People to Watch in 2000
Who will make big news in the business world this year? Who will emerge from relative obscurity to become a major player? To start the new year, Times business reporters selected people from their beats who they believe will be among those to watch in 2000--in Southern California, across the country and around the world. Some are well known, having made big news in previous years. Others are not exactly household names but nevertheless are likely to make a major impact in their fields.
Of course, there’s no way to predict just what’s going to happen in the next 12 months. Nor can any such list be complete--there’s always the come-from-nowhere phenom who’ll surprise everyone. But it’s a good bet that if you follow the fortunes of these 22, you’ll see the top business stories of 2000 unfold.
Eddy Hartenstein of DirecTV
Eddy Hartenstein, 49, is a mild-mannered engineer who is chief executive of DirecTV Inc., the nation’s leading satellite television service and the cable industry’s worst nightmare. Since launching as an alternative to cable in 1994, DirecTV has grown to 7.8 million subscribers, becoming the nation’s fourth-largest pay-TV service after those of AT&T; Corp., Time Warner Inc. and Comcast Corp., and making satellite TV the most successful consumer electronics launch in history.
El Segundo-based DirecTV could shatter all sales records in 2000. Analysts are predicting explosive growth as a result of new laws passed by Congress late last year allowing satellite television providers to carry local broadcast channels. Droves of dissatisfied cable customers are expected to defect to DirecTV and its rival, Dish Network, owned by EchoStar Communications Corp., lifting their share of American homes to 30% over the next several years, up from about 11% today.
The sizzle has made DirecTV the jewel of its parent company, General Motors Corp., and has ignited speculation recently that the auto maker will spin off the unit, which is part of Hughes Electronics, to unlock value.
In the meantime, a $1.5-billion investment from America Online Inc. and deals with Tivo Inc., Wink Communications Inc., regional phone companies and major electronics retailers have positioned DirecTV to match cable’s growing array of offerings, from interactive TV and high-speed Internet access to local and long-distance calling.
