Home Entertainment Summit Examines Industry in transFORMATion

A centerpiece of the annual home entertainment industry calendar returns to Los Angeles June 16-17 when Home Media Magazine presents the seventh annual Home Entertainment Summit: transFORMATions.

This year's event, again held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City, Calif., will examine several key issues facing the future of home entertainment. Is Blu-ray Disc ready to take the mantle of packaged media from DVD? Will electronic sellthrough be a factor in home viewing habits?

Consumers, bloggers, industry experts and studio representatives will be on hand to weigh in on these issues. The two-day event will feature two market research super sessions, including a report from Screen Digest's Helen Davis Jayalath. And for the seventh consecutive year, studio presidents will gather to discuss trends and developments in the industry.

This year, Stephen Einhorn, president of New Line Home Entertainment, and his team will be honored as the DVD Visionaries of the Year at a special dinner that looks back at New Line's impact on the industry.

Also on tap are the fourth annual DVD Critics Awards, honoring the best DVDs and high-def discs of 2007, as chosen by a panel of DVD experts and entertainment journalists.

Other highlights:

- A State of the Industry presentation, looking at both the domestic and international facets of home entertainment.

- Panels examining the challenges in transitioning from DVD to Blu-ray Disc, and what it will take for America to convert, as well as new innovations of Blu-ray Disc spurred by the Internet and increased interactivity.

- A look at the state of electronic sellthrough, and why it hasn't caught on with movies as it did with music.

- A focus group that looks at home entertainment habits from consumers representing all walks of life.

- A luncheon featuring product presentations and a keynote speaker.

- The It's Blu cocktail party, celebrating the end of the format war with a selection of special "Blu" beverages and snacks.

The summit is produced by Home Media Magazine in cooperation with DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group.

For information, visit HomeMediaConferences.com or contact Kristina Kronenberg at kkronenberg@questex.com or 714/338-6743.