Blockbuster Recruits Seasoned Entertainment Executive Jeffrey Calman to Head New Media Content & Studio Relations

By: Blockbuster Video | 0 Shares 185 Reads

DALLAS, July 16 // PRNewswire-FirstCall // -- Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI, BBI.B) announced it has appointed Jeffrey Calman to the newly created position of Vice President Studio Relations and New Media. With an extensive background in content licensing and acquisition, digital content distribution, and digital rights management, Calman will lead Blockbuster's efforts to acquire digital content. He will office in Los Angeles.

With more than 20 years spent at Warner Bros., Calman's most recent position with the studio was as executive vice president, video on demand (VOD) and electronic sell-through (EST) in Warner's home video division. In that position he oversaw the domestic sales, marketing and finance staffs responsible for the creation, structuring and implementation of Warner Home Video's VOD, digital VOD and EST activities, as well as managing the studio's digital rights management, anti-piracy and technology policies.

During his tenure with Warner's, Calman also served in a variety of other management positions including senior vice president for domestic cable distribution, New York, where he negotiated distribution deals with pay-TV and cable networks, as well as managed business affairs and content acquisition.

Most recently, Calman headed up his own digital programming and distribution consulting firm and worked with a variety of clients, including Genius Products, Inc., The Weinstein Company and ViewNow. He has also been involved with the development of a performing arts television network and, earlier in his career, represented numerous European and Japanese media companies in their U.S. licensing, acquisition and marketing efforts.

"Jeff's extensive background in all aspects of the acquisition and distribution of entertainment content, his understanding of new media technology, his studio-side experience and his business acumen should greatly contribute to our efforts to position Blockbuster as a leading provider of digital content," said Joyce Woodward, Blockbuster senior vice president of film. "We are delighted to welcome him to Blockbuster and to this new position."

Calman earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia University, a master's degree from New York University and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

About Blockbuster

Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI, BBI.B) is a leading global provider of in-home movie and game entertainment with more than 7,700 stores throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. The company may be accessed worldwide at http://www.blockbuster.com.

SOURCE Blockbuster Inc.

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