FROM THE PRESIDENT
Eyes on the Consumer
In order to win in today’s world, focus on customers first, rather than perceived business needs, and success will follow. that the business units are clients, and the SCC’s goal must be “no one does it as well, for less.” Another feature article, by TFM edimade a point of attending Gary Vee’s tor Janet Stilson, focuses on unions and “Attention Is the New Currency” keynote deserves everyone’s attention. She’s done at this year’s Radio Show. It seemed a sure an outstanding job talking with an HR bet that he was going to say something inter- professional, a news director and a photoesting, and perhaps even controversial. journalist to tease out what is important in Vee’s message, in his quote above, is that labor negotiations. You will come away with the future will be based on giving the con- a deeper appreciation for both sides of the sumer what the consumer wants. Successful discussion. media companies will be those that embrace Three regularly scheduled columns round evolving content, distribution and service out this issue. Sarah Levitt’s “Human Facmodels. tor” submission covers a topic that is close to It’s the same message I read in this is- my heart – coaches and advisors. In “Credit sue’s “Future of Media” articles. Take, for Where Due,” Robin Szabo provides inforinstance, the piece about mation about what must be diginets from Bond & Peca- Backoffice explained when refusing a ro’s John Sanders and Jake for credit. business units are request Lourim. They credit the Finally, “Last Word,” by success of these subchannel shared services Lehrman Senter’s Nancy Ory, networks to both a simple center clients, offers an update on the govbusiness model and “a sur- and the SCC’s ernment actions around roprising viewer appetite for bocalls. As she points out, goal must be “no programming reruns.” even when used for a valid At the same time, the au- one does it as business reason, companies thors warn that these busi- well, for less.” should consider the advisabilnesses may affect revenues, ity of using a communication including those from retransmission consent. method associated with scams and fraud. Vee would advise companies to find a way to Vee admonishes media companies to conmake money serving their consumers. sider the consumer. That’s something we also High Radius’ Bill Weiss looks at ways to keep in mind at MFM and BCCA. You say automate the credit and collections func- you want more education and networking tions in a shared services center (SSC). The opportunities. We keep adding them. This objective for deploying the robotic process year we created the BCCA Credit Workshop automation and artificial intelligence solu- (which took place in October), a half-day protions he outlines is to provide a better, faster gram for video games finance professionals experience for those business units. and a Media Tax Summit. (See event informaWhile not strictly part of the special tion about the Tax Summit on page 9.) We’ve report, I would argue that Joost van Dreu- also created discounted nen’s “Dear Expert” column about the packages for Distance actions of two behemoth esports inves- Learning Seminars. tors surely fits the bill. Not only are there Vee’s final advice for already 900 million viewers globally, van Radio Show attendDreunen argues that experiences with e- ees was “bring value.” sports will help media companies adapt to That’s what we aim for internet content delivery. year-round. Robin Szabo of Szabo Associates expands on the SSC function in his piece about conMary Collins is president and CEO of MFM and BCCA; Mary.Collins@MediaFinance.org. solidated back office solutions. He explains
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“Art is going to win; it has leverage over pipes.” –Gary Vaynerchuk (a.k.a. Gary Vee)
4 The Financial Manager • November/December 2019
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD MICHAEL DENSON Director, Credit Services NMCP GREG LECHOWSKI Market Controller, Phoenix Bonneville International CAL MOSTELLA Vice President, Treasurer WarnerMedia JOHN SANDERS Principal Bond & Pecaro MEREDITH SENTER Member Lerman Senter PLLC C. ROBIN SZABO President Szabo Associates JAMIE GRANDE MFM/BCCA Staff Liaison
CONTRIBUTORS SARAH LEVITT Magnificent Leadership JAKE LOURIM Bond & Pecaro NANCY A. ORY Lerman Senter PLLC JOHN SANDERS Bond & Pecaro C. ROBIN SZABO Szabo Associates JOOST VAN DREUNEN Nielsen BILL WEISS HighRadius
