Because Group's core business is media distribution. Because Group has created a revolutionary digital distribution solution known as the digital future solution (dfs) specifically for the media industry worldwide – film, music, broadcast, sport and education. Its core competencies are internet infrastructure, software and related processing technology, new generation optical disc technology, content management and administration.
The dfs solution is made up of three components: Skyhubdigital (a global retail portal), dfs Media Centre and the first of its kind, an updateable optical disc – dfs disc - (DVD,Blu-ray and CD). The complete solution will supply entertainment from all content providers worldwide digitally and physically to consumers and distribute it from the one digital environment, Skyhub.
dfs will revolutionise the global content industry by converging digital distribution, broadcast and retail supply chains into one efficient model where every distributor can play a role and generate revenue. This new model will also play a key role in simplifying the way consumers will buy, download, stream or rent content now and in the future.
A consumer can log onto Skyhubdigital any where in the world, select a category of content that is of interest to them, preview and purchase it in their local currency and download it to their favourite device in the file type of their choice. Skyhubdigital will be a “one-stop shop” for the best of global entertainment.
The dfs mediacentre is the consumer’s content manager. It enables consumers to search, preview and purchase any entertainment content – music, film, broadcast, sports, games or education products. The user-friendly mediacentre, assists the consumer to seek out multiple file types to ensure compatibility with multiple computer and entertainment devices and formats - from the home entertainment centre, the desktop or laptop computer, the PDA and mobile phone. It also serves as a business-to-business (B2B) content manager for retailers and content owners where they can upload content, advertise, launch new release campaigns, set prices, retrieve sales data and download user statistics.
The updateable optical disc – dfs disc - is a web enabled DVD, Blu-ray or CD disc with recorded content and additional blank space, all on the same disc face, which allows consumers to download new release content on to their favourite artist’s, sport or TV series existing disk to create a unique collectible tailored to their taste. New information can be stored on their hard-drive and added to in a range of file formats and can be copy-protected.
dfs is setting about changing the way content providers distribute media via their partnerships with retailers and aggregators. At the same time, dfs will reduce service fees and speed up payment to content owners and turnaround time of new releases to consumers.
This new content distribution model has been designed as a win-win for content owners, content distributors and consumers.
“What Google is to search, Skyhub will be for multi-media”
(Senior Executive, Universal Music Distribution USA)
The digital future solution (dfs) is made up of: Skyhubdigital - the online retail warehouse and digital backend. Mediacentre - content manager. Up-dateable optical disc - CD, DVD, Blu-ray discs that accommodate downloads.
Skyhubdigital is the online retail environment for any content owner, retailer, aggregator, band, sports body or university (ie: the stakeholders) who wish to sell and/or control the distribution of their content online.
For the consumer it is a retail portal not unlike iTunes, but with an enhanced multi-media environment that is file format and DRM (digital rights management) agnostic. Consumers can access the Skyhub a number of ways - via the dfs disc, through the dfs mediacentre, through the content owner’s website, through an artists’s website, through a participating stakeholder’s website or via www.skyhubdigital.com.
For the content owner, Skyhub, combined with the proprietary updateable dfs disc products, allows content owners to maintain direct control of their content online while preserving and/or facilitating third party (iTunes, Vodafone, Amazon etc) licensing contracts and the retailer's (K-Mart, Borders, HMV, Sanity) role in the distribution chain. In doing so, Skyhub gives consumers a choice as to where and how they purchase their content and in what formats. Content in all formats can be purchased singularly or as a package, ensuring the consumer is able to enjoy the content on a multitude of devices.
Skyhubdigital - the online retail warehouse and digital backend. 
