Mission

To build a Factory that produces, markets and distributes digital educational and entertainment media products for a global marketplace.

Executive Summary

Founded in 2004, the Digital Media Factory is a multi-business facility for the design, development, production, replication, management, and distribution of digital information products. Located in Santa Cruz, California, we provide an operational base for organizations that serve the digital communication needs of business, education, government, entertainment and local communities. The Factory leverages its production resources and high-speed broadband infrastructure to enable even the smallest of organizations to generate and deliver their digital products anywhere in the world.

Market Overview

Powerful desktop computing, high-speed telecommunications, wireless networks, and the Internet have transformed industries and their publics:

• Advances in software applications enable us to communicate in previously unimaginable ways by manipulating images, sounds, and textual information in digital (electronic) form.
• Constant improvements in the speed and capacity of computers, wireless devices, and storage systems allow for the generation, archival, and management of extremely complex content.
• Globally linked networks have removed barriers to information access and enabled the rapid creation and deployment of everything from training and educational programs to entertainment, business TV, and medical care.
  

These advances are driven by the ongoing demand for new ways to communicate globally, in virtually all areas of human endeavor: science, education, entertainment, and business.

Market Sizing

“We project the entertainment and media industry in the United States; Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA); Asia/Pacific; Latin America; and Canada will increase from $1.2 trillion in 2003 to $1.7 trillion in 2008...”

“Growth in most regions will pick up in 2004 and sustain faster increases during the entire forecast period compared with the past three years, reflecting improved economic conditions.”

“Online distribution of entertainment will be facilitated by rapid growth in the number of households that access the Internet through broadband connection.”

“During the next five years, the number of broadband households will grow to nearly 320 million, a 31.3 percent compound annual increase.”

Source: PriceWaterhouseCoopers Global Entertainment And Media Outlook: 2004-2008

Markets

• Business television, including HD broadcasting and screening
• Distance learning and educational systems
• Music, film, gaming and other entertainment
• Broadcast, cable, video-on-demand, and webcasting
  

Goals

The Digital Media Factory embraces a triple bottom-line philosophy, focusing equally on financial, environmental, and community goals. The Factory intends to spur the growth of an environmentally friendly industry that has tremendous potential to boost local employment, generate significant revenue from inside and outside the county, and enhance Santa Cruz's national reputation for encouraging healthy lifestyles and sustainable businesses.

The Factory will serve as the key focal point for connecting leading businesses in these industries with the local resources they need:

• A highly-skilled, readily available pool of experienced professionals and up-and-coming talent.
• Support for content development as well as the long-term acquisition, archiving, repurposing, distribution, and management of content through tangible (CD/DVD) and intangible (terrestrial or satellite network streaming) media.
• A connection to leading-edge digital media R&D in progress at local businesses and think tanks.
  

The Digital Media Factory is the one complete multi-discipline resource that places Santa Cruz at the forefront of the digital media revolution.