Erik Gruenwedel

March 30, 2021

DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group has added 12 new companies to the organization’s membership. They include AMC Networks, Azure, Breaker, Cinedigm, Movies Anywhere, Pixelogic, Respeecher, ScreenHits TV, SmithGeiger, Starz, Verizon Business Group and Vuulr.

AMC Networks, Azure, Cinedigm, Movies Anywhere, ScreenHits TV, SmithGeiger, Starz, Verizon Business Group and Vuulr will also join DEG’s D2C Alliance Council. The D2C Alliance, a working community within DEG, represents the global direct-to-consumer media industry and supports its members to help create a robust marketplace to lead the new era of content consumption.

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“This diverse slate of companies reflects the expanding home entertainment landscape,” Amy Jo Smith, president/CEO of DEG, said in a statement. “We welcome these 12 new members and are delighted to collaborate on their goals of delivering consumers engaging content, transformative technologies and the highest quality entertainment experience.”

The trade group also announced finalists for its inaugural Technology & Operations Awards.  The program was created to recognize exceptional technology accomplishments in the digital supply chain achieved by both companies and individuals.

The three main categories to be awarded are: Technology Leadership, Technology Achievement, and Technology Innovation. In addition, a Lifetime Achievement Award that spans categories and business segments will be presented.

“We are pleased to recognize all the outstanding finalists for the inaugural DEG TechOps Awards,” said Smith. “As key members of the industry’s technology and operations teams, each is deserving of this honor for the significant role they play in delivering the highest quality premium digital content to entertainment-loving consumers across a variety of platforms. Kudos to all of the finalists!”

The DEG TechOps Awards will be presented virtually on April 28 at 3 p.m. PT.

Technology Leadership Award honors a company, individual, or team that has demonstrated leadership by implementing a technical advancement that had an impact on the digital supply chain within the last two years.

Finalists are:
Ellen Goodridge, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Erin Hughes, WarnerMedia
Bill Kotzman, Google Play
Dave Lindsay, Disney Streaming Services
NBC Universal Team: Rosemarie Cordero, Kenesha Luney, Cassandra Moore, Estela Serrano
Craig Seidel, Pixelogic
Sony New Media Solutions Team
Kip Welch, MovieLabs

Technology Achievement Award honors adoption, leadership and engagement since the inception of DEG’s Technology & Operations Committee. Recipients will have significantly contributed to the
committee’s goal of realizing technological advancements.

Finalists are:
Kacy Boccumini, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Kelly Bouchey, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Richard Kroon, EIDR
Justin Parkinson, WarnerMedia
Jason Peña, Google
Josh Perkins, WarnerMedia

Technology Innovation Award honors a team that identified a problem and created a novel solution; the solution is completed or in process.

Finalists are:
Amazon Team – Nathan Bartel, Jude Fitzmorris, Erol Kalafat, Joe Pavey (formerly Amazon)
Disney+ Team – Matt Krone, Dave Lindsay, Philip Richards, Alex Vargo, Madeleine Wright
Google Play Movies & TV Team – Austin Norausky, Lead
Iyuno Media Group Team
Lionsgate Content Operations Team – Justin Paulson, Lead
MovieLabs Team– Jim Helman and Raymond Drewry
Premiere Digital Team – Christine Lim, Alex Liu, Carrie Moore, Vijay Nikam, Mangesg Pawar, Samy
Pugazhend, Debbie Tongyoo
Sony New Media Solutions Development Team
Verizon Business Group, Advanced Technology Team – David Pirrocco, Lead
Vubiquity Cloud Content Team – Dan Brown, Andrew Gayter, Reuven Elmalem, Anand Varadan

Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Dolby honors and recognizes an individual or team that has demonstrated consistent results in technology leadership, technology achievement or technology innovation.

Finalists are:
Andrea Kalas, Paramount Pictures
Craig Seidel, Pixelogic
Christopher Stefanidis (formerly The Walt Disney Company)