Press Releases

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/be1056/tv_video_global) has announced the addition of the "TV & Video: Global Industry Guide" report to their offering.

"TV & Video: Global Industry Guide" is an essential resource for top-level data and analysis covering the TV & Video industry. It includes detailed data on market size and segmentation, textual analysis of the key trends and competitive landscape, and profiles of the leading companies. This incisive report provides expert analysis on a global, regional and country basis.

Scope of the Report

    --  Contains an executive summary and data on value, volume and segmentation
    --  Provides textual analysis of the industry's prospects, competitive
        landscape and profiles of the leading companies
    --  Incorporates in-depth five forces competitive environment analysis and
        scorecards
    --  Covers the Global, European and Asia-Pacific markets as well as
        individual chapters on 5 major markets (France, Germany, Japan, the UK
        and the US).
    --  Includes a five-year forecast of the industry

Highlights

The global TV and video market grew by 8.5% in 2008 to reach a value of $171.9 billion.

In 2013, the global TV and video market is forecast to have a value of $213.9 billion, an increase of 24.4% since 2008.

TV sales lead the global TV and video market, accounting for 77.4% of the market's overall value.

Americas accounts for 37.2% of the global TV and video market's revenue.

Why you should buy this report

    --  Spot future trends and developments
    --  Inform your business decisions
    --  Add weight to presentations and marketing materials
    --  Save time carrying out entry-level research

Market Definition

The TV & video market consists of sales, through all retail channels, of TV displays (traditional CRT, plasma, LCD and projection televisions), VCR hardware, DVD hardware, camcorders and video cameras as well as set top boxes (STB's) used to decode cable, satellite and digital transmissions. Note that TV & VCR/DVD combination as well as TV with built-in decoder products are classified as televisions for the purpose of this report. Market values are calculated at retail selling price (RSP) and include all applicable taxes. Any currency conversions included within this report have been calculated using constant 2008 annual average exchange rates.

Key Topics Covered:

    --  CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
    --  CHAPTER 2 GLOBAL TV & VIDEO
    --  CHAPTER 3 TV & VIDEO IN ASIA-PACIFIC
    --  CHAPTER 4 TV & VIDEO IN EUROPE
    --  CHAPTER 5 TV & VIDEO IN FRANCE
    --  CHAPTER 6 TV & VIDEO IN GERMANY
    --  CHAPTER 7 TV & VIDEO IN JAPAN
    --  CHAPTER 8 TV & VIDEO IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
    --  CHAPTER 9 TV & VIDEO IN THE UNITED STATES
    --  CHAPTER 10 COMPANY PROFILES
    --  CHAPTER 11 APPENDIX
    --  LIST OF TABLES
    --  LIST OF FIGURES

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/be1056/tv_video_global

Source: Datamonitor

    Source: Research and Markets

Organizations Will Explore Potential of Advanced Networks for Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities

GEORGETOWN, Texas, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education (NITLE) and Internet2(R) have signed a letter of agreement for reciprocal membership. The two organizations will collaborate to explore and raise awareness of advanced networking applications for teaching and learning, libraries, performing arts, language instruction, health science, and other areas. The timing is in alignment with Internet2's new membership structure, which creates a category of membership geared towards liberal arts colleges. Joint project work is scheduled to begin in January 2010.

NITLE and Internet2 will work together to identify test cases for applying advanced networking within liberal arts contexts, with an initial focus on the arts and humanities and opportunities for inter-campus teaching.

"This partnership is an investment in exploring the potential of Internet2's high-bandwidth, low-latency network, which has strategic significance for the liberal arts sector," Eric Jansson, director, NITLE Labs, said. "For example, research shows that when certain qualities are achieved in high-definition video-conferencing, you receive an exponential increase in cognitive engagement. At a certain point, virtual collaboration becomes so life-like that the feeling of being present is just there, hence the recent term 'tele-presence.' Such engagement is consistent with liberal arts models of learning through rich interaction and dialogue."

"One of the collective projects the liberal arts sector needs to actively engage is the question of how to build shared resources and services," said Dave Smallen, vice president for information technology at Hamilton College. "Our investigations at Hamilton -- through the New York Six consortium looking at ways to share digital media from our existing library collections, and through a Teagle grant to investigate applications of high performance computing in a liberal arts environment -- suggest to me the important role that high-speed, high-bandwidth network infrastructure can play in answering this important question."

The partnership will more generally allow the two organizations to exchange expertise.

"Both Internet2 and NITLE see great potential in exchange of expert resources," said Ann Doyle, senior program manager of the Internet2 Arts & Humanities Initiative. "Joint programming is one possibility, as is inviting experts from campuses involved with our organizations to speak at or participate in meetings, workshops, and conferences."

Doyle added, "We are very excited about this partnership as I believe advanced networking will provide the greater Internet2 community access to the expert resources of campuses in the NITLE Network, as well as providing those campuses access to Internet2 members, and the opportunity to pursue membership directly with Internet2. The opportunities for exchange and collaboration here are unlimited."

Doyle and Jansson will work closely to advance the partnership between the organizations.

Conversations between NITLE and Internet2 began in August 2009. The letter of agreement was finalized on October 29, 2009.

About the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education (NITLE)NITLE (pronounced "nightly") helps liberal arts colleges and universities explore and implement digital technologies. Faculty and staff from nearly 130 institutions in the NITLE Network use its offerings to enrich undergraduate education. NITLE is the key organization for small colleges seeking to engage students, manage technology strategically, and anticipate the impact of emerging technologies. Established in 2001 with support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, its mission is to catalyze innovation to advance liberal education in the digital age. (www.nitle.org)

About Internet2(R)

Internet2 is the foremost U.S. advanced networking consortium. Led by the research and education community since 1996, Internet2 promotes the missions of its members by providing both leading-edge network capabilities and unique partnership opportunities that together facilitate the development, deployment and use of revolutionary Internet technologies. By bringing research and academia together with technology leaders from industry, government and the international community, Internet2 promotes collaboration and innovation that has a fundamental impact on the future of the Internet.

Contact: Grace Pang, 734-661-2352 or gpang@nitle.org

SOURCE National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education

CLEARWATER, Fla., Dec. 3, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nicholas Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq: NICK) today announced the opening of a new branch office located in Gastonia, North Carolina. The new location continues the Company's planned expansion of its branch office network, which now includes, fifty (50) offices in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, Alabama and Tennessee. Each of the offices is a full-service lending and collection facility. Nicholas employees have been working to develop business in the Gastonia area for several months prior to the opening of the new location.

The new Gastonia office is the second (2nd) Nicholas Financial branch established in the greater Charlotte area and the sixth in the state of North Carolina. The Company will continue to evaluate potential branch locations in both new and existing markets. Nicholas Financial acquires and services automobile and light truck installment sales contracts that it purchases from new and used car dealers.

Nicholas Financial, Inc. is one of the largest publicly traded specialty consumer finance companies based in the Southeast. The Company presently operates out of 50 branch locations in both the Southeast and the Mid-West States. For an index of Nicholas Financial, Inc.'s news releases or to obtain a specific release, visit our web site at www.nicholasfinancial.com.

The Nicholas Financial, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6776

CONTACT:  Nicholas Financial, Inc.
          Ralph Finkenbrink, Sr. Vice President, CFO
          727-726-0763
          www.nicholasfinancial.com

Proven innovator Ben Vitale to lead growth at national climate solution pioneer

PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ben Vitale, formerly managing director of the Conservation and Community Carbon Fund at Conservation International (CI), has been named president of The Climate Trust, said Bob Therkelsen, chairman of The Climate Trust Board of Directors and a member of the search committee.

"Ben stood out in a field of outstanding national candidates, because he embodies the ideals of innovation, leadership and integrity that are at the heart of The Climate Trust's work," Therkelsen said. "His wealth of carbon market and international partnership experience, from the World Bank to Wal-Mart, coupled with his services orientation makes him the perfect choice to lead The Climate Trust during this transition to a low-carbon world."

In 2002 Vitale joined CI's Center for Environmental Leadership in Business and led carbon financing innovations such as reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD). While at CI, he designed new financing mechanisms that channeled millions of dollars to local climate change mitigation solutions in numerous countries. He has served as an adviser for the Ecosystem Marketplace and Chicago Climate Exchange, among others. He also contributed to numerous climate change articles and books including "A Climate for Life," "Climate Change & Forests" and "Voluntary Carbon Markets."

Vitale will succeed founding Executive Director Mike Burnett, who announced March 31 that he would leave The Climate Trust after a new executive was named. Burnett is credited with growing the fledgling organization into a nationally respected carbon offset provider during his decade of service.

On Dec. 7 Vitale will assume leadership of The Climate Trust. "I am excited to be given the opportunity to build on the pioneering spirit and recent achievements of The Climate Trust," he said. "Developing ways to combat climate change is the greatest challenge of our time. We can inspire positive global transformation to address climate change by harnessing American optimism, ingenuity and hard work. In parallel with global policy development, we will work tirelessly with corporations and governments to deploy local climate change solutions from Portland to Washington, D.C."

Before joining CI, Vitale was co-founder and vice president of operations for Vcapital, Inc., and he held various management positions at Motorola Inc. He received his Master's of Management from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and his Bachelor's in Computer and Electrical Engineering from Purdue University.

About The Climate Trust

The Climate Trust is a nonprofit organization based in Portland, Ore., that has been promoting climate change solutions since 1997. The Climate Trust provides carbon finance for high quality carbon offset projects and provides consulting services and customized large-scale offset programs for businesses, cities, government agencies and utilities. The Climate Trust also advances sound climate policy, especially through its partnership with the Offset Quality Initiative. Learn more at www.climatetrust.org.

SOURCE The Climate Trust

NEW YORK, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Marian Salzman, president of Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, North America, and industry-renowned trendspotter, today issued her list of the top trends for 2010. A compilation of targeted pop culture, political and fiscal themes exponentially on the rise, the list draws on Salzman's 20-plus years of experience in the PR and marketing industries.

"To anyone paying attention to business and pop culture in the past two years, it's no stretch to think social media will be a key driver in 2010--it won a presidential election, after all. However, the degree to which it informs behavior on a company level as well as an employee level still largely remains to be defined," said Salzman. "Companies have begun paying attention to, and actively engaging in, social media in the last year. As this continues, what began as a campaign strategy might prove to define next year's version of total convergence, and a further blending of business roles and responsibilities."

Salzman's 2010 list provides an in-depth forecast of the following trends:

    --  Lines That Zig but Don't Zag. Hyperpolarization and the independents who
        will bridge the divide between political adversaries.
    --  Beware the Mobmedia. The emergence of mob mentality and virtual bullying
        over pressing political and pop culture issues in the social media
        sphere.
    --  A Children's Place and Other Prime-Time Props: Reality TV Gone Wild.
        Children being exploited as television accessories and brand
        trailblazers.
    --  Obamaclock. President Obama's tenure in office is ticking away as he
        continues to harvest mass scrutiny at the hands of the recession's grip.
    --  Heading Off Angst. The mobilization of a universal brain-health movement
        that includes helmet safety, the dangers of cell-phone use, soldiers'
        traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder, and beyond.
    --  No Piggy in the Bank. The employment of creative fundraising tactics for
        nonprofits and startups as a result of the current economic climate.
    --  In-Your-Face Honesty. Smart bigwigs will self-expose unlawful
        misconduct, which the media will place on the back burner out of boredom
        if it all comes out in the first wash.
    --  Go Community! An influx of community niches and hyperlocalization
        efforts will stampede 2010 with the ever-growing presence of social
        media tools.
    --  The Shadow of the Bomb, Again. Iran, North Korea and Pakistan will
        partake in a risky game of poker--with the world anxiously holding their
        cards.
    --  Hands-On Aspirations for Insourcing. With a multiplicity of information
        online and so much employment shifting to the service sector, industries
        and individuals advance making-and-mending skills.

Although this list of trends shows a diversity of political, economic and cultural issues, one critical facilitator triggers them all: social media. Undoubtedly, the crystal ball foresees a year infused with digital media, convergence and synergy at its finest.

Trends now commonplace in mainstream society, including in-home videoconferences (such as Apple's iChat), digital books, beauty-in-a-pill supplements, gossip publications and organic foods are a few of the dozens of accurate forecasts Salzman has pioneered. "I've been assessing business and cultural trends for many years, and as I worked on the 2010 list, I reflected on predictions I'd made five, 10 and even 15 years ago. I was struck by how many actually came to pass, as well as how many remain true to this day," said Salzman. "In five and 10 more years, I'll review this current forecast. I'm looking forward to that assessment and reflection, too. I'm still remembering when I told clients to reserve cybernames in 1995 and they rolled their eyes...."

To view a virtual report card of Salzman's past forecasts and read further into the esteemed trendspotter's predictions for 2010, see "Dusting Off My Crystal Ball" on her blog at www.eurorscgprcampaign.com. To request interviews and images, please contact Jamie Bernheim at 212-367-6865 or jamie.bernheim@eurorscg.com.

About Euro RSCG Worldwide

Euro RSCG Worldwide, the parent company of Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, is a leading integrated marketing communications agency and 2006 Global Agency of the Year in Advertising Age and Campaign. Euro RSCG is made up of 233 offices in 75 countries throughout Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and provides advertising, marketing, corporate communications and interactive solutions to global, regional and local clients. The agency's client roster includes Air France, BNP Paribas, Charles Schwab, Citigroup, Danone Group, Heineken USA, IBM, Jaguar, Kraft Foods, Lacoste, L'Oreal, Pernod Ricard, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Reckitt Benckiser, sanofi-aventis and Schering-Plough. Headquartered in New York, Euro RSCG Worldwide is the largest unit of Havas, a world leader in communications (Euronext: HAV.PA) (Paris: HAV.PA).

Contact:
Jamie Bernheim
jamie.bernheim@eurorscg.com
212-367-6865

SOURCE Euro RSCG Worldwide