DEG Awards Honor Walmart, 'Avengers'

7 Jan, 2013 By: John Latchem

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For the first time, a single retailer swept the three retail categories of the annual awards handed out by DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group. During the annual DEG reception Jan. 8 at this year’s CES in Las Vegas, Walmart will be named the 2012 DEG Retailer of the Year for hardware, software and digital.

“Walmart’s extraordinary accomplishments in the home entertainment category have been an enormous source of growth for the industry,” said Ron Sanders, president of the DEG board of directors and president of Warner Home Video. “This award is a true testament to Walmart’s leadership and innovation, and a token of the DEG’s overwhelming appreciation for their ongoing partnership.”

The DEG awards honor the top digital entertainment products and retailers who excel at marketing them. Voters cited Walmart’s continued support of Blu-ray Disc as well as its efforts to promote UltraViolet through its disc-to-digital program.

“Walmart’s support of the disc-to-digital initiative through Vudu has been instrumental in introducing UltraViolet to a new generation of consumers,” said Craig Kornblau, VP of the DEG board of directors and president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. “Walmart and Vudu have been aggressive in promoting the UltraViolet ecosystem and have created an exceptional, consumer-friendly digital experience that enables consumers to experience the promise of digital ownership of movies and TV shows today.”

In the DEG Creative Excellence Awards, honoring the top Blu-ray Disc releases of 2012, Theatrical Title of the Year goes to The Avengers, from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

Classic Title of the Year is a tie between two Universal titles: The Alfred Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection and Jaws. Music Title of the Year is Neil Young Journeys, from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, while 3D Title of the Year goes to Paramount Home Media Distribution’s Hugo.

Second-Screen App of the Year goes to the app for The Dark Knight Rises, created by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

Rounding out the honors are the DEG Emiel N. Petrone Innovation Awards, acknowledging the best digital entertainment products released in 2012.

Best Physical Media Product goes to the BDP-105 Blu-ray Disc Player by Oppo, Best Digital Media Product goes to Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD and Most Innovative Home Entertainment Product is Sony’s
XBR-84X900 4K Ultra HDTV.

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