The FreeWheel Council for Premium Video Shares Advice with Students Interested in TV Advertising

Television – content, delivery, and advertising – is evolving as an intersection of media, data, and technology. There’s a lot for interested students to learn and know about the TV and media industry. We asked some experienced industry leaders for their perspectives. The FreeWheel Council for Premium Video (FWC)—an advocacy group comprised of 46 premium video providers—recently hosted a webcast on breaking into the TV/media industry. The goal was to provide college students interested in or considering careers in television advertising current information on the industry landscape, and guidance to help them move forward.

The webcast featured a panel of industry veterans who offered their informed opinions on this evolution. They also shared their personal journeys as well as advice on relevant experiences, skills, and qualifications. Panelists included:

• Anthony Greene, Vice President at Gamut, a digital advertising agency and part of the Cox Media Group;
• Jermaine Roseman, Senior Director for Advanced Advertising Solutions at A+E Networks;
• Darren Sherriff, Vice President for Advertising Technology Solutions at Fox Networks Group;
• Lee Singletary, Senior Manager of Brand & Industry Relation at Comcast Advertising; and
• Jennifer Young, General Manager of Marketing for DISH Media.

Scores of students participated in the live event. Moderator James Rothwell, Vice President of Marketing at Comcast Advertising, engaged the panel with multiple questions from the audience. Throughout, panelists emphasized that there is no single academic or career path necessary for success in this rapidly evolving industry. Openings exist for students in almost every field, from art to engineering to sales and beyond. What matters most, panelists agreed, is curiosity, a solid work ethic, and the ability to distill diverse information into clear, compelling stories.

Webcast attendees were also asked to describe their own TV viewing habits. More than 40 percent of those polled descried themselves as “cord-stackers,” or consumers of both cable TV and streaming services. Another 21 percent described themselves as “cord-cutters,” avid consumers of streaming services with only light usage of cable subscription offerings. And 38 percent said they were “cord-nevers” viewers who used streaming services exclusively. (See Figure 1 below.)

Figure 1: Results of live poll conducted during FWC webcast for students interested in television industry careers.

Poll results led to a lively panel discussion with the industry experts who shed light on the TV industry’s evolution and what’s next.

Thank you to all of the attendees and panelists for their time and conversation during the session. Participants can feel free to connect with the speakers on LinkedIn to learn more about the industry and potential future opportunities. Be on the lookout for future events hosted by the FreeWheel Council for Premium Video.

More resources

• Students: Download this resource guide for more information on careers in TV advertising and helpful resources.
• Professors: The FWC also hosted a similar webcast with information pertinent for college faculty. Click here to watch the episode on demand.