Argentina s ATVC strongly supports Schwartz s plan to transform Tepal from a commercial association to a political one, but not his plan of concentrating the quantity of cable shows that are saturating the market. Too many for only one region. But the industry is demanding urgent change, and organisers seem to be complying. Inforexco, by the way, is now trying to create a new conference called Open Show 2000 .
Talks are ongoing.
Even if a deal is clinched, it wouldn t be enough to bring the quantity of regional shows to a rational number. That kind of money is the stuff of dreams in Argentina, where the country s third-largest MSO Supercanal Holding , said it could not afford football rights and decided against renewing its football package. Carlos Arias is IC s Latin America bureau chief based in Buenos Aires. All rights reserved.