Variety has announced the names of the new inductees to the Variety Home Entertainment & Digital Hall of Fame.
Producer Chris Meledandri, founder and CEO of Illumination; Jim Wuthrich, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment president the Americas and global strategy; and Walmart’s digital entertainment service Vudu, represented by VP and general manager Jeremy Verba, will be inducted at the Press Play: Variety Home Entertainment & Digital Hall of Fame event on Dec. 5 at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Fox Innovation Lab, 21st Century Fox’s research and development center, represented by executive V.P. and managing director Danny Kaye, will be presented with the Hall of Fame Innovation Award for its leadership in driving the advancement of groundbreaking technology and new consumer experiences across all platforms and distribution models. Eric Berger, EVP and chief digital officer for Sony Pictures Television Networks and GM of Crackle, will receive the Deloitte Media & Entertainment Leadership Award.
“These honorees represent the myriad new platforms and distribution models consumers are now embracing to find entertainment they want to watch at home and on the go,” said Variety group publisher Michelle Sobrino-Stearns. “They are agents of positive change in content creation and distribution. We are proud to welcome them into our Home Entertainment and Digital Hall of Fame.”
Past honorees of the event include actor and filmmaker Jon Favreau; EPIX CEO and President Mark Greenberg; industry veteran Mark Horak; Jim Packer and Ron Schwartz of Lionsgate; writer, director, producer, and actor Paul Feig.
The will be the 37th annual Variety Home Entertainment Hall of Fame gala dinner and awards. For the fifth consecutive year, proceeds will benefit City Year Los Angeles.
(Pictured: Chris Meledandri and Jim Wuthrich)
