Press Releases
TEN Appoints John Kopchik, Jr.,
As CFO
Former Cable Executive Brings Wealth of Experience in Consumer Entertainment and Technology
SAN FRANCISCO January 10, 1997 Total Entertainment Network (TEN), the leading interactive entertainment network for game playing consumers, today announced that John Kopchik, Jr. has joined the company as chief financial officer (CFO). Joining TEN after more than a dozen years of service with Viacom Cable, Kopchik will oversee TEN's finance and MIS operations. For the past six years, Kopchik has held the positions of executive vice president and chief administrative officer for the cable division of Viacom International, Inc., during which time he oversaw Viacom Cable's financial departments, in addition to sitting on that company's executive committee. Kopchik officially joins TEN as of Monday, January 20.
"The addition of John to our senior management is a major coup not only for TEN, but for the online industry as a whole," said Jack Heistand, president and CEO of TEN. "As the consumer entertainment industry continues to evolve, Internet-based companies such as ours are becoming an increasingly important sector of the overall market and arguably represent the most exciting opportunities for growth and innovation. John certainly won't be the last senior executive to migrate to the online industry, but he may well be one of the most valuable."
"The parallels between the cable industry and TENs business model are significant and I'm looking forward to helping refine and drive that model," said Kopchik. "While currently on a smaller scale than a major cable service provider, TEN actually has quite a number of potential revenue streams and much greater opportunity for growth, and that's really intriguing. I'm very excited to now be riding the next wave in consumer entertainment media."
TEN, which boasts more than 20,000 paying subscribers after only three months of commercial operation, provides Internet-capable computer game players with a comprehensive line-up of hit multiplayer action, strategy, simulation and role-playing titles from which to choose. In addition to subscription fees, the company garners revenue from both traditional and innovative on-line advertising sales, and soon plans to offer online transactions from its various points of presence on the Internet.
During the past twelve years as a senior executive with Viacom Cable, Kopchik was at various times responsible for the accounting, finance, tax and information services departments, as well as coordinating long-term strategic planning for the company. His appreciation for and understanding of high technology is reinforced by a degree in electrical engineering. Kopchik also brings a strong understanding of consumer branding methodologies from his roles as controller and director of strategic planning for Heublein Wines from 1976 to 1984.
Kopchik replaces TEN's departing CFO and vice president of operations and finance, Jonathan Zimman, who will be leaving after three years of service. "I'm delighted to be turning over TEN's financial responsibilities to such capable hands - John's a real top-notch player," said Zimman. "Personally, I'm looking forward to returning to the world of small, garage-shop start-up companies still formulating their business models, a category which TEN outgrew some time ago."
Kopchik holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and a master's degree from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College.
Total Entertainment Network is the premier entertainment network for game playing consumers on the Internet. TEN has online rights to more than 25 games half of which are TEN exclusives by leading software publishers including 3D Realms Entertainment, Apogee, Blizzard, Eidos Interactive (formerly Domark), id Software, Maxis, MicroProse, SSI and Westwood Studios. Based in San Francisco, TEN was formed in 1995 from the merger of Planet Optigon, Inc. and Outland, Inc. TEN received its initial funding from Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, with subsequent investors including: Ameritech; Goldman Sachs; Robertson, Stephens & Co. and Vertex Management.
For More Info, Call
TEN Press Contact:
Garth Chouteau
Tel: (415) 778-3774
Fax: (415) 778-3520
Internet:
garth@tenetwork.com
Copyright 1997
T E Network, Inc.
Total Entertainment Network and TEN are trademarks
of T E Network, Inc.
Software Creations and WEB BBS are trademarks of Linton Enterprises, Inc., subsidiary of T E Network, Inc.
All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners', without intent to infringe