Former Warner Bros. pay-TV executive Jeffrey Calman has moved to Blockbuster to take on the new position of vice president of studio relations and new media, where he’ll lead the home-video retailer’s efforts to acquire digital content.
Calman, who’ll be based in Los Angeles, spent more than 20 years at Warner Bros., lastly as executive vice president of video on demand and electronic sell-through in the home-video division. Earlier he was senior vice president for domestic cable distribution in New York, where he negotiated distribution deals with pay-TV and cable networks and 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, The Weinstein Company and ViewNow. He has also been involved with the development of a performing arts television network, Blockbuster said.
“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,” Joyce Woodward, Blockbuster’s senior vice president of film, said in a release. “We are delighted to welcome him to Blockbuster and to this new position.”
