Monterey, Calif.– August 30, 2005 — TRENdS ’05 Digital Media Convergence is setting the stage for new revelations about the next big driver in television’s evolution, HDTV content. High definition visionaries Mark Cuban, Co-owner and Chairman of HDNet, and Josh Sapan, President and CEO of Rainbow Media Holdings, will provide keynote presentations at this pivotal executive conference, on September 12 and 13 at the Four Seasons, Las Vegas.
Mr. Cuban will present the first keynote address on Monday, September 12. His company’s two 24/7 all-HD networks, HDNet and HDNet Movies, provide viewers with exciting and topical news, sports, music and entertainment programming, all produced in the highest quality 1080i HDTV format.
Mr. Cuban’s touch for turning new technology into gold has created new paradigms in the digital space. His views on digital rights management, using the internet as a delivery vehicle for HD content, and the concept of original content distributed simultaneously across theatrical, TV and home video platforms provide a unique perspective on the future of the digital media marketplace.
Mr. Sapan’s keynote session will open the second day of the conference. An 18-year veteran of Rainbow Media, Mr. Sapan has been at the forefront in developing cutting-edge television programming that connects with viewers’ passions. Having pioneered the development of industry-leading brands like AMC, Fuse, Bravo IFC and WE: Women’s Entertainment, and original programming for VOD with Mag Rack and sportskool, Mr. Sapan is now addressing the new content mandate for HD. His success in developing nationally recognized brands; historical perspective on niche programming; and views on the increasing choice-consciousness of consumers in the digital realm has made him a powerful force in the evolution of next-generation TV.
Sapan’s keynote comes on the heels of Rainbow Media’s successful August launch of VOOM HD Networks. The new service fills a significant HD programming void, featuring original programming made specifically for HD and appealing to a broad spectrum of fan bases, including movies and entertainment, news, sports, fashion and arts, travel, music and children’s animation.
Other conference speakers include dozens of leading executives from across the media, communications, broadband and entertainment sectors. CinemaNow, Clear Channel, Digimarc, Disney, EchoStar, HDNet, IBM, Loudeye, Microsoft, Motorola, Movielink, Napster, Sony, TiVo andYahoo! are among the many stellar companies representing converging interests and groundbreaking opportunities in games, movies, music, sports, news and TV programming via multiple delivery channels.
The annual TRENdS ’05 Digital Media Convergence connects leading digital content owners, distributors and technologists seeking partnerships, monetization and ways to deploy. The three-part event features the Digital Media Summit for senior level executives exploring strategies and synergies; the Digital Management Forum for management executives looking for solutions and deployments; and the Digital Trends Showcase, a kiosk-based demonstration pavilion.
Moderated by media financial analysts from Kagan Research the two-day Summit also brings in top new media investment companies to discuss funding and M&A issues. The one day Digital Management Forum for solutions executives offers breakthrough revelations in the area of digital technology management. Free demos of new content and solutions are available at the Showcase.
BONUS: Kagan Research Presentations – exclusive data on Asia-Pacific multichannel markets, video game convergence, wireless broadband, digital TV, subscriber trends, benchmarks, programming models and content ownership, including 5-year and 10-year projections.
Event Location:
FOUR SEASONS Hotel, Las Vegas
3960 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89119
Call: (702) 632-5000; Fax: (702) 632-5195
Registration and more information:
For a complete up-to-date program and speaker roster and to register for this event, please visit the TRENdS ’05 Web site at http://www.kaganevents.com or call (800) 307-2529.
Members of the press are invited to apply for attendance.
About Kagan Research, LLC.
Kagan Research consulting and publishing services offer exclusive financial data and analysis, relevant market advisories and proprietary 5- to 10-year projections on cable and DBS, broadcast television and radio, movies, entertainment and sports, digital, wireless and Internet technologies and media finance and law.
Media Contact:
Harvey Kraft
Tel: 831-622-3821
Fax: 831-625-3225
Email: hkraft@kagan.com
Kagan Events Web site: http://www.kaganevents.com
Kagan Research Web site: http://www.kagan.com
