Rich Fiscus
14 Aug 2007 7:44
Polar Frog Digital, a company that distributes and operates movie download kiosks, has joined the Digital Entertainment Group (DEG) as an associate member.
Polar Frog operates MediaIgloo DVD burning kiosks in the Burbank, Calif., and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., airports. The company hopes to launch 100 kiosks in additional locations by the end of the year. The kiosks offer 5,000 titles from independent suppliers.
DEG is a trade group formed in 1997 to promote DVD-Video technology and products. Other members include entertainment companies, as well as hardware and software vendors.
Polar Frog is hoping to take advantage of this year's decision by the DVD Forum, which allows CSS to be used on recordable DVDs. Previously, only factory stamped DVDs could use the encryption technology, which was a major stumbling Block for any type of on-demand DVD technology.
By reducing the need to devote capital and shelf space to DVDs, on-demand burning reduces the barriers for retail operations that aren't traditional outlets for media to have a reasonable selection of discs.
Their company's acceptance into the trade group highlights both the continued dominance of DVD over newer technologies like Blu-ray and HD DVD and the industry's interest in branching out to make media available in new ways.
DEG executive director Amy Jo Smith said “With Polar Frog's expertise in the Field of digital content management, they'll be able to educate our members on the newest technologies in this space.”
Source: Video Business