Publications by Video Age InternationalResent articles by the "Video Age International" from The Free Libraryhttp://www.thefreelibrary.comen-usFarlex, Inc.Thu, 7 Jan 2010 20:17:15 GMT360Free Online Libraryhttp://www.thefreelibrary.comhttp://www.thefreelibrary.com/_/static/TFLbyFarlex.gif17565Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 My two cents.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/My+two+cents.-a0214602929
This month I'd like to, refrain from being critical ("grumpy" as my 13-year old daughter would say). Instead 111 talk about a 50-year-old lady who single-handedly improved the social life of the Middle Eastern country, Qatar, and in the process became a point of reference for the whole region. To the industry, this country on the Gulf peninsula is known for launching Al-Jazeera, the...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 Conferences & events news.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Conferences+%26+events+news.-a0214602928TRAVELLERS GET THEIR NAMES BACK

For all of you who go by "Bud," :Bob," "Chuck," "Dick," "Curly" or "Missy," you no longer have to fear being stopped when you go through the Bush-era security checkpoints at U.S. airports.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) no longer requires that one's name oil the airline ticket match exactly that on the passport or driver's license....]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 Rede Globo, Disney pump up the volume.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Rede+Globo%2c+Disney+pump+up+the+volume.-a0214602927The invitation to the announcement of an agreement between Disney Media Network Latin America (DMNLA) and Brazil's Rede Globo promised something special. And indeed it delivered. The setting selected was the 15th floor of the Viceroy Hotel in downtown Miami, Florida. Guests passed the rooftop pool and reached the spa below where DMNLA had set up two rooms: one for the announcement, the other...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 DISCOP Africa 3 races to Dakar.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/DISCOP+Africa+3+races+to+Dakar.-a0214602926The third edition of DISCOP Africa is set to take place at the Taranga Pullman Dakar Hotel in Dakar, Senegal, February 24-26, 2010.

After the success of the first DISCOP Africa in Dakar last February and the second edition in Nairobi, Kenya, conference managers are hopeful for an even greater turnout.

]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 Serious buyers with fewer dollars save the Mart's day.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Serious+buyers+with+fewer+dollars+save+the+Mart's+day.-a0214602925The result of the 30th annual American Film Market (AFM) can be summarized by Starz Media's executive vp, Worldwide Distribution, Gene George: "If you have a great product it's a solid business. It's a good market, all the key buyers are here, if not in full force."

]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 A good market needed to reinforce spirits & wallets.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+good+market+needed+to+reinforce+spirits+%26+wallets.-a0214602924
The mood was surprisingly upbeat at MIPCOM 2009, and it wasn't just because of the spectacular weather. Over 12,000 delegates from the international television industry were present in Cannes. Buyers were also out in full force, with over 4,000 in town compared to the 3,500 at MIP-TV. Despite the fact that the numbers were lower than the 13,500 recorded in 2008, the relatively high...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 Good gossip makes for bad book in the case of Laliberte.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Good+gossip+makes+for+bad+book+in+the+case+of+Laliberte.-a0214602923
I'm at a bit of a loss in terms of reviewing the recent book by Ian Halperin, Guy Laliberte: The Fabulous Story of the Creator of Cirque du Soleil (2009, Transit Publishing, 230 pages). When the book was released in June, Laliberte, Halperin's main subject, was so furious he demanded the publishers pull all stock from shelves within 24 hours lest he slap with them a lawsuit. Shortly...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 Turkey punishes unfriendly media.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Turkey+punishes+unfriendly+media.-a0214602922TDe equivalent of a U.S.$2.5 billion fine has been imposed on the ogan media group in Turkey by the government of prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, prorapting a feud between him and the media group's owner, Aydin Dogan, who owns more than half of Turkey's print and broadcast media.

]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 Singapore's GIC cut its gig.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Singapore's+GIC+cut+its+gig.-a0214602921While the international TV industry as heading to the Asia TV Forum in Singapore, the Singapore government announced that its sovereign wealth fund is planning a shift towards emerging markets. This is surely good news for Asian, Latin American and African countries.

]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 IPTV is where cable can't be.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/IPTV+is+where+cable+can't+be.-a0214602920
According to a recent report from the Jordan-based Arab Advisors Group, here were six countries in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region offering IPTV services as of May 2009--Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar and the UAE. This number was up from the four that were wired as of August 2007. Reportedly there are also seven other countries/ governments working towards...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 Speculators are put on notice.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Speculators+are+put+on+notice.-a0214602919Democratic U.S. senator from Washington State, Maria Cantwell, is calling for nominees to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to support "strong position limits" that would impose strict caps on the number of energy futures held by investors because of concerns that they are inflating prices.

]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GE to exit showbiz.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GE+to+exit+showbiz.-a0214602918
U.S. cable operator Comcast and conglomerate GE are closing in on an agreement in regard to GE's NBC Universal, with both companies agreeing to a timetable for GE's eventual exit from the entertainment business. It has been reported that Comcast has agreed to give GE the right to redeem portions of its interest in NBC Universal, at the three-and-a-half and seven-year marks....]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 Cry for me Argentina.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cry+for+me+Argentina.-a0214602917Argentina's Congress has approved a bill that will give the government more control over the broadcast media. President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner sponsored the controversial bill to replace a dictatorship-era law that allowed media power to be concentrated in the hands of a few companies. The new regulations are aimed at diversifying the public airwaves.

]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 NATPE 2010 almost booted the booths.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NATPE+2010+almost+booted+the+booths.-a0214602916NATPE officials hadn't even finished announcing the virtual end of the exhibition booths on the convention floor era when some potential exhibitors began questioning aspects of the new suites market environment approach.

Additional news that caused both delight and irritation was the official announcement that NATPE will move to the Fontainebleau Hotel complex in Miami Beach, Florida in...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 ATF spirit is buoyant, biz hopes for the same.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/ATF+spirit+is+buoyant%2c+biz+hopes+for+the+same.-a0214602915
More than 550 buyers from 35 countries are expected to attend this year's 10th annual Asia Television Forum (ATF), taking place on December 2-4 at the Suntec Convention Centre in Singapore. Numbers are up from last year's edition, when some 300 buyer organizations were in attendance and U.S.$73.7 million worth of business was conducted by 286 exhibiting companies from 39 countries....]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 Teutonic screenings expanding reach and buyers' minds.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Teutonic+screenings+expanding+reach+and+buyers'+minds.-a0214602914Acquisition executives from all over the world will soon gather at Munich's Le Meridien to view over 100 hours of new programs at the 34th annual German Screenings, to be held November 29 through December 3.

Last year, this itinerant winter event--the oldest of such program fairs in Europe--took place in Hamburg. Next year, the Screenings will be held in Austria. The event rotates around...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 Latin America's TV buyers on $1.5 billion spree.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Latin+America's+TV+buyers+on+%241.5+billion+spree.-a0214602913According to Nouriel Roubini, the New York University professor who gained prominence for predicting the global financial crisis, Latin America has been quick to make progress, with signs of economic upturn abounding, especially in Brazil. In fact, Roubini believes that recovery in emerging economies will outpace that of developed nations.

]]>