Monday, September 29 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Track I: DVD - Hollywood’s Booming Programming and Marketing Sector - Movies, TV Shows, Music, Collector’s Editions and Specialized Content At first it was a new technology. Then it had good buzz, for a new product – good word of mouth. Then it became the fastest growing home entertainment consumer electronics product in history. And now it is the foundation for a booming entertainment industry. DVD is a legitimate phenomenon. DVDs are VHS plus unlimited forms of extra content in a universally hailed superior technology. And the market is only first being realized. DVD is a must-own item for all entertainment fans. Who would have suspected that DVD was going to establish itself in the blockbuster category for the entertainment industry. Well, it has done just that and in this session, we welcome the leaders in the DVD sector. Gordon Ho, Sr. Vice President, Buena Vista Home Entertainment Mike Saksa, Vice President U.S. Marketing, Warner Home Video Kelly Sooter, Domestic Head, DreamWorks Home Entertainment Peter Staddon, SVP, Marketing, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Alex Carloss, Senior Vice President, Domestic Marketing, MGM Home Entertainment Group Moderator: Neil McGinness, Vice President, National Lampoon Kelly Sooter, Domestic Head, DreamWorks Home Entertainment: As domestic head of DreamWorks Home Entertainment (DHE), Kelly Sooter oversees the sales, marketing and distribution of DreamWorks VHS and DVD products in the U.S. and Canada. Joining DreamWorks in 1997, Sooter was instrumental in launching the domestic video division and crafting its overall strategies and business objectives. Under her leadership, she has helped guide the division to numerous ground-breaking successes including the 2001 release of the #1 video of 2001, "Shrek," which has sold more than 24 million units in North America. Upon its release, "Shrek" became the best-selling DVD of all-time in North America, and still ranks among the top best sellers ever. Last year, this success continued with the release of "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron." Expert marketing and innovative retail programs led the $73 million box office animated feature to sell over 7 million VHS and DVD units domestically, generating close to 50 percent more in retail sales than in movie ticket rings. In the first half of 2003, DreamWorks significantly increased its market share in both the rental and sell-through categories. DreamWorks had more titles among the top ten renters than any other studio with three rankings ("The Ring" #5, "Catch Me" #7, "Road To Perdition" #10) and more titles than any other studio in the top 15, with four titles making the list ("Minority Report" #13). The division increased its rental market share by 88%, capturing a 7.5% share and moving up two slots to the #6 position. Sell-through consumer spending on DreamWorks titles (VHS/DVD) increased from 2.7% last year to 4.2%, a 60% growth. When rental and sell-through spending for the first half of 2003 are combined, DreamWorks had more titles in the top 20 than any other studio with five ranked ("The Ring" #7, "Catch Me If You Can" #9, "Road To Perdition" #12, "Old School" #17, "Minority Report" #20). With an emphasis on DreamWorks’ continual production of high-quality family products, Sooter has helped craft strategic retail initiatives and creative marketing programs that led many of the studio’s titles to become mainstays in family video libraries. In addition to "Shrek" and "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron," these successes are also illustrated by the releases of "The Prince Of Egypt" and "Antz," which ranked among the top five best-selling videos of 1999, as well as "Chicken Run" which is among the top ten best selling videos of last year and remains a top-selling family DVD. Prior to joining DreamWorks Home Entertainment, Sooter worked at Walt Disney Home Video for more than eight years, first as brand manager, then as executive director for retail marketing, the first ever division designed to set up strategic relationships with retail in all classes of trade. Before departing Disney, Sooter oversaw the Disney Interactive business for Buena Vista Home Video, where she was responsible for retail marketing, sales, manufacturing, distribution, and financial forecasting for the division. Prior to that she was in various marketing and publicity roles at Lawry Foods. Born in Glendale, California, Sooter attended California State University Northridge where she received a BA in Home Economics with a minor in Journalism. Alex Carloss, Senior Vice President, Domestic Marketing, MGM Home Entertainment Group: As Senior Vice President, Domestic Marketing for MGM Home Entertainment, Alex Carloss is part of a team charged with maximizing the largest modern film library in the business on DVD. Alex joined MGM from Real Networks, the pioneer in internet media delivery, where he served as Vice President, E-commerce. Previously he served in a variety of entertainment marketing capacities: Electronic Arts as Vice President, PC Entertainment marketing; Warner Home Video as Director of Sell Through Marketing and Buena Vista Home Entertainment in both the UK and Australia. He holds a Master of Arts from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Neil McGinness, is Vice President for National Lampoon, known worldwide as a leading film and entertainment brand. Prior to National Lampoon, At National Lampoon, Neil helps corporations grow their brands by developing entertainment-based strategic marketing programs through National Lampoon properties in television, radio, publishing, online, and on-campus through its newly acquired college cable television network. Before joining National Lampoon, McGinness was Vice President, Marketing & Business Development at CMJ, the leading music publisher and concert producer. Prior to joining CMJ, Mr. McGinness spent 10 years working for Lorne Michaels' company, Broadway Video Entertainment eventually becoming Vice President for Marketing & Business Development. His clients have included Coca-Cola, MTV, Nokia, Showtime Networks, Philips Electronics, SONY, TDK, AOL and Airwalk Shoes. He holds a master's degree from NYU's Institute of Film and Television (Tisch School) and received a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University.