Blooming Grove Media Magnate Interview On 60 Minutes This Sunday
BLOOMING GROVE- This Sunday at 7:00 p.m., CBS’s 60 Minutes television news program will feature Rocco B. Commisso, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Orange County headquartered Mediacom Communications Corporation in a segment entitled “Only in America.”
Editor's Note: Near the beginning of Orange County's growth spurt of the first decade of the 21st Century, Blooming Grove may not have gotten the highest number of successful commercial enterprises, but it's hard to argue that they didn't get the best. High on a hill just a mile from the Quickway, it is still nestled in beautiful scenery and Rocco Commisso made every effort to keep it that way, both regarding the Mediacom Center's appearance (noticeable from a distance but blending into the scenery like a bright blue cloud), and protection of the grounds surrounding it. and even included a walking trail for employees. Mediacom, and its founder, are a big feather in the commercial cap of Blooming Grove, the hard work that local officials did to bring it here with a design that enhanced the landscape, and making it the successful part of the Town that it is. Its Grand Opening in September of 2013 included a day of festivities for the entire community with over 1,000 people in attendance.
I may be just a tad biased. As a teenager I grew up in a modest home in Saddle River, where the Commisso Mansion (Not a McMansion), actually the first mansion in the borough, was just a hop, skip and a jump away. They were the same humble and neighborly residents then. But there was no doubt where kids would be going en masse at Halloween. They knew that Commissos would have the absolute best treats!
` DON'T MISS THIS ON SUNDAY NIGHT! ******************************************************************************
Commisso is one of the most successful Italian immigrant entrepreneurs in the nation’s history, and his story will be profiled on primetime’s oldest and most-watched newsmagazine on television.
Commisso’s career in the cable television industry spans over 37 years. He founded Mediacom Communications Corporation in 1995 and directed an initial public offering (IPO) of his company in 2000. Following the IPO, the company underwent rapid growth, and quickly became the 5th largest cable company in the United States.
Commisso took the company private in 2011 and today he is the sole owner of Medicom. The business has annual revenues in excess of $1.7 billion, with operations in 22 states and 4,600 employees.
Prior to starting Medicom, Commisso spent a decade in the financial community. He also served as executive vice president, chief financial officer, and director of Cablevision Industries Corporation. During his tenure, privately-held Cablevision Industries grew from the 25th to the 8th largest cable company in the nation, serving 1.3 million customers at the time of its merger with Time Warner.
Commisso is active in the cable television industry, and serves on the board of directors of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, C-SPAN, and Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. He is also a member of the Cable TV Pioneers.
Born in Calabria, Italy, Rocco immigrated to the United States at age 12. He earned both a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia University. In 2013, Columbia recognized Commisso’s more than 40 years of contributions to the university by naming its soccer venue at the school’s Baker Athletics Complex as the Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.
The 60 Minutes segment will air this Sunday on CBS, March 19th, at 7:00 p.m.
Source: Mid-Hudson News