Somesh Pallwal, founder of Dmpanimatioons in New Delhi, (left) and Cindy Kerry, vp of programming and acquisitions, Cartoon Network & Boomerang Latin America.

The panels assembled for this special event examined how each of the next generation media is functioning currently and will function in the U.S. in the future. But the big question on everyone's mind is how is the new media going to generate money.

The panels defined what will be the difference between the devices and how they will be used for downloading. The consensus is the mobile device will be used for local news, weather and sports, just like we use radio today. Mobile will not be the place where full-length features are regularly watched.

Among those on the panel, "Executive Download --Trendsetting Digital Media Initiative," the consensus is the consumer needs to get used to the downloading and needs to get used to the devices before instituting a charge for downloading and use. One phenomenon that was pointed out by Scott Mills, cfo/president of BET Digital Media, is that African-Americans (as well as Latinos) download more content to their cell phones much more then the average user. Because of this, BET is looking for more content to fill the need and is now paying for content to be developed.

Cyriac Roeding, vp wireless, CBS, presented, "10 Hypotheses for the Future," during the CBS Keynote presentation. Roeding looked at what we perceive the use of the next generation media will be, and his theories of how it will be used in 10 years from now. He hypothesizes that Hollywood will converge with Silicon Valley. Tivo and DVR will not be needed in 10 years, because we will download directly to our phones and computers and we will program what we want to watch and when, by just plugging in your phone or computer direct to the television set.

Enrique Pinerua, who promoted The Danger Rangers for Education Adventures on the exhibit floor, is pleased with the growth of Latin American channels.

There will be a blur between user-generated content and professionally produced content. Users will decide using bi-directional screens. The real choice will be by the consumer. Content will follow the user, but the cell phone will not be a TV. He agrees that the cell phone will be used for local information and sports.

Roeding says platforms, not schedules, will dictate what the consumer watches. A producer in the future will not only create for the plasma screen in the consumers' living rooms, but will have to create new content based on the brand for the Internet as well as something different based on that brand for cell phones.

Advertising will exist on all platforms to persuade. The cell phone will be the device the consumer will use to select and download VOD (video on demand) through advertising on the phone. Once these selections are made, the consumer then plugs the phone into the television and will watch what their selection at the time they choose.

Roeding did conclude that all this might be just hype, but the consumer is changing and so is the media.

The wireless day was organized by a different organization this year, and focused on mobile. The general feeling of attendees was last year's presentation, including more about IPTV, imparted much more information, and that this one could have been honed down to half a day.

There are mixed feelings about NATPE and its future among those attending this year. Those who have been in television and still in television, like Jerry Diaz of Salsa Ent., see the assembly as a must-attend function to catch up on sales and clients. Those in new media feel that perhaps there are conferences that better suit their needs.

For most of its 40 years, NATPE has been a go-to place for television programming in the U.S. Today, NATPE is competing with international television conferences in Europe and Asia. NATPE is evolving with the change from syndication to convergence.

As the new platforms mature and revenue streams are established, there will be a need for content. When there is a need for content there will be a need for NATPE.

Jan Nagel, the entertainment marketing diva, is a consultant involved in the business of animation and visual effects since 1991. She represents creative producers and productions companies worldwide, Blanca Ruiz, Jim Keeshen Prods., AGOGO Corp. Hong Kong, as well as being a frequent guest lecturer on the subject of the business of animation. She is also a founding member and current president of Women in Animation International.

Sarah Baisley is the editor-in-chief of Animation World Network.