Viacom Adds New Head of ‘Audience Science’

Continuing its efforts to find different ways to measure viewership, Viacom hired media agency executive Julian Zilberbrand as executive VP of audience science.

With its young-skewing viewers moving to digital devices and content, Viacom has been ramping up its data capabilities in an attempt to reverse its falling advertising revenues.

Zilberbrand had been executive VP of activation standards, insights and technology at ZenithOptimedia. At Viacom, he’ll report to Kern Schireson, executive VP of data strategy and consumer intelligence.

“Viacom’s dedication to remaining the leader in data science and strategy is evident in the speed at which we are developing new tools and solutions at this pivotal time in the industry,” said Schireson. “Julian is part of a growing list of world-class data talent to join us for the huge opportunities during this transformational time in media, and he offers his team a very special perspective informed by his visibility into the broad industry landscape.”

Zilberbrand’s Audience Science group encompasses data and audience development functions. Those include:

  • Audience Onboarding & Segmentation (Data Sourcing, Partnerships & Architecture) – Responsible for building the infrastructure architecture that allows Viacom to successfully ingest disparate data sets across linear, digital and off-line behavior and marry the data to actionable 360 executions and effectiveness measurements.
  • Advanced Analytics – Works closely with the Audience Onboarding and Segmentation teams to draw insights and actionable models and methods to support both Sales and Marketing teams.
  • Digital Media Executions - Harnesses our 1st party and outside data sources and leverages them to target and message across all forms of digital – display, video, social and cross-device.
Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.