About David Eckoff

About My Blog

This is my personal weblog, where I write about innovation, technology, new media and the Bigger Better Deal.

The views expressed here are my own and not those of my employer. The comments on my weblog do not include personal opinion or factual information concerning business discussions where I work. None of my editorial and/or commentary on this weblog should be interpreted as endorsements, promotions or advertisements.

About Me

I am currently developing two Web 2.0/new media businesses... watch this space for details.

In addition to my entrepreneurial projects, I am CEO of Revolutionary Ventures, a privately held consulting company that helps businesses create new growth through innovation. Working with select high potential media and technology companies, Revolutionary Ventures focuses on strategy development, idea generation and evaluation, new product development, and deployment of scalable business plans. The company specializes in taking revolutionary ideas from the drawing board to market. Clients include Kleiner Perkins backed Zazzle.com, Ustream.TV and more.

Additionally, I serve on the board of advisors for companies including:YourSports.com; the Representative Journalism Network; and an innovative fitness/technology company (currently in stealth mode).

Previously, I was Vice President, New Product Development & Innovation at Turner Broadcasting (CNN, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network) responsible for overseeing the development, evaluation and launch of new products across the Turner entertainment, news and animation divisions. While in Turner's New Products Group, I developed and launched PlayOn, an online sports network that broadcasts live games with the ACC, the Big Ten, the United Soccer League and more. I also evaluated and developed a variety of new product concepts, including an online entertainment network for producers of original shows created for the Internet.

Before joining Turner, I was Senior Director at RealNetworks Inc., overseeing business development, product management and strategy for Real SuperPass. While at Real, I led the breakout live online video hit "CBS Big Brother 24/7", invented the first of its kind online digital media marketplace, and developed live online sports broadcasts. I negotiated deals with CBS television, FOX Sports, Primedia, ESPN, CSTV, Conde Nast, Rolling Stone, McAfee and more.

Before joining Real, I was Senior Vice-President at Rivals.com, a 180-employee start-up private company funded by Intel, Softbank, Hummer Winblad and News Corporation (Fox). While at Rivals, I developed the Rivals.com branded sports news network destination, grew its audience from startup to 1.5 million users per month, and led the company's transition to paid online subscriptions.

Prior to joining Rivals, I was at IBM Corporation.

I have a passion for innovation, new product development, fitness and nutrition, technology, media, music and sports and consider myself an expert in the online paid subscription model. I hold an MBA from the University of North Carolina.

Additionally, in 1993 I founded InsideCarolina, a print magazine and paid subscription website covering University of North Carolina basketball and football. I developed what was in 1993 an innovative business model for "open source news reporting", a key to the longevity of the publication. Notably, the November 27, 2000 edition of ESPN Magazine named InsideCarolina as the top college basketball website. In 2000, I successfully sold the business and today Inside Carolina remains one of the top college sports publications in the nation, now associated with FOX. You can read a short history of Inside Carolina on Wikipedia.

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