3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session A:
DH15: Movie Distribution and the Internet Timeline - Via the PC - Via the Set-Top
Movies delivered via the Internet! No way! Way! What seemed to be dead on arrival just a year ago, is an industry on the verge of busting out. SVOD, VOD - features delivered via the Internet - via the PC and via the set-top is very much a part of our future. A centerpiece of this anticipated future is the expectation that the PVR, the Personal Video Recorder will become a fixture on the next generation of all home PCs as well as in Set-tops. Add to that a wireless connection between the PC/PVR and the Set-top or TV, and it doesn’t take brain surgery to see how the herky-jerky downside of IP delivery of rich media will become a secondary consideration as consumers download content to the PVR and play it back in crisp, full screen DVD quality. Under this scenario, Internet SVOD will become a full competitor to SVOD via the cable or satellite. IP delivery of features is about to reshape the landscape of the film industry.
Peter Lude, Executive VP and Chief Technology Officer, iBlast
John Canning, Technical Evangelist, Windows eHome, Microsoft Corp.
Jim Ramo, Chief Executive Officer, Movielink (formed by MGM, Paramount, Sony, Universal Studios & Warner Bros.)
Michael Goodman, Senior Analyst, Yankee Group, Media & Entertainment Strategies
Bruce Eisen, Executive Vice President, CinemaNow
Jim O'Brien, Global Director, Entertainment & Media, Exodus - A Cable & Wireless Service
Lisa Crane, Managing Partner, Media Venture Advisors, Moderator
John Canning, Technical Evangelist, Microsoft Windows eHome Division: Mr. Canning leads internal and external evangelism for Windows eHome’s mission and home networking products. He is a dynamic contributor to all aspects of the Windows eHome team’s efforts to drive a common strategy and vision in this exciting new field; and he works with external third-parties in the areas of media and data distribution, DRM, content, and services. Prior to assuming his current role in Microsoft’s new division, Mr. Canning was Third-Party Product Manager for Microsoft’s TV Platforms Group. He worked with companies to develop and manage compelling new network services for cable operators, and to help them increase operational efficiencies and customer service. Before joining Microsoft in 1997, Mr. Canning held various marketing and engineering positions with Scientific-Atlanta, Inc, where he participated in product development and implementation of cable modem systems as applications architect and systems engineer. Mr. Canning holds a Master’s degree in information design and technology, and a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is a member of the SCTE, CTAM, NCTA, and ACM. His expertise in networking, systems, and applications has earned him speaking engagements at industry conferences and events, most recently at Broadband Home Conference on iTV in the Home as well as Kagan’s Video on Demand Summit and the Society of Cable Television Engineer’s Emerging Technologies.
Jim Ramo, Chief Executive Officer, Movielink:Jim Ramo’s 25 years of ex
perience in the delivery of entertainment and information has made him a leading member of the broadcast, cable and satellite industries. His credentials range from executive positions in Fortune 500 companies to start-ups where he has built a reputation for using new technologies to broaden the distribution of content to consumers. From 1985 to 1990, Mr. Ramo was vice president of Hughes Communications (the forerunner of PanAm Sat) responsible for sales to the cable and broadcast industry. Most notably, from 1990-1997, he was a primary founder, and executive vice-president of DIRECTV, the industry leading DBS company. Following DIRECTV, he was COO of TVN Entertainment and CEO of Geocast Network Systems from 1997 to 2000. Before Hughes, he was a vice president at Times Mirror Cable Television, a manager at TRW Datacom International and a director of finance at CBS Television. Most recently, Mr. Ramo was in residence at Shelter Ventures, LLC, consulting for various communications companies and initiating investment opportunities in new media for this $200 million fund. Mr. Ramo has a M.S. degree from London School of Economics and a B.A. from University of California, Berkeley. He has two adult children and he and his wife and teenage daughter live in Los Angeles.Bruce Eisen, Executive Vice President, CinemaNow: Mr. Eisen joined Trimark Pictures in 1991 as the head of Trimark's Legal/Business Affairs department where he was instrumental in negotiating film acquisition, music, financing and distribution agreements. Mr. Eisen became a Vice President in 1994 and handled Trimark's production legal work. In that capacity Mr. Eisen negotiated actor, director, producer and other talent agreements and negotiated with all of the Hollywood labor guilds. He has significant experience in all aspects of the movie industry including producing and writing several films. In 1999, Mr. Eisen was promoted to Senior Vice President and was placed in charge of all of Trimark's Internet related activities including spearheading Trimark's Internet based theatrical motion picture marketing campaigns. Later that year Mr. Eisen left Trimark Pictures to join CinemaNow as Executive Vice President. Mr. Eisen graduated from Clark University with a degree in Philosophy and subsequently received his law degree from University of Southern California Law Center.
Jim O'Brien, Global Director, Entertainment & Media, Exodus - A Cable & Wireless Service: As Director of Footprint® Streaming Services at Digital Island, O’Brien has responsibility for developing and driving the company’s market strategy for the delivery of streamed content over the Web. His charter includes defining the technical direction of Digital Island’s streaming services as well as managing revenue growth in this cutting edge area of the Internet. Previous to joining Digital Island in August of 2000, O’Brien was director of Business Development at Channelmatic-LIMT, where he was responsible for strategic product development and and key OEM, distributor and customer accounts. A pioneer in the deployment of computer-based control and video server systems in broadcast, cable, satellite and streaming server markets, O’Brien is a recognized expert in in the field of TV Station control systems, with special emphasis in their integration with Web streaming. He has over 20 years of experience working with many of the world's largest television networks, TV station ownership groups and cable TV MSO's, relating to control systems, video servers and web streaming strategies. O’Brien has extensive industry experience in business development, product management and sales and has held key positions at ASC/Leitch, New Media-Los Angeles, Wexler Video and Visions International. He is an active member of SMPTE, SCTE and ITVA and is a graduate of Kansas State – Pittsburg.
Lisa Crane, Managing Partner, Media Venture Advisors. Ms. Crane h
as a reputation for strategic thinking, branding, and new economy leadership. From charting the course for a groundbreaking online entertainment venture to guiding one of the major television networks through uncharted Internet territory, her success stems from an ability to build and direct profit-oriented management teams. Lisa Crane is the Managing Partner of Media Venture Advisors, an e-consulting firm providing strategic consulting services to leading Internet and entertainment companies. Ms. Crane is the former president and CEO of Soundbreak.com, the interactive online music company. She was Vice President of NBC Interactive and General Manager of NBC.com, the network's flagship entertainment website. Prior to NBC, Ms. Crane served as Vice President of Universal Studios. Education & Affiliations: Lisa Crane holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and a bachelor's degree from UCLA. Crane has held seats on the boards of two public companies, and currently sits on the board of advisors of the Digital Media Marketing Organization, Proximity File, Spiderdance, On2.com, The Dial.com and Pulse Entertainment. Ms. Crane is active in the Motion Picture and Television Fund. She is also one of the most popular speakers on the internet conference circuit, having spoken at Internet World, Streaming Media West, emediatainment world, adtech, Ebiz, Digital Hollywood, NAB, the Morgan Stanley/Industry Standard Internet Summit, DDMI, CMJ/Change Music, BandWidth, Digital Coast 1999/2000, Herring on Hollywood, Variety's Internet Summit, Jupiter's PlugIn, Radio & Records, VIC's Industry Breakfast, and many others. Lisa has also taught several classes at major universities on e-business and entertainment, including USC and UCLA.Michael Goodman joined the Yankee Group as a senior research analyst for the Media & Entertainment Strategies Planning Service in January 1999. Mr. Goodman's responsibilities include research and analysis for the converging media and entertainment products and services among consumers. This includes such topics as broadband entertainment (movies, music and games), high-speed Internet (cable modems and satellite), cable television (from the prospective of both programmers and cable operators), direct broadcast satellite (DBS), broadcast television. Mr. Goodman has extensive knowledge of the marketing issues facing record labels, retailers, broadcast and cable, direct broadcast satellite (DBS), and consumer electronics. His other areas of expertise include audience research (television ratings), market research, and project management. Prior to joining the Yankee Group, Mr. Goodman was a marketing representative for Nielsen Media Research, where he was responsible for the design, management, analysis, and marketing of custom research projects. In addition to television audience research, topics covered included the penetration and usage of new technologies in the home, consumer satisfaction, market profiles, and concept testing. Prior to his position at Nielsen Media Research, Mr. Goodman held several positions with VOPAN Marketing Research, conducting market research on consumer products. Michael Goodman holds a B.S. degree in business administration from Boston University.
Peter Lude is Executive VP and Chief Technology Officer at iBlast, the largest data broadcasting company in the US, based in Los Angeles. Peter is a 25-year veteran of the broadcast industry, having started his career at several television stations prior to founding an independent systems integration and consulting firm – Lude Broadcast Engineering -- based in San Francisco. That firm was acquired by Sony in 1990 to form the nucleus of the Sony system integration operation serving North and South America. Immediately prior to joining iBlast, Mr. Ludé served as Senior Vice President of the Sony Broadcast group, responsible for systems implementation, software development and system product marketing in the US. He has been involved in the design and construction of over 300 large-scale projects including digital cable head-ends, DBS satellite programming facilities, High Definition production and post-production centers and numerous terrestrial television stations. He serves on the board of Governors for SMPTE, is an active member of SBE and IEEE, and is a graduate of the College of San Mateo.