Ten Questions: Clasen Shines Light on Starz Encore

Bob Clasen used to be on the operator side of the cable equation-handy experience when negotiating contracts and marketing programming.

By K.C. Neel

Bob Clasen has done just about everything in the cable industry. He ran Comcast's cable systems in the U.S. and overseas throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He got involved in the high-tech arena in the late '90s, running ICTV and Broadband Innovations. And now, as president of sales and marketing for Starz Encore Group, he has added a programming gig to his resume. After working with Starz Encore Group founder, chairman and CEO John Sie on the settlement of a contentious lawsuit between Starz and Comcast over carriage issues, Clasen has moved on to raising Starz's profile with both distributors and consumers.