How Will Japan’s Earthquake Affect U.S. Car Makers?
By Jonathon Welsh -
For years globalization of the auto industry has been hailed as a positive development, theoretically giving car makers access to the best quality components and technology at the best prices. But last week’s massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan, a hub in the automotive supply network, will test the industry’s resilience.
The questions yet to be answered: Just how interdependent are car makers, and is the industry potentially as vulnerable to supply problems now as it was in the day before globalization.
While continuing shutdowns at auto plants in Japan where Toyota, Honda, Nissan and other vehicles are built may seem like a great opportunity for rivals in the U.S., Europe and South Korea to grab sales and market share, the real situation is more complicated. Many so-called American cars depend on other countries for critical components, and Japan is a huge supplier. Shortages of certain parts are sure to slow production of domestic models, though it is hard to say how long the effects will last.
Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/03/15/how-will-japans-earthquake-affect-u-s-car-makers/?mod=WSJBlog
How New Media is Changing TV
From SocialTimes.com -
You are likely conscious that the television experience has changed in the past decade. We once participated in appointment TV, taking the time to sit down at a specific hour to watch a specific show. Today, two significant behavioral changes in consumers are redefining the entertainment landscape.
These changes require television networks and advertisers to evolve rapidly to keep their shows, content, and ad buys relevant to a demanding consumer set.
People now consume television via time-shifted DVR, online (legally), online (illegally), mobile device, Internet streaming to TV, and a wide variety of other methods.
Viewers now consume multiple forms of media at the same time, such as watching TV on a television while checking Facebook on a computer. This is commonly referred to as two-, three- or multi-screen viewing.
Source: http://www.socialtimes.com/2011/03/newmedia-tv-shifts-consumer-behavior/
