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Penthouse TV Head Jim English

He calls me back Friday, April 21, 2006.

Jim moved to Penthouse in June of 2005 after a one year Sabbatical from running Playboy Entertainment.

He's been in Adult entertainment for more than 15 years.

Now he's President of Penthouse Entertainment.

I've known about him for a decade but we've never spoken until now. We know many people in common including Gary Gray (head of Penthouse TV production) and producer Eric Mittleman.

Luke: "May I roll tape and ask you some questions?"

Jim: "Sure. Not that I'll answer them, but give it a shot."

Luke: "How did you get into Adult?"

Jim: "I started out at the ABC affiliate in Washington D.C. I then joined HBO and then Showtime. We didn't carry Adult in the way you know Adult, but we had simulated Adult. Then MGM's Viewer's Choice (for seven years) which is now In Demand. That's where we began the Hot Choice Channel, which was light Adult. Then over to Playboy in 1995.

"Michael Fleming who used to run the Playboy Channel had left to run the Gameshow Network. Tony Linn was in charge of Playboy Entertainment. We had worked together at HBO. It was time for me to do something new."

Luke: "Which parts of your job do you love and which do you hate?"

Jim: "I love being able to create the content. Nightcalls, Sex Court, etc were my creations. We're doing similar things at Penthouse. The part you don't like is all the paper.

"Nick Guccione made a video a month for Penthouse since [1982? for a total of 120 videos] primarily for the home video market. The original company was never really involved in television or much of the media beyond the internet.

"We're building up and out. We're building content to offer in all the formats from DVD to cable to mobile to internet to Ipod worldwide. We're putting together distribution deals. Then we'll market the brand and market the content and hope that the world understands there's more than just Penthouse magazine.

"Penthouse TV will start out as VOD (July) then move out to linear distribution (cable and satellite) then mobile...

"MPEG4 is the whizbang improvement over MPEG2. We're waiting for Motorola to finish up its MPEG4 encoders so we can start to broadcast in high definition for satellite, IPTV (television over the internet)..."

Luke: "What do you do best and what do you delegate?"

Jim: "We're a small staff (about a dozen) so there's little delegation. We're doing about six different jobs per person.

"I get it organized. I get a team put together. I make it happen."

Luke: "What are the keys to keeping good employee morale?"

Jim: "Donuts on Friday.

"The morale is high because everybody knows what is going on and has a voice and opportunity that most people did not have in their prior jobs.

"Our motto [for content] is -- treat adults like adults. We have great women and great production values and you can see what is going on."

Luke: "How can you tell whether you are being successful?"

Jim: "Every launch is a notch in our belt, be it VOD or linear or IPTV...

"We went to the MPTA (cable show) and we were swamped. The brand is strong. Even if you go to China where the magazine is not allowed, people know what Penthouse is."

Luke: "When you look back on your career, what are the smartest things you've done and the dumbest things?"

Jim: "The smartest was getting into television. I grew up in Washington D.C.. I never wanted to move to New York but I did. Then I never wanted to move to California, and I did. I should wish that I never move to London because I do.

"I've been fortunate that every job has worked out well. Every job has taken me a step above the last.

"I don't look back and say, 'I regret that.'"

Luke: "What are you proudest of?"

Jim: "I remember when I worked in regular television that we should equip a helicopter with a camera and they all said I was crazy. Now KABC has two choppers fully rigged. So I was ahead of my time.

"At HBO, we played the first music videos (circa 1979). I remember the senior management being upset because they thought the videos were too racy (Carly Simon and Carlene Carter). Then Viacom came along and launched MTV.

"I'm proud that I started the idea but I think now that I should've tried harder [to push it].

"I worked at HBO when we were 100 people.

"I learned how to sell really bad movies (Jinxed, Yes Giorgio) when I worked at MGM. Anyone can sell Star Wars. If you can sell that s---, you're OK.

"Viewers Choice, we took that from nothing. It had more boxing, more wrestling, more concerts in my seven years... We worked with Don King, Bob Marum, Vince McMahon.

"Playboy [TV] wasn't doing so good when I got there. We turned it around from one channel to many channels.

"I don't mean to brag, but I've had a really good career."

Luke: "If I were to talk to the people who've worked for you over the years, and promise them anonymity, how would they describe you?"

Jim: "They'd say positive things. My general philosophy is -- life is too short to beat the s--- out of each other. If you're not having a good time, then go somewhere else. This is all about entertainment (and money)."