Entrepreneurial Event: “The UltraViolet Approach” at CalTech

Have you heard about the UltraViolet initiative yet?

If you’re an entrepreneur working in the digital content/media arena, it’s something you need to make sure you are familiar with in the very near future. Heck, even if you’re just someone like me who loves watching movies at home or on the go, this is something you should pay attention to.

UltraViolet is essentially an ecosystem where users can buy one piece of content and watch it wherever they are on any device they own. It may sound simple, but if you’ve ever purchased a movie or TV show, you know how big of a pain it is to watch that content anywhere other than the device you bought it for. It’s an ambitious project, but if it takes off, will revolutionize the way we consume media content.

Right now, over 60 companies including six of the seven major Hollywood studios (minus Disney) are on board as part of the alliance. The other companies include tech juggernauts such as Microsoft and Intel along with retail giant Best Buy.

This Saturday, January 15th, there’s a forum/networking event at CalTech in Pasadena explaining the UltraViolet ecosystem and offer some insight on how startups and entrepreneurs can create products and services to capitalize on UltraViolet. Mitch Singer, CTO of Sony Pictures Entertainment and President of the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem, will give a keynote address on UltraViolet, followed by a discussion panel featuring digital content executives from some of the companies in the coalition.

We definitely recommend checking out this event if you have any interest in the digital distribution of content. There’ll be a networking hour after the program where you can meet other people in the field.

If you register by Thursday the 13th, admission is $40, otherwise it’ll be $50 at the door. CalTech students can get in for free, but if you’re not one you can still show a full time student ID to get in for only $10.

Register online for “New Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Digital Entertainment: The UltraViolet Approach” here

Saturday, January 15, 2011

at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California

Registration and Continental Breakfast:

8:00 a.m. Baxter Lecture Hall

Program:

9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Baxter Lecture Hall

Networking:

11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Baxter Lecture Hall

Cost:

$40 on-line registration fee; $50 at-the-door; $10 for students with full-time student ID and free for Caltech students (must show ID at door). Caltech students can now register online.

On-line Registration closes at 5:00PM on Thursday, January 13, 2011. There are no refunds for no-shows.