First, I want to thank the DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group for holding this fantastic event. Their guidance and input helped make this event succeed in so many ways. As I stated again and again in e-mails to the Blu-Con participants (and prospective attendees) it was an unprecedented gathering of the Blu-ray community. A packed house of the major players who create, produce and distribute Blu-ray discs was exactly what we needed as an industry to go into 2009 with a renewed direction of ideas and commitment to ensuring this format will transform the home entertainment experience.
The First Meeting For Blu-ray Innovators and Developers
Welcome to the website for Blu-Con! Blu-Con 1.0 was a one-day conference advancing the creation, production and distribution of Blu-ray Disc. The workshop achieved its goal of providing a forum for industry insiders to share their perspectives on innovative technologies behind the Blu-ray format. The unprecedented gathering of movie studios, and their service provider partners, who attended the kick off event on December 8th came together to discuss how to advance the marketplace, build technology relationships, and increase efficiencies in the manufacture of Blu-ray Disc products.
"This event is a call to action for the home entertainment community to share knowledge about Blu-ray’s marketing success while focusing on new opportunities for Blu-ray in the future. The time is right to advance the learning curve for marketing opportunities presented by Blu-ray Disc products, a truly extraordinary home entertainment experience.”Ron Sanders, Warner Home Video President and President of DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group
Netflix Chief Content Officer Delivers Blu-Con Keynote
Netflix is leading the charge in distributing Blu-ray titles to the masses. This exclusive Blu-Con 1.0 presentation by Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer of Netflix since 2000, was lively, informative, funny and insightful. By providing Blu-Con attendees with critical updates about what consumers seem to want from the format and how well it is faring out in the marketplace, Ted thoroughly entertained the over-capacity crowd. At Netflix, Ted oversees strategic content acquisition for Netflix and manages the company's relationships with studios, networks, filmmakers and producers.
Netflix is leading the charge in distributing Blu-ray titles to the masses. This exclusive Blu-Con 1.0 presentation by Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer of Netflix since 2000, was lively, informative, funny and insightful. By providing Blu-Con attendees with critical updates about what consumers seem to want from the format and how well it is faring out in the marketplace, Ted thoroughly entertained the over-capacity crowd. At Netflix, Ted oversees strategic content acquisition for Netflix and manages the company's relationships with studios, networks, filmmakers and producers.
For a complete list of topics covered at Blu-Con 1.0, as well as the names of speakers, presenters, moderators and panel participants, please click the "program" button at the top of this page.
Safe to Go Back in the Movie
By Chris Brown - Posted on December 16th, 2008
It was good to see so many of you last Monday. I've had a lot of people ask me for a copy of my Smart Remote presentation, so I'm posting it here. Enjoy.
Blu-Con Photo Gallery
By Guy Finley - Posted on December 16th, 2008
.jpg "Conference Opening:
Amy Jo Smith, Executive Director, DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group")
.jpg "Welcome Remarks:
Ron Sanders, President, Warner Home Video and President, DEG")
.jpg "“The Dark Knight” kicks off the event")
.jpg "BD and BD-Live - Marketing Interactivity and Infotainment to Consumers:
Marcy Magiera, Editor-in-Chief, Video Business;
Gordon Ho, Executive Vice President Worldwide Marketing, Creative Content and Business
Development, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment")
.jpg "Hilary J. Hoffman, Senior Vice President, Brand and Digital Marketing, Universal
Studios Home Entertainment;
Mary Daily, Executive Vice President Marketing - North America, 20th Century Fox Home
Entertainment")
.jpg "Rich Marty, Vice President, Business Development, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment;
Dorinda Marticorena, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Marketing and High-Definition,
Warner Home Video")
.jpg "Blu-Ribbon Showcase:
Bill Clark, President, Anchor Bay Entertainment")
.jpg "Building the Technology Backbone for BD-Live and Digital Copy:
Bill Foote, Blu-ray Disc Architect, Sun Microsystems;
Zane Vella, President, Related Content Data Base (RCDb);
Todd R. Collart, Senior Vice President New Media, Deluxe Digital Studios;
Geoff Campbell, Vice President, Business Development, Sony DADC;
Alex Bogdanovich, Supervisor, BD-Live Unit, Testronic Laboratories;
Mark R. Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, Javelin Ventures and Co-author of DVD
Demystified")
Images taken at the inaugural Blu-Con 1.0
Riding Both Horses: Shiny Disc meets Over-the-Top
By Zane Vella - Posted on December 2nd, 2008
Recently, home entertainment publications and business writers were buzzing about a DEG-sponsored study that found HDTV owners prefer Blu-ray as a format over downloading and streaming by a margin of 10-1. Great news for Blu-ray!
Simultaneously, Atlantic Records announced that digital music revenue had surpassed compact disc sales for the first time. Dark days ahead?
Blu-News...Week of November 28th
By Guy Finley - Posted on November 29th, 2008
Twilight “sparkles” on Blu-ray; Blu-ray steps into DVD’s shoes; BD pushes the gaming envelope; Onkyo’s first Blu-ray Player; Will Blu turn into Green?; Criterion turns Blu; Samsung streams HD via BD players; Amazon gets Beyonce Blu-ray Exclusive; Europe short on inexpensive BD hardware
A note from the the first consumer: Q.C.
By Al Limon - Posted on November 25th, 2008
Thanks for reading the 3rd i blog, where we share with you our thoughts and the latest news in Home Entertainment technology.
With the VHS format, the main concern from that technology was: “Is the picture and the sound good?”
Then along came DVDs, and the ante was upped. We had to ask ourselves: “Is there picture and sound? How well does it work?”
Blu-News...Week of November 21st
By Guy Finley - Posted on November 21st, 2008
HDTV owners hooked on Hi-Def; Red Box begins to turn Blu; Funai Gets Boost From Blu-ray, Converter Boxes; WarnerBlu begins; Sony premieres Blu-ray in China; Black Friday player prices drop below $150; Warner, Denon bundle Batman Blu-ray;
Blu-News...Week of November 14th
By Guy Finley - Posted on November 17th, 2008
TDK expected to break records; More news on lower prices for Blu-ray; Silicon Moutain offers all-in-one PC/HDTV/Blu-ray Player; Blu-ray TV Tops November Wish List; Blu-ray a top seller at Amazon; Study shows bright prospects for HDTV.
Blu-News...Week of November 7th
By Guy Finley - Posted on November 11th, 2008
Sony turns CD's Blu; Retail deals just keep-on-a-comin'; Disney and Panasonic team up for Blu-ray buyers; DEG unveils Tru Blu campaign; Sony DADC completes London facility; Wall-E comes to Blu-ray with superb audio/video quality.
Event Updates and feeling the buzz of Blu-Con!
By Guy Finley - Posted on November 2nd, 2008
We've had an unprecedented level of support and enthusiasm for Blu-Con...I am reeling from the past few weeks of activity!
