David B. Williams

SVP / GM, Channels
PocketWatch, Inc.

As SVP/GM of Channels, David leads streaming video businesses at pocket.watch, spearheading initiatives across FAST, SVOD, and YouTube operations, and guiding successful strategies for some of the largest kids and family creators in the world. David has grown pocket.watch into a streaming juggernaut with the most widely distributed kids FAST channels, the largest independent kids SVOD service, Ryan and Friends Plus, and massive audiences across the leading platforms around the world. With over 25 years at the frontiers of digital media, David was previously part of Maker Studios’ senior leadership where he led the talent team and engineered marquee content initiatives. Prior highlights include serving as Chief Content and Technology Strategist for Endemol Beyond USA, co-founding venture-backed Take180 which was acquired by The Walt Disney Company, and developing patented technology that powered fan-driven initiatives for such franchises as Star Trek and Toy Story, and earned an Interactive Emmy Award nomination for The L Word. A longtime entrepreneur, in 1996, David founded a digital-first entertainment studio where he developed the world’s first major animated web series which was widely licensed to distributors including Showtime Networks.

Industry Track

Distribution 4.0: The Economics of Multi-Platform and Multi-Channel Growth

Duration: 45 minutes

Location: Room 304CD

Friday, June 20

11:55 am - 12:40 pm

Featuring: David B. Williams (SVP / GM, Channels at PocketWatch, Inc.), Matt Gielen (CEO at Silver Berry Studios), Michael Hyon Johnson (Director of Streaming & Content Operations at Electric Entertainment) and more

In today’s fragmented media landscape, distribution is no longer a downstream decision — it’s a core strategic function. This session brings together creators and industry leaders to unpack how multi-platform and multi-channel strategies are being designed to drive both audience growth and monetization. From tailoring content to platform-specific formats to leveraging syndication, localization, and strategic partnerships, we’ll explore the tactics that are expanding reach and deepening engagement. The conversation will also dig into the economics behind these moves: how value is defined and measured across platforms, how monetization models vary, and what it takes to build a distribution strategy that scales without sacrificing control.

Participants