain a good relationship. We're not just selling spots 398 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 2: and dots. And you know, it's it's near and dear 399 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 2: to my heart after the six oh five days, so 400 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 2: I'm super out of what the team is able to 401 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 2: do and will continue to do with our new head 402 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 2: of Global Technology in place. Stephanie Mitchgo. So she was 403 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 2: CTO at Cayden. She was SVP of software development at Cablevision, 404 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 2: so she did our cloud based DVR back in the day, 405 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 2: and then. 406 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:19,880 Speaker 1: She the lawsuit promo. 407 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:22,240 Speaker 2: Spent many years. 408 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:25,000 Speaker 1: But that is an example of how Cable Vision was 409 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:26,680 Speaker 1: always you know, pushing the. 410 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 2: Edge for sure, Yeah, exactly. So all of that experience 411 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 2: in cloud based, you know, now the world is basically 412 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 2: everything stored in cloud and you're ahead of the girl, 413 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 2: right right. And then she went on for three years 414 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 2: at Charter as their CTO. So she understands interactive advertising, 415 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:44,159 Speaker 2: she understands streaming and all of that architecture, and then 416 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:49,119 Speaker 2: she understands traditional linear distribution. So having her coupled with 417 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 2: this really brilliant advanced advertising team, we're like, okay, what's next, 418 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:54,399 Speaker 2: what can we do next? How can we build it? 419 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:57,680 Speaker 2: How do we sell it? And So I think your 420 00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 2: point about the industry and the challenge is with advertising, 421 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:03,920 Speaker 2: I'm hoping the pendulum swings back, But I also think 422 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 2: for us, we're extremely well positioned to continue to monetize 423 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,199 Speaker 2: the emails that we have in ways that are not 424 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 2: only good for the partners but also from a customer 425 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:16,880 Speaker 2: experience perspective. I love targeted advertising because I don't want 426 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 2: to see ads that are completely irrelevant to me. So 427 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,399 Speaker 2: it's not just about incremental CPMs. It's about if you're 428 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:27,199 Speaker 2: putting content out on linear or on streaming, if people 429 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 2: like I feel like Americans are very comfortable with that 430 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 2: trade off, which is like, if I get this show 431 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 2: for free, the trade off is I will watch some commercials, 432 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 2: but if they're actually relevant and interesting, it's so much 433 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:40,800 Speaker 2: of a better outcome than you know, I put up 434 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 2: with these these ads, and I'm purposely going to leave 435 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:45,639 Speaker 2: the room because I know they're completely irrelevant for me. 436 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 2: So I'm going to run and make my popcorn and 437 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 2: went back in. 438 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:53,639 Speaker 1: Right, My days of buying papers are long, gotcha? Do 439 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:55,679 Speaker 1: you think is there any I mean, there's certainly no 440 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 1: shortage of programming outlets, but there is certainly among the 441 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,120 Speaker 1: number of especially ad supported channels that are making high 442 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 1: end scripted content. I mean, that number has really shrunk 443 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:08,480 Speaker 1: just in the last twelve to eighteen months. Are you 444 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:11,200 Speaker 1: seeing any benefit from that? Being that you are still 445 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:15,359 Speaker 1: investing big in these very ambitious and very like you know, 446 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:21,120 Speaker 1: the high concept dramas that have traditionally defined AMC's original strategy. 447 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:25,000 Speaker 2: I see the benefit for us is preserving the brand equity, right. 448 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:27,679 Speaker 2: We have these revered brands that have been around forever, 449 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 2: so you know, not just AMC and WeTV, but Independent 450 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 2: Film Channel and Sundance BBC America. Like protecting and preserving 451 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 2: those brands through the creation of high value content, I 452 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 2: think is really important to us as a company. So 453 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:44,720 Speaker 2: we'll continue to do that. It's hard to say whether 454 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:48,680 Speaker 2: you know it's the shows are great, they get good viewership. 455 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:51,520 Speaker 2: The fandoms, you know again, are incredible, which is why 456 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:53,560 Speaker 2: it's so fun to be here at TCA and see 457 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 2: a crowd waiting outside to see the talent. 458 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:01,920 Speaker 1: We've got to pause here for the sweet sounds of monetization. 459 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 1: We'll be right back with more from AMC Networks CEO 460 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:16,520 Speaker 1: Kristin Dolan. And we're back with more from the big 461 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:22,240 Speaker 1: boss of AMC Networks, Kristin Dolan. AMC Plus is going 462 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 1: into its fifth year. Just sort of big picture stepping back, 463 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:30,440 Speaker 1: Are there are there big learnings for the broad business 464 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:33,399 Speaker 1: in terms of when when you can see literally watch 465 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 1: people going to the show, how long they spend, how 466 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,679 Speaker 1: many how many episodes they sample after that, all of 467 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 1: the connectivity that digital that digital brings you. That is 468 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:48,919 Speaker 1: that like an amazing font of information and inspiration or 469 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:51,080 Speaker 1: do you sometimes drown in data? 470 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:55,200 Speaker 2: Or I wish sadly this is like actually a very 471 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 2: loaded but very good question because we are wholesaling right 472 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 2: and a lot of cases from our direct to consumer customers, 473 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:04,879 Speaker 2: we get all the information, you know, again in a 474 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:07,879 Speaker 2: privacy compliant way, but we can see who's watching what 475 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 2: for how long, you know, what their engagement is, and 476 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:13,920 Speaker 2: all of that. But it's challenging, I think for us 477 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,919 Speaker 2: and for all distributors of streaming content when you're going 478 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:21,119 Speaker 2: through a partner, because Amazon might give you the data 479 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 2: this way, people might give it to you this way, 480 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:24,880 Speaker 2: rok who might give it to you that way? Somebody 481 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:26,639 Speaker 2: else might not give it to you at all. So 482 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:29,800 Speaker 2: it's like, how do we construct arrangements so that we 483 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:32,959 Speaker 2: can aggregate all of that data and then couple it 484 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 2: with the traditional linear data and really get to again 485 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:39,399 Speaker 2: what we did amazingly well with triple pay products on 486 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:42,440 Speaker 2: the distributor side, right to say, okay, TV, phone Internet, 487 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:45,280 Speaker 2: they use the internet this much, They're using long distance calling, 488 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 2: they're using our free Wi Fi, they order pay per view. 489 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:51,000 Speaker 2: Like you start to create a CRM that really allows 490 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 2: you to know and support your customer in ways that 491 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:56,920 Speaker 2: you know, retention is much less expensive in the long 492 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:01,200 Speaker 2: run than acquisition. So as we think about our business now, 493 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:03,919 Speaker 2: it's like, Okay, how can we get the data that 494 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:06,560 Speaker 2: you're talking about and organize it in a way that 495 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:10,560 Speaker 2: allows us to preserve the relationships that we have to 496 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:12,960 Speaker 2: serve up the right stuff in front of people to 497 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:17,680 Speaker 2: give them, you know, through social media, through direct marketing, 498 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 2: through earned media, a really good understanding of what we 499 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 2: do and why they should care and keep them in 500 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:27,560 Speaker 2: the fold. And we're still I think, like most programmers 501 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 2: were still cobbling together from a variety of partners a 502 00:27:32,119 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 2: wealth of data. But I wouldn't say it's organized in 503 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:37,439 Speaker 2: this lovely little database where we can just go in 504 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:39,080 Speaker 2: and be like, tell me who wants let. 505 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:42,960 Speaker 1: Me get some inspiration today. Yet, I know this might 506 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:45,159 Speaker 1: be hard to answer, but do you have do you 507 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:51,199 Speaker 1: have a working timeline for for do you see that 508 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 1: the that the business is inevitably shifting to streaming or 509 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:57,359 Speaker 1: do you think that linear may have a longer timeline 510 00:27:57,800 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 1: than we think. I've heard, you know, people say it's 511 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:02,440 Speaker 1: five years, it's ten years, and I've heard others say, no, 512 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:05,760 Speaker 1: it's going to be longer and might plateau. In the US, 513 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:09,640 Speaker 1: somewhere around forty fifty million homes that love their sports 514 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:12,200 Speaker 1: and love their just want everything that the old fashioned 515 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:14,200 Speaker 1: bundle delivers. 516 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:20,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a prognosticator quest. I mean, fifty is my number. 517 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:24,359 Speaker 2: I'd be thrilled if it's settled at fifty. I think 518 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:28,800 Speaker 2: that again, it's it's sort of up to the distributors 519 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:31,399 Speaker 2: to really win this. And that's why again we're so 520 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:34,920 Speaker 2: you know, we're big fans of Dish Direct and then 521 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:37,320 Speaker 2: what Comcast and Charter are doing, because I think they 522 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 2: can create an environment where people don't necessarily have to 523 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:44,280 Speaker 2: change their habits. Right, kids are different. My kids watch 524 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:46,640 Speaker 2: everything on a tiny little screen. It drives me crazy. 525 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:51,240 Speaker 2: But you know, I also think we media people that 526 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:53,840 Speaker 2: live in New York, in LA and sort of we 527 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:56,080 Speaker 2: can spend one hundred and eight, you know, and maybe 528 00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:58,480 Speaker 2: some of us are allowed to expense it. Right, you 529 00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 2: can spend tons and tons of money to have everything, 530 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:03,800 Speaker 2: But you know, there's still vast portions of the US 531 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 2: that aren't necessarily passed by broadband in a way that 532 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 2: their primary mode of consumption is streaming. And so, you know, 533 00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:15,280 Speaker 2: I think there's still room to kind of reconnect everything 534 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 2: together where we can get to a place where linear 535 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:21,920 Speaker 2: levels out because people just habitually watch that way. And 536 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 2: even with fast channels, right, it's the same thing. It's 537 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:27,320 Speaker 2: a grid with a whole bunch of channels, like thousands 538 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:32,520 Speaker 2: of channels. So it's almost like what you're doing hasn't changed. 539 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 2: It's just how you're receiving it, whether you're saving it 540 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 2: through satellite, through terrestrial or through IP. It's just how 541 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:41,680 Speaker 2: do we organize it in a way that allows people 542 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 2: to get what they want. And so if linear leveled 543 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:48,680 Speaker 2: around fifty million for us, if we continue to create 544 00:29:49,240 --> 00:29:53,520 Speaker 2: reasonably priced, attractive streaming, you know, products that we can 545 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:55,880 Speaker 2: then bundle, because we always say we'll be the French 546 00:29:55,880 --> 00:30:00,800 Speaker 2: fries for anybody's happy meal. So you know, testing things down, yeah, 547 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:03,440 Speaker 2: because we're we're not huge, and we're not twenty bucks 548 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:06,040 Speaker 2: a month. You know, we range you know below nine 549 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:08,160 Speaker 2: ninety nine or eight ninety nine a month, and then 550 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:11,440 Speaker 2: as we have ad supported versions, things are less expensive. 551 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:14,440 Speaker 2: So we're trying to avoid like the sticker shock at 552 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:17,240 Speaker 2: the end of the month for people, and we think 553 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:19,240 Speaker 2: the value is there for what we do, So it's 554 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 2: a matter of focusing more and retention, telling our story, 555 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 2: like we said, targeting people and saying, you know, you 556 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:28,200 Speaker 2: loved this, you should try this, and really, you know, 557 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:30,960 Speaker 2: having a great product on the street allows that to 558 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:33,239 Speaker 2: be so much easier. So it's just a matter of 559 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:35,320 Speaker 2: serving up people what they want in a way that 560 00:30:35,560 --> 00:30:38,200 Speaker 2: helps them discover and appreciate what they have and then 561 00:30:38,440 --> 00:30:42,680 Speaker 2: reasonably price for good stuff. Ideally that should should work. 562 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 1: We've been talking a lot about streaming. I'd love to 563 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:48,040 Speaker 1: ask you about IFC Films kind of the future of 564 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:52,000 Speaker 1: that division. I know it's been a real source of 565 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:55,680 Speaker 1: you know, really distinctive movies over the year, Oscar contenders, 566 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:59,120 Speaker 1: But in this environment, especially with exhibition kind of the 567 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:03,840 Speaker 1: classic exhibition business being really challenged, is I see still 568 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:06,800 Speaker 1: a priority for you, Yes, films for certain are a priority. 569 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 2: We're also partners with Bob Johnson on R LG Films, 570 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:13,160 Speaker 2: So between the two studios, we do, you know, curate 571 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:17,840 Speaker 2: a wide variety of films that we use domestically internationally 572 00:31:19,040 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 2: and so yeah, it's going to continue to be a 573 00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:24,920 Speaker 2: priority because films are really what people watch interestingly. Like 574 00:31:24,960 --> 00:31:28,120 Speaker 2: the tent pole series are great and they you know, 575 00:31:28,160 --> 00:31:30,920 Speaker 2: but you do a handful of those a year, maybe 576 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:33,360 Speaker 2: if you double digits of series. But what the bread 577 00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:36,640 Speaker 2: and butter of the of the business is really the films. 578 00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:39,760 Speaker 1: Is theatrical exhibition. Is that still something that you're investing in. 579 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:42,120 Speaker 2: We still have the if C Center, which you know 580 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 2: is a landmark. You know, you lived in New York. 581 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:47,880 Speaker 2: It's it's still a cultural kind of tiny but cultural 582 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 2: mecca in New York. So when we when we acquire films, 583 00:31:50,600 --> 00:31:53,360 Speaker 2: generally we will do a release and if it does well, 584 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:55,720 Speaker 2: then we might expand to you know, to a wider 585 00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:58,920 Speaker 2: distribution for films like we've had, you know, sort of 586 00:31:59,040 --> 00:32:02,000 Speaker 2: unanticipated successes like last year we had Skin a Marink, 587 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:04,400 Speaker 2: which was a horror film that we had licensed very 588 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:07,440 Speaker 2: inexpensively and it did you know, over a million dollars 589 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:09,400 Speaker 2: in theaters, and it was one of these sort of 590 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:13,600 Speaker 2: you know, unanticipated successes. Right, So when those things happen, 591 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:16,800 Speaker 2: we capitalize on them. But generally, as you know, like 592 00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:21,040 Speaker 2: IFC Films and RLG either more they're not big blockbuster 593 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:24,400 Speaker 2: you know by leases. Yeah, but you know, going all 594 00:32:24,440 --> 00:32:26,680 Speaker 2: the way back to my big back Greek wedding or 595 00:32:26,720 --> 00:32:28,520 Speaker 2: you know, we've just boyhood. 596 00:32:28,840 --> 00:32:31,200 Speaker 1: I love that well, Kristin, thank you, so I so 597 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:34,080 Speaker 1: appreciate your time. My last question for you is I 598 00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:37,800 Speaker 1: would love to are there any things in your background, 599 00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:40,040 Speaker 1: you know, earlier in your career, or or at any 600 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:42,200 Speaker 1: stage in your career, any things that you can point 601 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:46,080 Speaker 1: to that really prepared you for your job now for 602 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 1: the challenges that you face. Any anything that comes to 603 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:52,760 Speaker 1: mind in terms of you know, early experiences, whether it 604 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:56,920 Speaker 1: be a vision or launching your own data analytics company, 605 00:32:57,120 --> 00:33:00,560 Speaker 1: anything that stands out to you is really important in 606 00:33:00,600 --> 00:33:03,040 Speaker 1: guiding you in this very very fraught moment for the 607 00:33:03,040 --> 00:33:05,240 Speaker 1: programming business. That's a good question. 608 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:08,000 Speaker 2: I feel like everything I've done so far kind of 609 00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:12,120 Speaker 2: prepared me for this, including external boards. So you know, 610 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:15,080 Speaker 2: I was on the Revlon board for six or seven years, 611 00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:17,240 Speaker 2: and then I'm on the Wendy's board, so you know, 612 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:21,280 Speaker 2: big heavy operating companies that are also global, So having 613 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:25,400 Speaker 2: that experience, yeah, yeah, and both have had very interesting 614 00:33:25,600 --> 00:33:28,160 Speaker 2: especially in the past few years. Revlon going through bankruptcy 615 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:32,680 Speaker 2: and emerging, and so between my own experience, you know, 616 00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:35,640 Speaker 2: many years within the family companies, but also then having 617 00:33:35,680 --> 00:33:40,000 Speaker 2: the board experience, I just I feel like I was ready, 618 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:45,560 Speaker 2: and thankfully just inheriting such an amazing team when I 619 00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:48,760 Speaker 2: came into the business and then having the legacy relationships 620 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:52,160 Speaker 2: with so many people. It's really been kind of I 621 00:33:52,200 --> 00:33:55,240 Speaker 2: think that's what prepared me. And I love our industry. 622 00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:57,560 Speaker 2: We were talking about this before we started recording, right 623 00:33:57,600 --> 00:33:59,880 Speaker 2: because I grew up with these people, you know, with 624 00:33:59,880 --> 00:34:02,960 Speaker 2: the lot of them, so being able it's still very collegial. 625 00:34:03,040 --> 00:34:04,640 Speaker 2: So I can pick up the phone, you know. That's 626 00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:08,200 Speaker 2: how the Max you know, pop up with AMC and 627 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:10,759 Speaker 2: Max came about. It was David Saslov saying let's do 628 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:12,560 Speaker 2: something and we can pick up the phone and have 629 00:34:12,680 --> 00:34:15,160 Speaker 2: that conversation. And the same goes for Paramount or for 630 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:18,120 Speaker 2: Charter or for comcasts or you know, and then sort 631 00:34:18,160 --> 00:34:22,120 Speaker 2: of meeting and introducing ourselves to the newer players in 632 00:34:22,160 --> 00:34:25,440 Speaker 2: the marketplace. You know, We've had really nice relationships with 633 00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:28,440 Speaker 2: Amazon and with Roku and with YouTube TV and Filo 634 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:31,880 Speaker 2: and so it's it's kind of fun to build and 635 00:34:32,760 --> 00:34:36,520 Speaker 2: activate relationships that you've had forever, but then also connect 636 00:34:36,560 --> 00:34:40,040 Speaker 2: the dots for people as they're coming into the industry. 637 00:34:45,600 --> 00:34:48,840 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening. Be sure to leave us a review 638 00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:52,880 Speaker 1: at Apple podcast our Amazon Music. Please go to Variety 639 00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:56,480 Speaker 1: dot com and sign up for the free weekly Strictly 640 00:34:56,520 --> 00:34:59,959 Speaker 1: Business newsletter, and don't forget to tune in next week 641 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:02,880 Speaker 1: for another episode of Strictly Business