Conference Program

July 17, 2018


2018 Schedule & Hours*


8:00 to 10 am: Welcome Session - Research presentations that will focus on the independent product marketplace


10:15 am to 3:15 pm: OTT Channels Conference - The OTT Channels Conference will delve into the marketplace that is driving growth in the home video industry during a day of research presentations, sessions with industry thought leaders, and an exploration of opportunities in OTT channels.


3:30 to 5:30 pm: Digital EMA Forum - The Digital EMA Forum will bring together digital retailing colleagues, studios, independent content providers, and service providers to hear the latest research on digital home entertainment and discover how retailers and content providers are streamlining the digital supply chain through common practices.


*as of May 1, 2018; subject to change/more details to follow.

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2017 Knowledge Exchange Schedule

The Knowledge Exchange was created in 2013 to reach deeper into our participating companies and create an opportunity for those executives not committed to prescheduled meetings to engage in discussion on topics of importance to our industry. The Knowledge Exchange includes three sessions covering the state of the video and video game industries; the retail supply chain and the transition to digital; and social media marketing in home entertainment.


3:00 pm - Welcome


3:15 pm - Artificial Intelligence: The Potential to Revolutionize Home Entertainment Creation, Distribution and Consumption

Artificial Intelligence holds wide-ranging promise for home entertainment. This discussion will focus on three aspects of AI in the home entertainment ecosystem, including its application during the creative process to produce better content; its potential to improve and streamline content discovery; and its impact on user experience at the time of viewing.

The session will be moderated by: David Schatsky, Managing Director/Deloitte LLP, who will talk with:

  • Ben Bendre, Associate Partner - Global Center of Competency for Telco, Media & Entertainment/IBM
  • Eric Cooper, Director of Business Development/Intel AI Products Group
  • Sutha Kamal, VP Technology Strategy/Technicolor
  • Ben Serridge, Group Product Manager/Google,


4:00 pm - State of the Industry: A Conversation Between Content Owners and Retailers

Senior executives representing independent and major studios, physical retail, digital distribution (EST, VOD and MVPD) set the stage for LAES’s two days of one-on-one meetings in this discussion about top-of-mind topics including consumers’ changing media consumption habits, the future of user experience, merchandising best practices and the integration of new technologies (4K UHD, VR/AR) into their businesses.

The session will be moderated by Phil Schuman, Senior Managing Director, FTI Consulting, who will talk with:

  • Bill Miller, VP/DMM/Trans World Entertainment
  • Bill Sondheim, President/Cinedigm Entertainment Group
  • Jim Wuthrich, President, the Americas & Global Strategy/Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
  • Jonathan Zepp, Head of YouTube Content Partnerships, Americas & Google Play Movies & TV Partnerships/Google Play & YouTube


5:00 pm - Networking Break


5:15 pm - State of the Industry: Research Presentations

This annual session provides a comprehensive overview of the home entertainment industry including physical and digital trends, international video retail and emerging revenue sources.

Moderated by Jay Reinbold/Warner Home Entertainment with:



The LAES Opening Night Cocktail Reception, sponsored by Fandango, will commence

immediately after the Knowledge Exchange on the Pool Deck.





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