EMA Critical to Continuing Quality of Home Entertainment

Matt Krapf · 08-01-2007, 01:23 AM

Having been to the recent Home Media Expo, and visited very nearly every vendor's display (some were closed for meetings), it began to resonate that at the end of the day, it's not the format (BD, DVD, HDDVD) OR the method of delivery that really is going to determine the future of home entertainment.

It's All of The Above -- Formats and Delivery Models -- and the Content itself that will determine what people spend on enjoying television and movies at home. Without diverse and engaging content to draw consumers' interest and dollars, the "format war" becomes moot.

I saw the EMA and the Expo participants sharing insights on growing the home entertainment market and building relationships which will live long beyond a short week in Las Vegas.

Content producers met distributors who can sell DVD's to grocery stores. Rental Kiosk vendors met companies with technologies which can maintain high quality performance in DVD discs after (literally) hundreds of rental cycles. Online streaming services were able to connect with their demographic bases in Las Vegas to learn more about what their consumers are renting, wanting to rent, and by what means they prefer to obtain, and enjoy their media investments.

Whether consumers buy VHS, or rent streaming Hi-Def copies of movies and sporting events, the EMA provides a forum for all the players to come together and determine newer, better, and more profitable ways to provide a satisfying experience to a customer. Recall, though, independent of the format or distribution method, if viewers didn't have compelling content to watch and enjoy the entire Home Media Industry would dissolve

Individuals are infinitely varied in their interests, and how they like to enjoy audio/visual experiences in the home. Still, the EMA certainly has a deep understanding of the predominant trends in the broad Home Entertainment industry. What it does very well with that information is share it to content producers and distribution channels so they can do a better job of getting us, the consumers, content we want to watch at home.

Whether by fighting legislation limiting buyers' access to video games, or providing independent "Mom and Pop" video stores with advanced consultation in growing their business, the EMA helps put entertainment content in people's homes.

The formats, delivery methods, are all just ways people obtain and enjoy the content they want to see the most. The EMA helps make it happen for consumers AND vendors, and I -- for one -- appreciate their dedication to us. The "little guys".

Thank You, EMA. Keep up the good and often hard work.

Everyone wins.

Matt Krapf

**HTF Ads**

Andrew M · 08-01-2007, 10:40 AM

Good post, Matt. It's important to keep in mind that the event in Las Vegas was just a trade show. And, the HTF group did not have the opportunity to attend the other informative panel discussions that took place in Las Vegas which would have given us further insight into the retailer side of the business. The show was only the most visible tip of the EMA iceberg. Their website gives a far better view of their overall activities than the show in Las Vegas. I, for one, will always applaud their anti-censorship activities.

By the way, have you heard anything about the HME returning to San Francisco?

Matt Krapf · 08-25-2007, 01:09 PM

Hey Andy! How's it going? No, I have not. Thanks for being the only reply to this post. haha.

I did it to let EMA know that yeah...they are appreciated and (more or less) understood.

How've you been since getting home last month? All's well for the three of you?

Andrew M · 08-27-2007, 05:48 PM

Hey, Matt:

I'll be checking in at the HME website to see what's in store for 2008. Hopefully, the show will return to San Francisco.

The EMA show was important to me on a personal level. Bill Hunt and I finalized plans for me to contribute a column to The Digital Bits and I was able to get a contact at WGBH for screeners, that's led to a contact at PBS for a screener of Ken Burns' The War. Hopefully the other studios and labels will also follow through with product for my columns at The Digital Bits & The St. Mihiel Trip-Wire.

I'll be attending CES as press in January and I'm already looking over the press event & press conference schedule.

I hope HTF involvement in the next EMA event will allow greater interaction with the retailers and their panel discussions.

Andy



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