DEG Europe, The Digital Entertainment Group’s European arm, has changed its name to DEG International, reflecting digital media’s worldwide impact.
The DEGI’s studio members include Lionsgate, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, NBCUniversal, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, Paramount Home Entertainment, Technicolor, Dolby and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group. Google recently joined as the organization’s first transactional retail member.
“As the home entertainment category evolves to respond to and reflect an ever-advancing degree of consumer choice, the DEGI is increasingly providing related support to local trade organizations as well as bridging perceived gaps in territories where trade associations are absent,” Nicola Pearcey, president U.K. & EMEA Strategy and Ops at Lionsgate and DEGI co-chair, said in a statement.
Liz Bales, CEO of DEGI and British Association of Screen Entertainment, said DEGI’s role in a changing market can’t be understated.
“In the last 12 months, the DEGE has helped to drive the development of digital growth initiatives in a range of territories, with the U.S., Nordics, Australia and Asia all building on the delivery and learnings gained through the U.K. activation of ambitious promotions like ‘Mega Movie Week’,” Bales said.
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She said partnership with DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group sister organization in the United States underscores an ability to effectively share experience in a compliance-appropriate manner – at a time when the video category is facing the practical effects of the diversification of consumer choice, and when some local markets lack the support of a trade association.
“The DEGI can act as a vital bridge in an increasingly global market,” Bales said.
Amy Jo Smith, CEO of DEG, said the U.S. market is the starting point for much of the change percolating into global markets, such as Disney+.
“One of our key priorities is to help members identify opportunity in that change and so our recently formed D2C Alliance and its International Expansion Committee will both lend support to and benefit from the global stance being taken by the DEGI,” Smith said. “We look forward to working with DEGI to help drive actionable market insights and industry best practices.”