 |
LOS ANGELES (August 9, 2006) – DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group (DEG) kicked off its 10th year as the industry’s leading association charged with bringing together hardware and software companies to partner in home entertainment activities. The group has continually evolved to address new trends and emerging technologies. Currently, the DEG is focused on embracing high definition technologies, including HDTV and high definition packaged media.
DEG Elects New Board of Directors
The 30 Regular voting members of the DEG elected a new Board of Directors to serve for the coming fiscal year (August 1 – July 31). The Board then voted to elect the Officers – the five member Executive Committee comprised of President, two Vice Presidents, Secretary and CFO. The Executive Committee is responsible for providing leadership and oversight of the DEG’s agenda, budget and Executive Staff.
The same Officers were re-elected for a second year. Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment President Bob Chapek remains President of the DEG. The DEG’s two Vice Presidents are Reid Sullivan, Vice President, Entertainment Group, Panasonic Consumer Electronics and Peter Staddon, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Universal Studios Home Entertainment President Craig Kornblau has been re-elected CFO and New Line Home Entertainment President and Chief Operating Officer Stephen Einhorn has been re-elected Secretary.
“I’m proud to be re-elected President to the only industry-supported group that engages participation from the hardware and software communities,” said Bob Chapek, President, DEG and President, Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment. “It is because of this open dialogue that the DEG has been able to cultivate and maintain its relevancy and effectiveness as an association that represents so many important participants in the home entertainment industry, including studios, music companies, consumer electronics manufacturers, IT and, of course, retailers.”
About the transition to high definition, Chapek said, “It is through the DEG’s collaboration that we hope to provide support and initiatives that will help the trade, the retail community and consumers evolve to a world of brighter picture, interactive features and improved viewing experiences that will define high definition.”
DEG BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Fiscal Year 2006-2007
PRESIDENT
Bob Chapek
Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment
VICE PRESIDENT
Reid Sullivan
Panasonic Consumer Electronics
VICE PRESIDENT
Peter Staddon
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
SECRETARY
Stephen Einhorn
New Line Home Entertainment
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Craig Kornblau
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
BOARD MEMBERS
Maureen Weber
Hewlett Packard Company
Karl Bearnarth (newly elected)
JVC Company of America
Steve Beeks (newly elected)
Lionsgate
Blair Westlake (newly elected)
Microsoft
Kelley Avery
Paramount Pictures Worldwide Home Entertainment
Gary Bauhard
Pioneer Electronics (USA)
Marty Gordon
Philips Consumer Electronics
Leslie Cohen
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Jeff Goldstein
Sony Electronics
Marshall Forster
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
John Town
Thomson
Jodi Sally
Toshiba America Consumer Products
Paul Bishow
Universal Music Group
Ron Sanders
Warner Home Video
DEG Announces New Committees
The DEG announced three new working Committees for the coming fiscal year. The DEG is charged with promoting the DVD format, as well as offering member companies a platform to engage in ongoing discussions concerning various issues and opportunities which relate to other digital technologies that may emerge in the future. The three Committees – Technology, Content and Communications – work to help the membership accomplish these objectives. The Board approves the agenda for the Committees, which meet monthly. Committee volunteers serve for one year.
“The DEG works hard to create Committees that provide a balanced representation of the membership and the industry as a whole,” said Stephen Einhorn, Secretary, DEG and President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Home Entertainment. “We are pleased with the support DEG members give to the Committees and know that they will create important initiatives in the coming year to address the pressing issues of high definition, piracy and emerging technologies. The Committees will work diligently to help the DEG achieve its agenda of transitioning from standard definition to high definition.”
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
Charter: To provide a business context on current and emerging technologies that impact members of the DEG and consumer acceptance. The Committee provides an objective resource for identification and assessment of future technology development that will have relevance to the DEG.
Chair
Todd Collart
SONIC SOLUTIONS
Co-Chair
Jerry Pierce
UNIVERSAL PICTURES
Members
Peter Kaars
PHILIPS ELECTRONICS
James Williamson
SONY ELECTRONICS
Daniel De La Rosa
WALT DISNEY STUDIOS
Lewis Ostrover
WARNER HOME VIDEO
CONTENT COMMITTEE
Charter: To provide insight into the impact of new technologies identified by the Technology Committee. The Content Committee provides a perspective on the commercial or business model impact these technologies may have on the consumer marketplace.
Chair
Paul Bishow
UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP
Co-Chair
Adam Gervin
MACROVISION
Members
John Powers
IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Matt Lasorsa
NEW LINE HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Eisuke Tsuyuzaki
PANASONIC NORTH AMERICA
Bryan Ellenburg
PARAMOUNT PICTURES
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
Charter: Provide guidance on current activities within the DEG, including, but not limited to trade events, DEG quarterly meetings, public relations, promotions and merchandising opportunities. The Communications Committee also creates opportunities for involvement for the DEG Retail Advisory Board.
Chair
Marty Gordon
PHILIPS ELECTRONICS
Co-chair
Steve Nickerson
WARNER HOME VIDEO
Members
Jim Reilly
PANASONIC CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
Leslie Cohen
SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Maria Repole
TOSHIBA
Steve Feldstein
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group is a Los Angeles-based, industry-funded nonprofit corporation that advocates and promotes the many benefits associated with DVD while providing updated information regarding the format to both the media and the retail trade. The DEG offers a forum for member companies to engage in ongoing discussions concerning various issues and opportunities, which relate to other new digital technologies that may emerge in the future.
Regular members of the DEG are Anchor Bay Entertainment, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, D&M Holdings, DTS Entertainment, EMI Recorded Music, HBO Video, Hewlett-Packard, Image Entertainment, JVC Company of America, Lionsgate, MGM Home Entertainment, Microsoft, New Line Home Entertainment, Panasonic Consumer Electronics, Paramount Home Entertainment, Philips Consumer Electronics, Pioneer Electronics (USA), Sony Electronics, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Thomson, Toshiba America Consumer Products, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Warner Home Video.
Associate members are AGI Media, Ascent Media/Blink Digital, Blockbuster, CinemaNow, Clear-Vu, Deluxe Digital, Deluxe Media Services, e2amp inc., Giant Interactive, JVC Disc America, Kestrel Wireless, Macrovision, Memory-Tech, Netflix, Panasonic North America, Sonic Solutions, Sonopress, Sony DADC, Technicolor and Universal Operations Group.
Interested consumers can reach the DEG at (310) 888-2201, via e-mail at getinfo@digitalentertainmentinfo.com or through its web site at www.digitalentertainmentinfo.com .
# # #
|
