Video Business Announces 2009 Video Hall of Fame Inductees

Leading home entertainment news magazine Video Business (www.VideoBusiness.com) announces the induction of retailer Best Buy, Summit Home Entertainment President Stephen Nickerson and Microsoft Corporate VP, Media and Entertainment Group, Blair Westlake into the 2009 Video Hall of Fame. The inductees will receive this recognition during VB’s 29th annual gala dinner and awards presentation, Dec. 7 at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

"Each of our three Video Hall of Fame inductees this year truly epitomizes the rapid evolution of home entertainment,” said Marcy Magiera, editor-in-chief and associate publisher of VB. "We’re so proud to honor Steve Nickerson, Blair Westlake and Best Buy for the innovation each of them is bringing to the industry.”

For the first time, the gala event will benefit Entertainment AIDS Alliance (EAA), the 20 year-old home entertainment industry charity that funds AIDS research and service organizations nationwide. As part of the fundraising gala, EAA will present its Visionary Award to Michele Bell, Senior VP of Worldwide Creative Services at Paramount Home Entertainment.

For the past 10 years, EAA has held a separate Visionary Awards fundraising dinner, which is now being combined with the VB Video Hall of Fame.

"Joining forces for the Video Hall of Fame is a win-win situation for both EAA and Video Business,” said EAA President David Bowers. "At a time when charities across the country are losing funding, by pooling our resources and talents – and with the continued support of the industry – EAA is able to not only sustain, but grow its ability to help non-profit groups weather the current financial downturn and maintain vital services to people living with HIV/AIDS.”

"Video Business is proud to be associated with EAA, a charity truly grown within the home entertainment industry,” said Magiera.

For nearly 30 years, Video Business has been at the forefront of the home entertainment industry, reporting the news with integrity and a keen understanding of what is important to content owners and retailers. Video Business is a Variety Group Publication owned by Reed Business Information, the largest business-to-business publisher in the U.S. and part of Reed Elsevier Group plc (NYSE: RUK and ENL).