AT&T recently hosted approximately 14,000 attendees at its second annual AT&T Shape event on the Warner Bros. Studio lot.  AT&T Shape brought together a slate of speakers from across the Technology and entertainment industries to discuss the convergence of entertainment and technology and the ways it is revolutionizing interactive narrative and digital storytelling. 

While AT&T could not discuss Time Warner and their plans for Warner Bros., since U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon had not yet approved the acquisition, there were plenty of panels covering a wide range of topics including Blockchain, artificial intelligence, eSports, and mixed reality as well as discussions with artists and directors including Shawn Combs, Ava DuVernay, Kathryn Bigelow, and Isaa Rae. In addition there were product demos of new devices and immersive entertainment experiences, and a short film and entertainment app competition.

AT&T has seen how Comcast has positioned itself as a service provider, providing voice (fixed and mobile), a content provider owning broadcast and cable networks and TV and movie studios, and a technology vendor and is positioning itself similarly. AT&T Shape is an opportunity for AT&T to begin to establish a relationship with  the creative community in Hollywood and “reshape” how the company is perceived.

Now that the courts have ruled in AT&T’s favor they can really begin to execute on this vision.