Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos, Anchor Bay Entertainment president Bill Clark and the Blu-ray Disc Association will be inducted into the Variety Home Entertainment Hall of Fame on Dec. 6, 2010, at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
It will be the 30th anniversary of the event founded as the Video Hall of Fame by Variety sister publication Video Business, the latter of which was shut down earlier this year.
All ticket sales for the Variety Home Entertainment Hall of Fame gala dinner and awards show will benefit Entertainment AIDS Alliance.
Dinner tickets may be purchased for $495 each, or $4,950 for a table of ten. Contact Maggie Moe at 310-308-1457 or maggie.moe@reedbusiness.com.
“Variety is proud to mark the 30th anniversary of the Hall of Fame by inducting Ted, Bill and the BDA,” said Linda Buckley-Bruno, publishing director of Variety and former publisher of Video Business. “Each of these inductees exemplifies the vitality of home entertainment as it evolves from purely physical distribution to a revenue-expanding mix of physical, digital, mobile and other models that provide increased convenience and value to the entertainment consumer.”
Sarandos has led content acquisition for Netflix since 2000, playing a key role in the service’s move to online distribution by expanding its streaming library to more than 17,000 movies and TV episodes. During his tenure, the company’s DVD library has also expanded from 2,000 to more than 100,000 titles. Sarandos has worked in the home entertainment industry for more than two decades, at companies including video wholesaler ETD and retail chain Video City.
Clark oversees all aspects of worldwide sales, marketing, acquisitions and product development strategy for leading independent distributor Anchor Bay and in 2008 launched theatrical unit Anchor Bay Films. A 25-year veteran of the home entertainment industry who is known for innovative deal structures, business models and operational improvements, Clark previously worked at Ventura Entertainment Enterprises, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Spelling Entertainment, and the Walt Disney Studios.
The Blu-ray Disc association (BDA) is an industry consortium that has played a key role in establishing the successful Blu-ray high-definition video format, through the setting of technology standards and format promotion. The induction will be accepted by BDA Promotions Committee chairs Victor Matsuda and Andy Parsons.
Under Variety’s direction, the scope of the awards has been broadened beyond traditional packaged video to recognize achievements in all home entertainment media and distribution formats, including DVD, Blu-ray, digital and videogames. Nevertheless, the purpose of the Hall of Fame remains true to the mission established at its founding 30 years ago: to recognize excellence in the home entertainment industry while aiding those in need.
EAA is a volunteer group that was formed in 1989 to respond to the urgent need for funding AIDS service organizations nationwide. Over 90% of funds raised are distributed to qualifying AIDS healthcare organizations and facilities.
To advertise in the commemorative issue of Variety, contact Andi Elliott at 301.774.6874 or andi.elliott@variety.com.