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After dark at Allen & Co. conference

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When the work is done, it’s time for fun.

After a rough first day of cocktails, a BBQ and a wagon ride, many of the attendees at the Allen & Co. conference retired to the Duchin Lounge inside the Sun Valley Resort to mingle with each other and duck reporters.

The scene often makes for interesting pairings. Harvey Weinstein, Cablevision Chief Executive Jim Dolan, Providence Equity chief Jonathan Nelson and Sony Corp. of America CFO Rob Wiesenthal were hanging outside the lounge, perhaps discussing Dolan’s new digital video recorder. Asked about working with content partners who are very wary of Cablevision’s new remote DVR (see our coverage of the device here), Dolan seemed confident an accord with programmers could be reached.

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Inside the dark bar, Time Warner Chief Executive Jeff Bewkes was holding court with WME Entertainment’s Jim Wiatt, Capitol Research’s Gordy Crawford, media investor Vivi Nevo and former MySpace Chairman Richard Rosenblatt.

Former Viacom CEO turned global traveler and Oprah Winfrey adviser Tom Freston seemed very relaxed making small talk about the legacy of Michael Jackson and what it meant to MTV. ‘He helped put it on the map,’ Freston said.

Best overheard line of the night. When the bill was presented to a group of power players, Weinstein cracked, ‘bill it to Zucker,’ referring to NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker with whom Weinstein had an ugly legal battle over ‘Project Runway.’

Although known to keep the bar open until the wee hours of the night, on Day One the place was pretty much cleared out before midnight. Perhaps the big shots were saving their stamina for today’s 6:30 a.m. start.

-- Joe Flint

Follow Joe on Twitter

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