Flexplay is off to L.A., without CEO

HBO using technology to offer sneak previews

By SCOTT HETTRICK, LAURENCE LERMAN

Flexplay Technologies CEO Alan Blaustein is stepping down as the result of the disposable DVD company's decision to move its headquarters from New York to L.A.Charles Ball, hired earlier this year as exec VP for studio relations and business development will be interim CEO until a new head is found. Ball will be based at Flexplay's offices in Culver City.

The sales, marketing and business development departments will follow him to L.A. by the end of the year. Finance departments will remain in New York.

Flexplay is moving to be closer to the studios and videogame companies it is courting.

Meanwhile, Flexplay continues its test of movies on disposable DVDs with Disney and has landed a promotional partnership with HBO.

HBO is using Flexplay to offer a sneak preview of its new comedy series "Entourage," the first time the disposable discs have been used to distribute screeners in the U.S.

Beginning this week, sidewalk hawkers will distribute 80,000 Flexplay screeners to consumers in 11 major markets including Gotham, L.A., San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, Dallas and Philly.

The limited-play discs will also be handed out to guests attending media events, such as Time Out New York and Maxim parties and on media-sponsored jaunts to the Hamptons from downtown Manhattan.

Flexplay DVDs rely on a chemical process that renders them unplayable after a fixed period of time. The discs come sealed in air-tight pouches and the process begins as soon as they're exposed to air.