If you’ve turned on a TV in the past 30 years, chances are you’ve seen something that has passed through the hands of industry leader Van Toffler. His nearly three decades at the helm of Viacom and its MTV, VH1 and CMT brands have contributed some of pop culture’s most buzzworthy shows like “Beavis & Butt-head,” “Jackass,” “The MTV Video Music Awards,” “The CMT Awards” and most recently “Teen Wolf.”
Now departed from Viacom, Toffler is working on a content company, Below the Radar. We caught up with one of the newest speakers added to TheGrill 2015 line-up about challenges, fun facts and prospects for the TheGrill, taking place October 5 and 6 at the Montage Beverly Hills in Los Angeles.
1. What is one of your biggest challenges in today’s industry?
To identify the optimal outlet for the short and long form content my company is creating in order to reach the targeted audience, whether it be digital, on-demand, linear television, theatrical or a combination of all… and who will promote it most effectively.
2. What are you looking forward to discussing at TheGrill?
I am looking forward to talking about the alchemy and essential marriage of content and technology and how one can’t live without the other in an on-demand world for millennials.
3. What is one fun fact most people don’t know about you?
As the father of “Beavis & Butt-head,” “The Osbournes,” “Punk’d,” “Jersey Shore” and “Jackass,” people wouldn’t suspect that I am a poet who loves “The Wizard of Oz,” produced the movie “Crazy Heart,” and am an Aimee Mann music fanatic.
Join Van Toffler and TheWrap for two days of hard-hitting, intimate conversations and networking opportunities set at one of the most beautiful hotels in Beverly Hills. Stay tuned for more speakers to be announced in the near future, and buy your ticket.
For more information, go to: http://thegrill.thewrap.com