The Central Florida Digital Media Study, a comprehensive evaluation of our region's digital media industry, concludes that digital media is already a prominent industry sector in Central Florida, with more than 3,000 companies working in the industry. Commissioned by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, City of Orlando, University of Central Florida, Orange County, National Center of Simulation, the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, the Metro Orlando Film & Entertainment Commission and overseen by the Metro Orlando Film & Entertainment Commission, this report was compiled following extensive research conducted by PWC Consulting, a New York City-based entertainment consulting group. The study identifies three existing industry sectors as contributing to the development of digital media in Metro Orlando:

• modeling, simulation and training technologies;
• the film and entertainment industry;
• and the area's theme park and attractions industry.

The objectives of the study were to determine the opportunities that exist within digital media, assess Central Florida's current positioning in digital media, develop the strategic direction that the region should pursue in digital media, and recommend the initiatives that the region should pursue to implement the strategic plan.

The study's six recommendations are that Central Florida should:

• Emphasize a digital media focus on content creation and technological developments with special focus on leveraging core strengths across industry sectors and increasing growth of core clusters;
• Develop a Central Florida Digital Media Institute;
• Emphasize the attractiveness of investing in the region to help stimulate investment growth in digital media;
• Integrate education as a catalyst to the region's digital media initiative;
• Provide the guidelines required to organize the region's digital media focus, including the leadership of the initiative and organizations for future collaboration;
• Increase awareness and enhance the positioning of Central Florida's digital media awareness.