DVD Dominance Despite reports of slowed consumer spending, the DVD market has managed to stay immune from the economic slowdown. Recent player and title sales have exceeded even the most positive predictions, ranking DVD top in growth of all consumer electronics devices, positioning it to eliminate VHS from store shelves sooner than was expected. click here for the full article The Online Game, Part 2 of 2 : Pay to Play In part one, we discussed the "persistent community experience" inherent in interactive gaming over the Internet. We also addressed the importance of attracting and retaining customers who pay for the experience on an enduring basis. In this section, we look at some of the titans of the business--Sony, Microsoft, Electronic Arts--who have been investing millions towards the belief that they can attract more "pay to play" gamers. click here for the full article

Hollywood Unstrung II,
The Emerging Digital Challenge:
D-Cinema and Beyond

larta's new research report examines the future direction of digital cinema as well as other technologies influencing the entertainment industry, including interactive entertainment, online content, digital audio, and digital production. The report features interviews with key figures in the industry including:

Russell Wintner, Principal, Technicolor Digital Cinema
Mark Kapczynski, Media-Entertainment Solutions, Microsoft
Chris Cookson, CTO, Warner Brothers
Bill Hausch, VP, Digital Studios Division, Sony Pictures
Doug Wellman, Facilities Manager, Zemeckis Center
Alan Silvers, Director, Technical Services, Cinesite (Kodak)
Jeff Brown, Marketing Manager, Electronic Arts

click here for more information on this report
click here to download the executive summary for free

Southern California Technology Innovation Index 2002

An economic report for Southern California, the 2002 Index compares the region to other leading technology sectors in the U.S. The new Index includes both updated numbers and data, as well as new data on Santa Barbara and New York. The 2002 Index also features a new section that examines the education system's efforts to close the "digital divide" in a special section entitled, Weakness in Education: A Digital Divide.
click here for more information
click here for the executive summary

Other articles:

Video-on-Demand to PCs Near You
While downloading music to PCs has been at the forefront of business development at Internet media companies, similar plans to deliver movies and television have been relatively quiet. So far, consumers can pay for movies on demand from independent companies--such as DivXNetworks, Intertainer and In Demand--but there isn't one place where people can pay for all their media entertainment. That is about to change.
click here for the full article from Wired Online

also available from larta:

Make a tax-deductible gift to larta
larta was founded in dire times for Southern California and has contributed greatly to the region's growth. As we confront new economic challenges, we can call on our experience and success to continue our work for a stronger future. By making a tax-deductible gift this season, you will help larta implement new programs and expand our services to the entrepreneurial, business, and policy-making communities. Even the smallest gift will help us extend our reach; for instance, a gift of $25 could help print workbooks for our renowned entrepreneurial training classes. Larger donations will help us enhance our research and include more entrepreneurs in our service area.
click here to contribute to larta

Larta University 2002
Larta University will be out of session for the remainder of the 2001 calendar year. The next workshops begin on January 16 2002 and continue once a month in Santa Monica and Irvine through March 2002.

January 16 & 17:
Attacking the Market: Marketing and Selling Your Product
A business can fail or flourish depending on how well its product is marketed. Effective marketing is about establishing, building or protecting an organization's reputation through partnerships, the recruiting of talented professionals and effective strategies that make a product stand out. This workshop covers publicity and marketing strategies, from brand placement to consumer contact, to creative alliances.
click here for more information on this workshop and other 2002 Larta University sessions

Research Economist/Policy Associate and Program Consultant positions open at larta

As our Research Economist / Policy Associate, you will:
* Possess a current and strong knowledge of the technology economy, and a working knowledge of the overall economy, and associated and relevant public policy issues,
* Maintain the collection of data, and develop relevant analysis;
* Oversee, plan, research, and prepare larta’s reports on the technology economy, including updates of past reports
* Communicate information and knowledge to key influencers (media, investors/sponsors, public officials) and a lay audience
click here for more information on this job opportunity

Other Job Openings:

Riviera Partners is seeking a Part-Time/Intern Intelligence Operative

Riviera Partners, a leader in building senior management teams for emerging growth technology companies, is currently searching for an Intelligence Operative to join our growing team. In this exciting role, you will provide the principals with comprehensive research on the industry sectors that we are targeting. You will create and maintain a digital map of the top companies in targeted industry sectors. You will act as a talent scout employing our proprietary information systems and Internet search tools. You will leverage our extensive network of industry contacts and the telephone to identify the top management talent for our ongoing search assignments.
Submit your resume to jim@rivierapartners.net

This events calendar is provided as a service by larta on behalf of various partner organizations and about events vetted and endorsed by larta.

December 12: The Third Annual Digital Coast Holiday Reception
There will be an important event on Wednesday, December 12 that you will not want to miss. The Digital Coast community is coming together to learn from the experts what 2002 has in store. Hear about economic growth, technology forecasts, employment opportunities, and information regarding the City's safety plan. The program will close with music from Los Angeles band Kneegirl. 6:30-10:30 pm, Wadsworth Theatre, in the VA complex off the 405, Los Angeles.
click here for more information

January 18: larta Lunchtime Book Talk: The Next Deal: The Future of Public Life in the Information Age
Co-sponsored with the Harvard Club of Southern California, this book talk will discuss Andrei Cherny's The Next Deal: The Future of Public Like in the Information Age. Released in 2001, it became one of the top-selling political books in the nation. The Next Deal lays out a vision for the role of government in the 21st century that meets the demands of the new economy and reflects the outlook of today’s citizens. The Los Angeles Times praised the book as “almost visionary in scope.”
click here for more information

Click here for larta's full event calendar

Copyright © 2001 larta. All rights reserved. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to those who may be interested. Permission to quote any proprietary part of this material is granted given proper credit. Distribution is allowed provided that no modifications are made to the original content.