Videoage International November 2020

6 World November 2020 V I D E O A G E for customers to sustain their subscriptions to multichannel TV services. They will either go for cheaper offers or they will migrate to streaming only. In the pay-TV channel and production sectors, Argentina houses the major headquarters (outside the U.S.) of the three large U.S. groups: The Walt Disney Company, ViacomCBS, and Turner (WarnerMedia). In addition to the changing rules of the game for Argentina’s authorities, these companies are also concerned about eco- nomic uncertainties in their home country. Disney’s Latin America di- vision, for example, is a strategic base of undoubted relevance for the U.S. group. All businesses related to the brand are handled from Buenos Aires, including pay-TV channels and production in LATAM. The Argentine government, led by what is commonly called “Kirchnerism” (from the name of the former president and current vice president), and through the National Commission for the Defense of Competition (i.e., the antitrust commission), has already warned that it intends to disapprove the merger of the sports networks ESPN and FOX Sports, noting that it would “generate an excessive concentration of sports chan- nels.” The possibility is of concern to Disney because until last December there were no antitrust problems. The production of series, soap operas, documentaries, and films, has fallen to levels never seenbefore in the country. The long lockdown has stopped the few productions and plans that had been drawn up until before the confinement. There are many local producers that are on the verge of financial collapse. From what can be projected, there will be very little Ar- gentine content in the world in 2021. Never before has the ever- enterprising Argentine creative machine been so affected. Broadcast TV is no ex- ception. Advertising is cur-rently seeing revenue losses very close to the bankruptcy levels of 2001, the year of the worst economic crash suffered by the nation in its history. (By Omar Mendez) F or the first time since the Jornadas was born in 1990, the pay-TV convention — created by the Argentine Cable Television Association (ATVC)— will not hold a face-to-face event. This year, the Buenos Aires-based event, the Jornadas Internacionales 2020, will be entirely virtual. This is not extraordinary in and of itself since practically all of the world’s trade markets and conferences have been forced to go digital due to the ongoing pandemic. What is extraordinary is that Jornadas is taking place at all, moving from its September dates to November 10-12. Argentine television currently suffers all the effects of the serious problems that plague other southern LATAM countries. Argentina is suffering from an economic standpoint since the local currency, the peso, has depreciated at historic levels and is nowworth less than a U.S. penny. It is suffering froma financial standpoint as it has no money to repay the International Monetary Fund’s loans. It also suffers from a belligerent political climate, with rebellions against national authority. In addition, Argentina holds the world record for forced lockdown to control the pandemic —more than eight months. The economic crisis, which is growing month by month, is making it difficult Jornadas 2020 Reflects A New Argentine Crisis (Continued from Page 4) (Continued on Page 8) Recognized standard of quality in Audio Description Descriptive Video Works is committed to providing access to all forms of visual media With more than 40,000 television shows, feature films and LIVE shows completed, you can rely on us to deliver your project on budget and on time. Our technical expertise guarantees a top quality product - a commitment we’ve made to our clients for more than 17 years. Request a Quote info@descriptivevideoworks.com descriptivevideoworks.com