Why CES is a Must-Attend Event for Media Professionals

Yearly technology companies flock to Las Vegas for CES each January to reveal the latest products in the consumer electronics industry. Many of the top decision makers in the entertainment, advertising, and digital media world are on hand to discuss the latest strategies determined by the release of new technology and products.

This year, notable discussion topics include OTT video and the continued migration from TV to multi-platform streaming, programmatic advertising, cybersecurity AI, VR and AR, and the transformation of digital marketing. The C Space Storyteller Series features case studies on Facebook, Spotify, IBM, Disney, Oath, and Google told by the industry executives who lived them.

On Wednesday January 10th, plan to spend the whole day at the Variety Summit which was the highlight of last year’s show. The first panel of the day “Future of TV” will feature executives from Nielson, Verizon, Youtube, Awesomeness, Fox, and NBC.

We’ve compiled a full list of industry c-suite execs from companies including OATH, Disney, ABC, Fox, Hulu, NBC Universal, Sony, DEFY media, BAMTECH, Samsung, Spotify and many more. With many panelists taking questions during their presentations, now is the time to prepare your most pressing questions and start planning your networking goals.

Here are the events Vego Pictures is most excited about this year at CES. Follow us (@vegopictures) on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook as we livestream & tweet our way through CES.

The Next Generation of OTT
1–2 PM January 8
Tech East, LVCC, North Hall, N260
Consumers are accessing video on TV, mobile and PC. Call it “everywhere video” or “over-the-top TV.” By any name it means that content is accessible virtually everywhere. The proliferation of TV technologies are pushing video to an unlimited audience.
Speakers:
Simon Adams, General Manager, Video and Sports, Gracenote
Chris Carey Chief Revenue Officer, Head of Business Development and Strategy, Verizon Digital Media Services
Fabian Birgfeld CEO & Co-Founder, W12 Studios
Gulliver Smithers Sr. VP, Product & Technology, Sony Networks — ‎Sony Pictures Entertainment

Programmatic Buying and Targeting: Cross-Platform Advertising
2:15–3:15 PM January 8
Tech East, LVCC, North Hall, N260
Programmatic buying and targeting has revolutionized the relationship between advertiser, agency and platform. Automating the buying and optimization of media inventory not only streamlines the process, it substantially enhances decision making and efficiency. Welcome to a world of programmatic media.
Speakers:
Bill Murray VP, Digital Revenue Operations, Scripps Networks Interactive
Lewis Rothkopf, General Manager of Supply, MediaMath
Ilana Nolte, President, m/SIX North America
Ben Tatta, Co-Founder and President, 605

Intel Keynote Address with CEO Brian Krzanich: How Data Is Shaping Innovation of the Future
6:30–7:30 PM January 8
Tech South, Monte Carlo, Park Theater
We are entering an artificial intelligence revolution. To power the technology of the future and create amazing new experiences, we need to unlock the power of data. Its collection, storage and analysis continue to change and grow, having more of an impact on our everyday lives than ever before. With advances in artificial intelligence, 5G connectivity, autonomous driving and virtual reality, Intel is taking the next steps to reimagine how data will create amazing new experiences that will transform our daily lives.
Speaker:
Brian Krzanich, Chief Executive Officer, Intel

The Future of Brand Partnerships and Marketing Influencers
10:15–11:15 AM January 9
Tech East, LVCC, North Hall, N258
As consumers integrate broadband into every aspect of their lives, Hollywood and Madison Avenue have new opportunities to experiment with all forms of electronic messaging. Brand Marketing is transforming into Influence Marketing and the growing one-to-one consumer relationship is becoming ever stronger and more powerful.
Speakers:
Ricky Ray Butler, Global CCO, Branded Entertainment Network
Sameer Deen, SVP, Univision Digital, Univision Communications Inc.
Keith Hernandez, Sr. VP, Strategy, Bleacher Report, Turner
Diana Mogollon, Sr. VP and General Manager, Warner Bros. Entertainment Group

Millennial Myth Busters, Gen Z and the Next ‘Next-Gen’
11:45 AM-12:45 PM January 9
Tech South, ARIA, Level 1, Bristlecone 4
With digital technology fueling so much of millennials’ behavior, hear from the experts as they demystify this hyper influential consumer group and plan for engaging with tomorrow’s consumers, determining the new rules for content creation and the role of technology.
Speakers:
Sharon Profis, Executive Editor, CNET
Chris George, EVP, Product Marketing & Sales Strategy, Popsugar
Joe Reske, Sr. Director of Marketing, Dean Foods
Andrew Styer, Executive Director, Product Strategy, KBS
Maureen Polo, SVP, Brand Studio, Fullscreen
Jessie Tarlov, Sr. Director, Research & Consumer Insight, Bustle

Future of TV: From Primetime to Multi-Platforms
1–2 PM January 9
Tech East, LVCC, North Hall, N258
Television 3.0 is here. Somewhere between Netflix, Amazon, the Internet TV app, cable packages and viewer platforms resides the future of what was once known as “television.” How are media, advertising and technology companies positioning themselves around “the set?”
Speakers:
Eric Berger, CDO at Sony Pictures Television and GM of Crackle
Jonathan Hurd, Director, Altman Vilandrie & Company
Russell Schwartz, Senior Vice President and Head, Original Programming Legal, Starz
Steve Harris, VP, Content Distribution and Business Development,Scripps Networks Interactive
Jennifer Mirgorod, EVP, Brand Distribution, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

Alexa, what is AI’s Impact on Advertising?
1:30–2:30 PM January 9
Tech South, ARIA, Level 1, Bristlecone 4
As technology advancements put super computers in the hands (and homes) of the average American, cognitive media is quickly moving from R&D to mainstream. When today’s consumer is interacting with your brand through AI mechanisms, how do you best communicate and drive outcomes at scale?
Speakers:
Alan Murray, Chief Content Officer, Time Inc.
Ryan Deutsch, SVP, Global Customer Success, Persado
Gina Garrubbo, CEO, National Public Media
Steven Rosenblatt, President, Foursquare
Ben Wright, Business Editor, The Telegraph
Sarah Epps, Director of Product Marketing, Core Ads, Facebook
Yin Rani, VP, Integrated Marketing, Campbell’s

Multi-Screen Strategies for Internet TV
2:15–3:15 PM January 9
Tech East, LVCC, North Hall, N258
The age of “all video, all the time” is here and the conversion to an all-video culture is entering the nation’s business and intellectual conversation. Hear from the technology and communication experts whose experiences define how the multiscreen universe works.
Speakers:
Rich Antoniello, CEO, Complex Networks
Jason Friedlander, Director Product Marketing, Verizon Digital Media Services
Christoph Limmer, SVP Commercial Development, Eutelsat
Terry Bienstock, CEO, Mobilactive Media, LLC.
Hillary Henderson, Senior Director of Product Strategy and Management, IBM Watson Media
Robert Rodriguez, CEO, Natcom Global

VARIETY SUMMIT
January 10th (all day)
Aria

The Future of TV
9:00 to 9:35 a.m.
Chief multiplatform executives explore the best business models and audience engagement strategies for various TV services, spanning pay TV, ad-supported OTT and subscription-based models.
Speakers:
Kelly Abcarian, SVP Product Leadership, Nielsen @kellyabcarian
Erin McPherson, Head of Content Strategy, Acquisitions and Programming, Verizon @erin_mcpherson
Neal Mohan, Chief Product Officer, YouTube @nealmohan
Brian Sullivan, President & COO, Fox Networks Group
Maggie Suniewick, President, Digital Enterprises, NBCUniversal @NBCUniversal

Headliner Conversation: Perspectives on Innovation & Technology Trends
9:35 a.m. to 9:50 a.m.
André Kudelski, Chairman & CEO of the Kudelski Group, a global technology leader and parent company of NAGRA, addresses fundamental shifts in the media and entertainment industry and what’s next in Internet TV, cybersecurity, analytics and IoT.
Interviewed by:
Todd Spangler, NY Digital Editor, Variety
Speaker:
André Kudelski, Chairman and CEO, NAGRA

9:50 to 10:20 a.m.
As Disney-ABC approaches a monster 2018 year, Sherwood discusses the launch of their new streaming service and the debut of ABC’s American Idol.
Interviewed by:
Andrew Wallenstein, Co-Editor-in-Chief, Variety @awallenstein
Speaker: Ben Sherwood, Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks, and President, Disney|ABC Television Group @bensherwood

10:20 to 10:35 a.m.
Interviewed by :
Andrew Wallenstein, Co-Editor-in-Chief, Variety @awallenstein
Speaker:
Rebecca Glashow, Worldwide Head of Distribution, Awesomeness @awesomenesstv

10:35 to 10:55 a.m.
CEO of Verizon’s Oath, Tim Armstrong, shares his insights on the future of combined AOL and Yahoo properties underneath the newly minted Oath division.
Interviewed by:
Todd Spangler, NY Digital Editor, Variety @xpangler
Speaker:
Tim Armstrong, CEO, Verizon’s Oath @tim_armstrong

The New Digital Entertainment Ecosystem
10:55 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.
2017 was another milestone year for the digital entertainment industry, and mega-platforms Google and Facebook accounting for 25% of global advertising revenue. With over 30 billion video views per month and 285MM unique viewers, BroadbandTV is a company that knows how to scale viewership, and successfully expand revenue streams including advertising, subscription, mobile apps and merchandise. This talk provides expert insight to the new digital entertainment ecosystem with a focus on building brands, creating captivating content, and unlocking value at scale.
Interviewed by:
Todd Spangler, NY Digital Editor, Variety @xpangler
Speaker:
Shahrzad Rafati, Founder and CEO, BroadbandTV @shahrzadrafati

How to Win the Battle for Attention
11:10 a.m. to 11:25 a.m.
There’s a full-scale battle for attention happening now. People can consume content anytime, anywhere, and they have an overwhelming amount of choice. Meanwhile, time is more scarce than ever, which means the competition is fierce. Matt Derella, Twitter’s VP of global client solutions, shows how the battle for attention is won by connecting your brand to up-to-the-minute cultural cues, rich data, and an abundance o consumer conversations happening around the world right now.
Speaker:
Matt Derella, VP, Global Client Solutions, Twitter

Nissan CMO Conversation
11:25 to 11:40 a.m.
Interviewed by:
Matt Spiegel, Managing Director, MediaLink @mspiegel
Speaker:
Roel de Vries, Corporate Vice President and Global Head of Marketing and Brand Strategy, Nissan @Nissan ‏

Stealing the Show — Best in Brand Storytelling
11:40 to 12:15 p.m.
Entertainment and consumer brands continue to create progressive marketing plans across social, digital publishing, OTT and linear TV. Marketers converge to explore how technology makes discovery critical for storytelling.
Moderator:
Scott Fisher, Founder, Select Management @scottfisher
Speakers:
Gigi Gorgeous, Digital Influencer @TheGigiGorgeous
Walt Horstman, SVP, GM, Advanced Media and Advertising, TiVo
Bob Jacobs, Head of Marketing, Product and Brand Communication, Volvo Car USA @VolvoCarUSA ‏
Peter Minnium, President, Ipsos Connect @peterminnium
Dan Riess, EVP Content Partnerships and Co-Head of Turner Ignite, Turner @TurnerIgnite ‏

The New Age of Hitmaking
12:15 p.m. to 12:50 p.m.
Brilliance can come from any source — podcast, shared social media video, or a classic TV show or film. Hitmakers of today’s expanding platform universe share their stories.
Moderator:
Todd Spangler, NY Digital Editor, Variety @xpangler
Speakers:
Chris Berend, SVP and Head of CNN Digital Studios, & Co-Founder, Great Big Story, CNN @ChrisBerend
Baron Davis, NBA All-Star and Producer (Issa Rae’s Feud) @BaronDavis
Ashley McCollum, General Manager, Tasty, BuzzFeed @McCollumAshley
Croi McNamara, SVP, Video Programming, Condé Nast Entertainment @croimc

A look at the multiplatform hit series, The Walking Dead.
1:50 to 2:25 p.m.
Interviewed by:
Andrew Wallenstein, Co-Editor-in-Chief, Variety @awallenstein
Speakers:
Charlie Collier, President and General Manager, AMC, SundanceTV & AMC Studios @CCollier
Scott Gimple, Showrunner, Executive Producer and Writer, The Walking Dead @ScottMGimple
Norman Reedus, Star, The Walking Dead @wwwbigbaldhead

Let’s Get Connected: Titans of Audience Engagement
2:25 to 3:05 p.m.
What are the latest strategies in connecting powerful, can’t-ignore messaging to audiences? How can you create personalization at scale? What marketing formats are best breaking through on premium TV, short-form video and multi-platform brand integrations? Learn how advancing analytics are helping marketers fine-tune and better target promotions to their desired audience segments.
Moderator:
Gayle Fuguitt, Chief of Customer Insight and Innovation, Foursquare @GayleFuguitt
Speakers: Eric Edge, Head of Global Marketing Communications and Industry Relations, Pinterest @eedge
Oliver Laubscher, Chief Media Officer, VICE Media @oliverlaubscher
Stephanie McMahon, Chief Brand Officer, WWE @StephMcMahon
Dave Otten, CEO, JW Player @jwplayer
Ira Rubenstein, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer, PBS @PBS
Barry Tishgart, SVP and GM, BAMTech Media @BamtechMedia

The State of the Stream
3:05 to 3:45 p.m.
Today’s entertainment-on-demand loving audience has quickly built a complex streaming economy, with a new group of media power players calling the shots. Business strategies wildly vary and user-generated content continues to mix with premium offerings. In a crowded field, the streaming services continue to debate what comes next for this industry.
Moderator:
Todd Spangler, NY Digital Editor, Variety @xpangler
Speakers:
Lisa Sugar, Founder and President, POPSUGAR @lisasugar ‏
Andrew Sugerman, EVP, Publishing and Digital Media, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media @andrewsugerman
Alex Wallace, Head of OTT Video and Oath Studios, Oath @alexjwallace ‏
Marc Whitten, VP, Amazon Fire @notwen
Paul Yanover, President, Fandango @pyano

Amplifying Your Brand with Facebook
3:45 to 4:00 p.m.
Interviewed by:
Janko Roettgers, Senior Silicon Valley Correspondent, Variety
Speaker:
Bob Gruters, Group Director, Global Marketing Solutions — US, Facebook @facebook ‏

We’re Going Live! Thrills with Experiential Tech
4:00 to 4:40 p.m.
Advancing technology is enabling sports, concert and live events to offer spectacular experiences for fans. How are companies introducing VR, increasing social media engagement and ramping up in-venue interactivity during these events?
Moderator:
Janko Roettgers, Senior Silicon Valley Correspondent, Variety @jank0
Speakers:
Kevin Chernett, EVP Global Partnerships and Content Distribution, Live Nation @chernett
Rebecca Howard, SVP of Emerging Platforms and Partnerships, Discovery VR @rebeccaehoward
Kay Madati, VP and Global Head of Partnerships, Twitter @KayMadati
Bachir Zeroual, Head of VR Marketing, Samsung Electronics America @Ze_Bach ‏
Keith Richman, President, Defy Media @keithrichman
Jeroen Elfferich, CEO & Co-Founder, Ex Machina @jeroen020

Historic Emmy OTT Win — Headliner Conversation
4:40 to 5:00 p.m.
Interviewed by:
Andrew Wallenstein, Co-Editor-in-Chief, Variety @awallenstein
Speaker:
Joel Stillerman, Chief Content Officer, Hulu @hulu