The Digital Entertainment Group Europe (DEGE) has announced the addition of Google to its membership with immediate effect. Supplying a catalogue of movies and TV shows across its Google Play and YouTube platforms, Google joins the DEGE at a heady time for the trade body as it works to support and enhance the home entertainment industry and drive consumer engagement with new and emerging technologies across an increasing number of international territories.

Against a backdrop of year-on-year growth in the digital film market, driven in part by best in class collaborative activity spearheaded by the DEGE and sister organisation, the British Association for Screen Entertainment, Google joins incumbent members, including NBCUniversal, Warner Brothers, 21st Century Fox, Paramount, Lionsgate, Dolby, Technicolor and more, and becomes the first retail platform to take a seat on the DEGE Board.

Lisa Rousseau, Head of TV and Film, EMEA, YouTube and Google Play will be joining the DEGE board. She commented: “We’ve found real value in engaging with the DEGE as it has effectively driven much of the cross-category conversation that needs to take place as the home entertainment market evolves and shapes itself around adapting consumer needs. We look forward to working with colleagues on a global level to help shape the conversation going forward.”

Acting as a conduit for member organisations and partners to evidence market trends and best practice learnings, the DEGE also delivers a significant forum for debate and allows colleagues from across the industry to enjoy a vital through line to the Digital Entertainment Group and its members in the US. Google joins the DEGE as the digital transactional landscape is in sharp focus and following a 12 months that has seen real engagement from partners across France, Germany, the Nordic region, Italy and beyond.

Nicola Pearcey, Lionsgate’s UK and European President and DEGE co-chair, said: “The addition of Google to the DEGE and, in turn, of Lisa Rousseau to the DEGE board marks a significant moment in the story of the organisation’s continued relevance. Building a bold, innovative approach to category growth will be invaluable as the global entertainment industry faces into a period of transition. We’re much better able to capitalise on opportunities if we do so with a shared category vision focused on supporting stakeholders and partners in meaningful ways – having the Google team represented within the DEGE will help do just that and advance our ability to seek out learnings and opportunities that can build on recent successes.”

Amy Jo Smith, President and CEO of the DEGE’s sister organisation, the Digital Entertainment Group, added: “The local and global entertainment arena is in a bold state of evolution with direct-to consumer and subscription models presenting the industry with exciting opportunity. The addition of a global giant like Google to the DEGE’s membership is an important moment in the positive management of that evolution and one that will encourage even more of the joined-up thinking that the DEGE has become known for across borders.”

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