About ESCA

The Entertainment Supply Chain Academy was created by Martin Porter and founding conference chairman Devendra Mishra (see biographies below) in association with DEG: Digital Entertainment Group. Having just completed its fourth event, ESCA has become the industry’s annual business conference responsible for driving efficiencies in the delivery of physical and digital home entertainment.

ESCA Europe builds on the strengths of ESCA by providing the European markets with the same thought leadership and collaborative initiatives that makes ESCA a success in the US. Now in its fourth year, and being produced by Futuresource Consulting whilst sponsored by the US organisations, ESCA Europe’s role is even more significant and relevant during these tumultuous times as the European home entertainment industry gathers in September to investigate new ways of driving cost savings and elevating sales.

DEG: Digital Entertainment Group

When DVD-Video launched in early 1997, the leading consumer electronics manufacturers, major movie studios and music companies came together to form the DVD Video Group – a nonprofit trade consortium dedicated to promoting DVD-Video. Bringing together both the hardware and software community in one effort to advance the DVD format was unprecedented. Working together, the group helped to educate retailers, the trade and media about the new digital home entertainment. The DVD Video Group is credited with helping to make DVD the fastest adopted consumer electronics product ever. Recently, in 2003, the group’s mission expanded to continue to advocate and promote the many benefits associated with DVD, but also to serve as a forum for member companies to engage in ongoing discussions concerning various issues and opportunities which relate to other emerging digital technologies. Re-chartered as DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group, the trade association’s partnership between hardware and software manufacturers comes together to ensure that the DEG obtains the input necessary to accurately represent all aspects of the home entertainment industry. For more information visit: www.degonline.org

Digital Entertainment Group Europe

DEG Europe is a non-profit, independent body that represents the interests of stakeholders across the home entertainment industry. Platform independent, the DEG Europe exists to promote awareness and adoption of standard DVD, high definition products (Blu-ray and HDTV) and paid-for digital download content. The DEG Europe offers a forum for member companies to engage in ongoing discussions concerning various issues and opportunities which relate to other new digital technologies that may emerge in the future. The group aims to create educational tools that will enable the consumer to evolve into a world of high definition. It also shares sales figures, industry trends and collateral materials that can be used to educate users about enhancing their high definition experience. The members also meet regularly to discuss all of the above along with additional ideas to help the industry, retailers, and consumers become better educated and prepared for the future.

MESA

The Media & Entertainment Services Alliance was formed in 2009 by the co-founders of ESCA, as well as the Consumer Electronics Supply Chain Academy, the Green Media Summit, Blu-Con and Game Supply conferences. Its mission is to support service providers in building efficiencies in the creation, production and distribution of physical and digital media and entertainment. For more information visit: www. MESAlliance.org

Futuresource Consulting

Futuresource is a specialist research and knowledge-based consulting company with a strong heritage stretching back to the 1980s. Its insight and global market coverage are based on informed regional know-how, ensuring client companies are fully supported in their research, analysis, strategic planning and decision making. Futuresource provides its clients with global expertise in:

Consumer Electronics
Digital Imaging
Entertainment Media
Broadcast
Optical Manufacturing
Storage Media
IT & Professional

Combining strong methodologies and unsurpassed data refinement with in-depth market knowledge and experienced forecasting, Futuresource ensures its clients have timely access to the information and insights that will help deliver the best possible results.

Devendra Mishra Devendra has been the president and COO of such companies as LIVE Entertainment, VCL-Carolco, Lieberman Enterprises, Technicolor Worldwide Media and Distribution, Strawberries Records and Tapes, International Multifoods, Stan Lee Media, etc. At RCA Records, as vice president of worldwide manufacturing and distribution, he implemented the revolutionary Hits and Catalog distribution service, which became the hallmark of the industry. As president of worldwide new media and distribution services at Technicolor, Mishra strategically developed and launched Technicolor Entertainment Services and also engineered and put into production its first optical media manufacturing facility. A professor of Decision Sciences at Pepperdine University, he is recognized as an eminent thinker and practitioner of supply chain management.

Martin Porter Martin has been providing information resources to entertainment technology professionals for more than 25 years. Originally a consumer electronics columnist for Rolling Stone, Premiere and GQ magazines, he has since worked as an industry consultant, editorial director and publisher for over 25 publications in professional audio, video, broadcast, electronic systems, and music. His company, Martin Porter Associates has provided consulting services to a range of trade and consumer events including the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Audio Engineering Society (AES), National Systems Contractor Association (NSCA), and the International Recording Media Association (IRMA). He is the founding publisher of Medialine magazine and was a founding producer of Entertainment Media Expo (EMX), and the Surround Music Awards.