Telco TV: Assessing the Risk/Reward Ratio, and Making It Work for Your Company
Monday, March 7, 2005, 10:45am - 12:15The tough questions answered by carriers already installing thousands of lines, a top consultant, and an expert on the means and cost of acquiring a basic content package.
Phil Erli, EVP, Ringgold Telephone Co.Phil Erli is Executive Vice President of Ringgold Telephone Company (RTC). Established in 1912 and serving Catoosa County, Georgia, RTC is a 14,300-access line local exchange service provider. Ringgold delivers the most modern, up-to-date services in the region including DSL and Internet access as well as long distance and local telephone service. RTC recently received franchise authority from the City of Ringgold and Catoosa County to provide digital interactive entertainment and video services.
Steve Mckay, CEO, EntoneSteve has focused his career on broadband multimedia services for the communications industry for nearly twenty years. He became involved with VOD in the early 1990’s as a consultant for Time Warner. He was later the overall program manager for the world’s first commercial deployment of VOD services at Cable & Wireless Hong Kong. Under Steve’s leadership, Entone has deployed Personal TV infrastructure solutions at dozens of the world’s leading video service operators.
Ken Pyle, President/co-founder, ViodiKen Pyle is co-founder of Viodi, LLC and has been intimately involved with all of Viodi’s clients. He created Digital Rights Management Reports that were approved by studios for several clients. He created processes for clients to use for their PPV and VOD operations. He has long standing relationships with service vendors such as Technicolor and Microspace, as well as many telecommunication manufacturers.
Additionally, he produced the Video Solutions for Independence interactive CD-ROM, edited and produced interactive CD-ROMs for NTCA and USTA, is the producer of the Telco Video Content Conference in conjunction with USTA, the Local Content Workshop and publishes the Viodi View newsletter, which is sent to over 2,700 recipients.
Prior to Viodi, LLC, Pyle was Director of Technical Sales for Demand Video, a Video On Demand application service provider which targeted cable television overbuilders. His independent telco experience dates to 1991 with product, project and sales management roles at Raynet and E/O Networks. His experience in the cable industry dates to 1979 with manufacturing, engineering and field service roles at companies such as Catel and C-Cor.
A graduate of San Jose State University, he is the volunteer web master for his sons’ preschool, http://www.cppp.com and is an active member of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Saratoga, CA, serving on the Church Council and on the Evangelizing team.
Steve Scharf, Vice President, Financial & Information Tech, Ringgold Telephone Co.Vice President of Financial & Information Technologies
Steve has been part of the local exchange telephone industry for 15 years. Prior to joining Ringgold Telephone Company, he spent two years with Cronin Communications as vice president of operations. As vice president of operations he wrote CLEC and diversification plans, facilitated strategic plans, conducted primary & secondary market research, and conducted on site company customer service & operations audits.
