DEG Restructures, Refocuses

20 Aug, 2009 By: Chris Tribbey

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BURBANK, Calif. — DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group has restructured four of its major committees and redefined its mission as a home entertainment industry association, increasing its focus on Blu-ray Disc and electronic delivery of content.

“Unprecedented consumer demand for better quality and more-flexible options for content has created the need for the DEG to examine its current practices,” said DEG president Ron Sanders, also president of Warner Home Video. “To ensure we remain the key source for authoritative and credible industry support, the DEG is making some important changes that will affect how we respond to the needs of the industry.” 

The group hopes the new structure will draw companies traditionally absent from the DEG’s membership, including mobile phone companies and cable and satellite providers.

With the industry’s push for increased consumer Blu-ray adoption, and acceptance of emerging modes of content delivery, Established Categories and Developing Platforms committees have been created. The former, chaired by Jeffrey Thompson, VP of worldwide business development for Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, will focus on marketing and trade initiatives for physical product. The latter, chaired by Leslie Cohen, SVP of new products and services for Sony Music Entertainment, will tackle emerging services and platforms for the delivery of consumer content.

The other two committees are Supply Chain, chaired by Dan Miron, VP of worldwide supply chain management for Warner Home Video; and Communications, chaired by Jim Noonan, SVP of worldwide strategic promotions and communications for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group.

DEG’s former committees were the Technology and Content committees.

The new committees have met once in the last two weeks and are prioritizing industry needs going forward, according to Amy Jo Smith, DEG executive director.

“We believe the industry’s needs have stretched beyond the current scope of the DEG,” added Bob Chapek, DEG chairman and president of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. “A lot of the arms and legs of this thing will be put on in the next month or two.”

The DEG’s Web site, , has been revamped to reflect the group’s new committees and mission statement.

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