Press releases - 2008

The Entertainment Technology Center Launches its Anytime/Anywhere Content Lab

LOS ANGELES (June 10, 2008) – The Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) [www.etcenter.org], a non-profit consortium that brings together top entertainment studios, technology, service and consumer electronics companies to improve consumer attitudes towards future technologies, products and usability, today launched its much-anticipated Anytime/Anywhere Content Lab (AACL). The AACL is a high-tech, hardware-rich real-world test environment built to explore solutions for accelerating the creation, distribution and consumption of digital entertainment. Located near the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinematic Arts, the lab brings together entertainment, hardware, software and service industries to pool their strengths, tap University resources and identify the opportunities and challenges brought about by digital convergence. Under the direction of David Wertheimer, the AACL is providing an atmosphere to better understand the consumer, focus on how consumers will adapt to and shape digital content delivery, look at how future content will be managed, and identify synergies across industries – with the ultimate goal of improving the consumer experience.

June 10, 2008 | Press Release (PDF)

USC’s Entertainment Technology Center Announces Volkswagen Group of America as New Executive Sponsor

LOS ANGELES (May 6, 2008) – The Entertainment Technology Center at USC (ETC@USC) [www.etcenter.org], announced today that Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. has joined as an executive sponsor of the ETC. Volkswagen joins a growing group of studios and major technology companies that sponsor the a non-profit consortium, which brings together top entertainment and consumer electronics companies to listen to and evaluate consumermindshare towards future technologies.

May 6, 2008 | Press Release (PDF)

USC’s Entertainment Technology Center Announces LG Electronics as New Project Sponsor

LOS ANGELES (April 29th, 2008) – The Entertainment Technology Center at USC (ETC) [www.etcenter.org], a non-profit consortium that brings together top entertainment and consumer electronics companies to listen to and evaluate consumer mindshare towards future technologies, announced today that LG Electronics, Inc. [http://us.lge.com], a global force in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, has joined ETC’s already growing major technology companies as an Anytime/Anywhere Content Lab (AACL) sponsor.

April 29, 2008 | Press Release (PDF)

USC’s Entertainment Technology Center Announces Dolby as New Project Sponsor

LOS ANGELES (April 06, 2008) – The Entertainment Technology Center at USC (ETC) [www.etcenter.org], a non-profit consortium that brings together top entertainment and consumer electronics companies to listen to and evaluate consumer mindshare towards future technologies, announced today that Dolby Laboratories (NYSE:DLB) has joined ETC’s Anytime/Anywhere Content Lab (AACL) as a sponsor. Dolby develops, markets and distributes products and technologies that elevate the entertainment experience at the movies, at home and on the go.

The Anytime/Anywhere Content Lab focuses on what consumers want in digital entertainment and explores how to deliver it to them. Together, Dolby and ETC will be able to aid in the process of delivering products consumers are looking to purchase. This is a benefit to both the consumer and the sponsors involved. Known for its stunning surround sound technologies and as a leader in entertainment technology development, Dolby will help guide the AACL’s activities with extensive resources and expertise. ETC’s Anytime/Anywhere Content Lab will showcase technologies like these through a wide spectrum of leading edge products, services and technologies in action. The lab will use these tools to examine the technological and sociological implications of providing content to consumers who desire it at anytime, on any device, anywhere they happen to be.

April 6, 2008 |

Alcatel-Lucent joins University of Southern California’s Entertainment Technology Center as Executive Sponsor

LAS VEGAS (April 1, 2008) — Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) and the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) at the University of Southern California, a non-profit consortium that brings together top entertainment and consumer electronics companies to listen to and evaluate consumer mindshare toward future technologies, announced today that Alcatel-Lucent has joined the ETC as an Executive Sponsor. Alcatel-Lucent joins ETC’s existing member studios and major technology and consumer electronic companies to help collaborate and produce new technologies for consumers and generate new revenue streams for entertainment technology creators.

April 1, 2008 | Press Release (PDF)

David Wertheimer to Speak on New Devices, New Opportunities at NAB Show 2008

LAS VEGAS (March 31, 2008) – David Wertheimer, executive director of the Entertainment Technology Center @ USC, will speak on a panel Tuesday, April 15 at the NAB Show in Las Vegas titled “New Devices, New Opportunities.” Wertheimer will be among industry leaders discussing how people want their media and on what device. The panel discussion will follow a keynote by Dr. Kevin Kahn, senior fellow and director of Intel’s communications technology lab, and will also include industry executives from Sling Media, TiVo, and World Now to address the new opportunities for content creators and distributors.

March 31, 2008 | Press Release (PDF)

USC’s Entertainment Technology Center Announces New Executive Sponsor

LOS ANGELES (March 11, 2008) – The Entertainment Technology Center at USC (ETC) [www.etcenter.org], a non-profit consortium that brings together top entertainment and consumer electronics companies to listen to and evaluate consumer mindshare towards future technologies, announced today that Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) [BSE: TCS.BO, NSE: TCS.NS], a global IT services, business solutions, and outsourcing firm, has joined the ETC as an Executive Sponsor. TCS will join ETC’s existing studios and major technology companies as a sponsor – with the main goal of producing new technologies for consumers and of generating new revenue streams for the companies that create entertainment technology.

March 11, 2008 | Press Release (PDF) | News Coverage

How Hollywood Can Out-Apple Apple - a White Paper from Parks Associates and ETC@USC

DALLAS (February 26, 2008) - Leading consumer research firm Parks Associates and entertainment technology think tank Entertainment Technology Center (ETC@USC) today released a new white paper detailing steps to achieve profitable distribution of mobile content on mobile platforms and devices. In How Hollywood Can Out-Apple Apple, Parks Associates and ETC@USC suggest that content owners should offer more free content on mobile devices in order to aggressively promote movies and programming on traditional media. By offering free content, this will prime the pump for future premium offerings.

February 26, 2008 | Press Release (PDF)| Full White Paper (PDF)

David Wertheimer Gives Closing Keynote at 2008 CTAM Research Conference

LOS ANGELES (February 14, 2008) – Industry leaders gathered last week at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel to attend the 2008 CTAM conference and learn about hot topics effecting today’s entertainment industry. David Wertheimer, executive director of the Entertainment Technology Center @ USC (ETC@USC) [www.etcenter.org], a non-profit consortium that brings top entertainment and technology companies together with next-generation consumers, presented his keynote speech on the topic, “Where’s the Consumer?” Wertheimer shared insight on the dilemma facing consumers by visually illustrating the vast number of choices that buyers must sift through when purchasing entertainment equipment and services. The slide quickly filled with so many products and new technologies that even the biggest technophile would be intimidate.

February 14, 2008 | Press Release (PDF)