The global entertainment industry’s advocate for content protection, content security and information security, the Content Delivery & Security Association (CDSA), has named Alex Pickering, Content Security Director for BBC Studios, as its new Chairman. Pickering will direct the strategy for the Association’s mission of providing global community engagement around content protection solutions and information services for media & entertainment.
Pickering’s current remit covers content security for the British production and distribution company’s global content slate, including international hit shows such as time travel adventure Doctor Who, motoring entertainment juggernaut Top Gear and blue-chip natural history landmarks such as Blue Planet II and Seven Worlds, One Planet. In his new role, he will be supported by the CDSA’s Board of Directors that includes leading content security executives from the major Hollywood studios, content creators and television broadcasters.
Pickering said: “The global TV and film industry is thriving and I’m looking forward to ensuring that the CDSA engages with, and supports, every aspect of the content community worldwide to drive security best practice, maintain robust standards, and continue to educate organizations everywhere.”
Additional announcements include Mike Wilkinson, VP, Intellectual Property Security & Technology at NBCUniversal Media named as Treasurer; Ben Stanbury, Chief Security Officer at Amazon Studios, named Vice President/Chairman-Emeritus; and Guy Finley, who served as Executive Director since 2014 was named President. They join Shira Harrison of Amblin Entertainment, who was elected earlier this year, Jaclyn Knag of Paramount Pictures and Richard Atkinson of Adobe Systems in leading the CDSA’s Executive Committee.
Other CDSA Board members include Brian Epperson of Warner Bros., Bryan Esparza of Netflix, Dan Meacham of Legendary Pictures, Henrik Skov of The LEGO Group and Joel Sloss of Microsoft. Content Advisor companies include AMC Networks, Bad Robot Productions, British Telecom, CBS, Channel 4, CreativeFuture, Hulu, ITV, Marvel Entertainment, MPA, Netflix, Secure the Village, Sky, STX Entertainment, Virgin Media, The Walt Disney Company and WarnerMedia. CDSA’s Board of Directors also announced their current working groups and committees leading into 2020:
- Production Security Working Group, chaired by Lulu Zezza of One Simple;
- Content Licensing Working Group, chaired by Cyril Rickelton-Abdi of The Walt Disney Company;
- Streaming Devices Security Working Group, chaired by Filip Paun of Netflix;
- Technology Committee, chaired by Jaclyn Knag of Paramount Pictures
In October of this year CDSA launched, “Content Protection Month” an industry-wide initiative designed to raise awareness at content creation companies, across all business units and service provider partners, to educate and enculturate everyone who is part of content creation to personally embrace content protection and security. Held annually in conjunction with National Cybersecurity Month, “Content Protection Month” helps raise awareness and make it everyone’s job at every level to safeguard content. CDSA provides the tools and templates to help content companies inspire staff to serve as ambassadors and empower evangelists to promote content security, content protection and information security while working around the world.
CDSA will host their Content Protection Summit events in Barcelona, Las Vegas, New York and Los Angeles in 2020, which also sees CDSA celebrating 50-years as an International trade association in the media & entertainment industry.
For more information visit www.CDSAonline.org
Founded in 1970, the Content Delivery and Security Association (CDSA) is the worldwide forum advocating the innovative and responsible delivery and storage of entertainment, software, and information content. CDSA’s global membership includes companies involved in every facet along the digital and physical media supply chain. CDSA provides community, collaboration and communications services that protect entertainment media throughout the supply chain, both pre- and post-release. Its most recent initiative is the joint-venture launch of the Trusted Partner Network (TPN) with the Motion Picture Association (MPA).
BBC Studios, a global content company with British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group. Formed in April 2018 by the merger of BBC Worldwide and BBC Studios, it spans content financing, development, production, sales, branded services and ancillaries. BBC Studios’ award-winning British programmes are internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms. It has offices in 22 markets globally, including seven production bases in the UK and production bases and partnerships in a further nine countries around the world. The company, which makes 2500 hours of content a year, is a champion for British creativity around the world and a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector. BBC Studios has revenue of £1.4bn, and returns around £200m to the BBC Group annually, complementing the BBC’s license fee and enhancing programmes for UK audiences.
