Madeline Berger has a long history of successfuly marrying traditional media with new distribution platforms, working from both sides of the table. She brings to every project deep knowledge and understanding of TV content distribution and marketing as well as tenacity to overcome hurdles.
Madeline retired from Google in 2018 where she managed a portfolio of major media company content partnerships and negotiated agreements for both YouTube TV and Google Fiber. She initially joined the company in 2012 to close first-ever carriage agreements for Alphabet's Google Fiber launch of cable systems around the United States. Focused on driving good deals, Madeline brought her experience to the team to close a full channel line-up in time for the planned commercial launch and to improve upon deals at every opportunity.
In 2004, Madeline joined QUALCOMM's start-up team for its FLO TV mobile television venture, focused on content acquisition. In 2007, she became an employee. During her tenure, Madeline played a key role in closing agreements with media giants, including NBC Universal, MTV Networks, The Walt Disney Company and Discovery Communications, to launch 24/7 live, linear made-for-mobile and mobile simulcast networks. This initiative has helped transform industry expectations for delivery of full-length and live TV programs via wireless devices.
Through her consulting firm, MB STRATEGISTS, INC., Madeline has licensed cable networks, guided the early planning of NHL Network plus delivered on other start-up and marketing-related assignments for the National Football League, Hotelevision, Gotuit Media Corp, iMagicTV, the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association and Sirius Satellite Radio.
Earlier (1984-2000), Madeline was at ESPN, where she last served as Vice President in the Affiliate Sales and Marketing Division. There, she led the way on many new distribution business development opportunities. Madeline guided the growth of ESPN's special markets businesses, including direct-to-home satellite TV, private cable, and wireless cable. She broadened ESPN's distribution to the hotel and bar/restaurant markets as well as initiated and operated ESPN's wholesale and retail sales subscription efforts to commercial and residential segments (generating significant revenues and brand exposure). As a member of the division's senior management team, Madeline contributed to the strategic development of ESPN's distribution success across all technologies including cable.
Madeline played a direct role during her years at ESPN in the successful launches of ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPN GamePlan, ESPN FULL COURT, the NFL on ESPN and in the development of several professional league pay subscription products, including NHL Center IceTM, MLB Extra InningsTM and MLS/ESPN SHOOTOUTTM. She also worked directly with the National Football League to distribute NFL SUNDAY TICKETTM to commercial locations making ESPN its top distributor. And, she was instrumental in accomplishing delivery of live television network feeds to private and commercial airplanes, first through DirecTV/LiveTV to JetBlue.
Madeline served as ESPN's long-time representative to the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association and received a special award from the trade organization acknowledging her contributions to the growth of the Direct-To-Home industry. She was elected chairperson of the SBCA Marketing Working Group for three terms and was an active member of the SBCA Signal Security Working Group. She is based in New York City and holds a B.A. from Union College, Schenectady, New York.
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