Gene Pao

Bio:

Gene Pao is the President and General Manager for FUEL TV North America, where he oversees all operations for the US and Canada. Originally launched by FOX, FUEL TV is a global action sports media company available as a digital streaming (FAST) channel, video streaming subscription service, and traditional Pay TV channel in over 150 countries worldwide. The company also operates four sport-specific channels leveraging the brands from the iconic publications SURFER, POWDER, TransWorld SKATEboarding, and BIKE MAG, as well as YouTube and other social channels. Gene began his entertainment and sports media career at Disney and ESPN Media Networks in 2001 as Director of Distribution Strategy and later promoted Executive Director of Business Strategy and Development.  In 2007, Gene joined Fox Interactive Media as VP, Marketing and Business Development, and from 2008 to 2011, served as VP Digital Media and International Development for the FOX owned FUEL TV. After short stints at YouTube, Golf Channel, and the NBC show The Biggest Loser, Gene joined Shout! Factory as VP, Digital Media in 2013.  There he built Shout’s digital business which consisted of CTV apps, FAST channels, digital subscription services, content syndication (Shout was among the first to provide professionally produced content to Tubi, Pluto TV, Roku, Amazon Prime Video, Samsung, and others), a portfolio of YouTube channels, and e-commerce.  Over the years, his role expanded to include production, marketing, corporate development, and content analytics, eventually rising to EVP Strategy and Digital. Gene holds a BS from NC State and an MBA from Harvard Business School, and is a frequent speaker at industry events (most recently Stream TV and NATPE).