panelist
Mark Cuban
Chairman, Landmark Theaters
Co-Founder, HDNet Films & 2929 Entertainment

In September 2001, Mark Cuban and co-founder Philip Garvin launched HDNet, the world’s first national television network broadcasting entirely in 1080i high definition television (HDTV).

Fueled by Cuban’s leadership and enthusiasm, HDNet has quickly emerged as the leading provider of quality HDTV news, entertainment and sports programming. Today, his company operates two 24-hour all-HD networks, HDNet and HDNet Movies. HDNet features up to 20 hours of original high-definition programming each week, the most of any network.

Cuban has been an entrepreneur since an early age. He launched several small businesses as a teen and put himself through Indiana University. Cuban then started a computer consulting firm, Microsolutions, and after seven years of nonstop work, he sold the company to Compuserve in 1990 and briefly retired.

In 1995, Cuban and partner Todd Wagner co-founded Broadcast.com, an Internet service that provided streaming audio and video of live events. Yahoo! purchased Broadcast.com in 1999, making Cuban one of the wealthiest people in the U.S. Cuban and Wagner partnered again to create 2929 Entertainment, a holding company that owns Landmark Theaters, Magnolia Pictures and Rysher Entertainment. The company also created 2929 Productions and HDNet Films.

In January 2000, Cuban fulfilled a dream by purchasing the Dallas Mavericks. The club has enjoyed unparalleled success during his tenure as owner, recording its ninth consecutive season with 50 or more victories in 2008-09.