Photo Credit: The Verge, 2012

This year, Concept is proud to represent seven clients at the show, where we’ll help separate their products and services from the thousands of others on display on the floor and in private meeting suites. Gracenote, Ceton and Dune HD are introducing home entertainment devices and services that are absolutely game changing. From automated content recognition in the TV programs we love, to integrated services that finally deliver on the whole-home entertainment promise, these companies will put the highest quality, personalized content in front of us on the device or screen we want. I love my TV, and the products these three companies are showing are fulfilling my vision for home entertainment nirvana. I can’t wait to both promote and consume what they’re showing this week.

MasterImage 3D and DXG are putting 3D technologies in our hands by way of mobile gadgets, and they allay any reservations about the future of 3D in our lives. Last year’s 3D CES obsession is this year’s practical implementation of something real, exciting, and value-add for all of us. While Making Fun is doing exactly what its name promises, with new mobile and social games that delight consumers and give companies like Zynga some real competition. And client Rosetta Marketing is sending one of their many super-smart consumer tech leads to speak about SmartTVs and their impact on the CE industry and consumer consumption.

The thought of seeing all of these technologies live and in one (tremendously vast) environment has us completely fired up! With these seven companies setting standards in consumer tech, the thought of the other several thousand product innovations — coupled with a stronger economy and broadening of investor support — will likely make the 2012 CES the best one we’ve experienced.

Here’s where you’ll find Concept and our clients at the show this week. Stop in, say hi, sit back and watch some mind-blowing demos, and then put your aching feet up and join us for a martini! Somehow, CES goers always find time for tons of fun. Isn’t that what cool new tech is really all about?

Speaking at Parks Associates Connections Conference,  South Hall S204-205, Tuesday 9:30am

And then came the digital executives, sharing insights into the digital supply chain and how to drive digital forward. Again, a seasoned crew with directors, COOs or senior VPs at Sony, Warner, Amazon, Rovi, and Technicolor. However, the contrast with the previous panel was stark. None were in suits, all sitting quite casually and interrupting each other frequently. Since I’ve spent my career in technology, these personalities are familiar, and I love their energy and passion for the road ahead. I also know that the digital guys are often prepped by their respective PR pros to own the panel (one said PR pro sitting next to me admitted as such. “I told him to own the panel,” she said. “Which one’s yours?” Um, none. I’m hear to learn from these guys.) At one point a simultaneous discussion had three gentleman vying for the point, each raising his voice in an effort to secure sole stage, neither backing down until the volume and annoyance factor was so great the audience erupted with laughter.

But it wasn’t just about bravado. There is an obvious contrast in the efforts, focus and collaboration that exists in traditional content distribution versus that from the digital regimes. Of course the businesses are vastly different, but not so much that we shouldn’t have standards in place that demand that the product — film, trailers, bonus material, subtitles, format, DRM, etc. — be aligned across the industry. Instead, the entertainment industry has pushed many of these decisions onto retailers in an effort to share distribution costs. It might make good business sense in the short run, but it’s created an environment where each etailer has its own strategy for delivering digital content to their customers, in different formats, through different platforms, to different devices. This complexity has hurt the industry overall: 1) high costs of digital platform development and distribution technologies have driven many away from the game altogether, 2) consumers pay for far less than 1% of the total video consumed online, and 3) digital sales represent just 3% of the total entertainment industry revenues nearly a decade in.

It was fascinating for me to hear the differing views held by traditional and new media execs in Hollywood. I forgive the digital guys a bit because it’s still a nascent business comparatively, and technology provides easy opportunity for experimentation. Unfortunately, we’re experimenting individually and competitively, rather than as a united industry with shared goals that can still leave room for competitive differentiation and advantage. There is hope, as most of these companies are members of the DECE who’s mission is to help establish these standards and processes for collaboration.

When you’re laying the foundation, don’t blaze a new trail. There are plenty of other areas for creativity and innovation, we’ll just never get there without structure and standards. I hope the digital execs will look across the office at their colleagues in the packaged media supply chain and see that collaboration and respect will present a more effective roadmap forward.