Connections

MESA Members Invited to Join DEG’s EnTech Fest

DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group will hold its second annual EnTech Fest on March 29 at Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, where it will feature exhibits, an expanded conference program and DEG’s annual reception in a new single-day format.

MESA members are invited to attend EnTech Fest’s exhibits, full-day conference program, and the DEG Annual Reception, for free with registration code MESAGuest23.

The expanded conference program includes a keynote panel addressing cloud architecture and other supply chain innovation, “The Future of Distribution Now,” moderated by Pixelogic’s Craig Seidel, with Amazon Web Services’ Chris Blandy, Amazon Studios’ Ellen Goodridge, Blu Digital Group’s Paulette Pantoja, and Lionsgate’s Gray Ainsworth. A separate keynote conversation will pair Creative Artists Agency’s Joanna Popper with Paramount Global’s Ted Schilowitz in a conversation on “Transforming Storytelling Through Immersive Entertainment and New Technologies.”

Other conference sessions include “8K – Creating a New Way,” a panel discussion on the various ways 8K technology is elevating the creative experience, and the 90-minute “Innovative Tech for M&E | Quick Roundtables with Intel Capital Startups,” in which the tech giant’s venture capital arm will host exclusive roundtable discussions with 10 startups offering cutting-edge technology for the media and entertainment industry.

Other presenters include Heidi Chung of Variety VIP+, on media and tech trends against a challenging economic backdrop; Eluvio’s Michelle Munson on Web3 media distribution using blockchain as new model for monetization, ownership and engagement with feature films; Omdia’s Marija Masalskis on how CTV, FAST and AVOD are shaping the new TV and video landscape; and TiVo’s Chris Ambozic and Briana Larsen on every major auto manufacturer bringing video to the dashboard.

A “FAST to the Future: How to Thrive in Ad-supported Streaming” panel led by IRIS.TV’s Field Garthwaite will discuss what content owners need to do to achieve FAST success in ad-supported streaming.

Focus exhibit categories for 2023 include advanced content delivery solutions, artificial intelligence, immersive storytelling, localization services, and new in-home entertainment technologies and hardware.

“The DEG team listened very carefully to our first-year attendees and exhibitors and is using their feedback to make EnTech even better in 2023,” said Amy Jo Smith, president and CEO of DEG. “This includes the creation of additional relevant conference programming and more opportunities for networking and for our participants to work together in-person at the event. We know this face time has become even more valuable to potential attendees in this era of remote work.”

Companies supporting the event as sponsors or exhibitors include 360 Solutions, 8K Association, Blintn, Blu Digital Group, Boxx, Circana, Charisma, Deep Media, Deloitte, Dolby, Eluvio, Giant Worldwide, Globant, Google TV, Intel, Intel Capital, iSize, Iyuno, LG, NetApp, Omdia, P1 Technologies, Pixelworks, Premiere Digital, Sony, Spherex, Tubi, UHD Alliance, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, Variety VIP+, Varnish Sofware, Vubiquity, XL8, Xperi (TiVo/DTS) and Yoom.

DEG’s EnTech Fest is for content distribution and marketing executives, platform partners, technology enablers, trend trackers, connected device and display developers, and all innovators across the digital entertainment ecosystem. Focus exhibit categories include consumer experience, immersive storytelling, AI and advanced content delivery.

DEG invites MESA members to register for EnTech Fest’s exhibits, full-day conference program, and the DEG Annual Reception, with the code MESAGuest23.