Thursday, February 16, 2006

Crimson Square & African Lure

Headed to Boston this weekend to seek (among other like-minded folk I hope) opportunities regarding Africa. Don't know what to expect. I like that because right now that means anything is possible. Forward!

Globalization comes full circle

The global exchange of goods and services has been taking some quite interesting turns of late; this is making the globalization story (esp. in the knowledge and service sectors) more nuanced and complex than is usually potrayed. In pharma land, Indian generic firms are now competing with each other to swallow up German firms. This of course follows in the steps of Indian IT firms who have been upping the ante in the skills competition game. The trend is clear. Their numbers may pale when compared with the revenues and profits enjoyed by their bigger competitors in the West, but they are coming.

Even more significant in terms of media doings is the export of entertainment and related content from emerging, non-Western economies to the West.

From Asia, we now have the first mainstream digital TV outlet in the US focusing on Pan-Asian programming (excluding Bollywood type fare). I hope they get wider carriage because they offer a window into offerings that I personally didn't know much about. Now, I am into ImagineAsian! Check out some of their Korean dramas e.g., Winter Sonata. This has traveled really well from Korea to other Asian, Middle East and African countries.

From Africa, we have the most innovative (IMO) media outlet for Pan-African programming. I like their use of the Web for delivering programming streams especially of "Live TV" from Ghana and NIgeria. For content such as this, you don't want to depend on wide carriage on MSOs and Satellite providers for exposure. It might take a long time! One suggestion to the Africast team: Paypal. It is unfortunate but perceptions die hard and it is tough to give up the credit card number to (perceived) unproven brands.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

Some random links

Some places I have been visiting recently in the world of music and film.