New Regulations Attempt To Stimulate Investment in Mexico Telecoms

      Mexico - Anti-monopoly legislation in telecommunications is forcing American Movil to unexpectedly sell part of its business.  Reforms orchestrated by President Enrique Pena Nieto are intended to limit the size of some of Mexico's largest telecommunication companies.
     The announcement came during a 20-hour session to put into affect laws that follow up on last year's constitutional reforms on telecommunications and broadcasting.  The laws which the lower house of Congress approved July 9, 2014, are far reaching.   According to Business Week magazine, these laws will abolish long-distance phone charges next year, they will make it easier for customers to switch telephone companies, and broaden access to free-to-air- television stations.  This legislation will be judged by how well, or not, these laws curb the power of two companies, American Movil and Televisa (a TV broadcaster).  As long as the two firms have a market share of more than 50 percent in their respective businesses, the legislation subjects these two companies to stringent pricing rules.  One executive at American Movil, says American Movil seeks to cut its market share by 15-20 percentage points.  That will put American Movil out of the "preponderant" (dominating) firm category.  American Movil's market share is now sixty percent.  The executive did not say whether the part of the business that American Movil is selling will come from its fixed line, mobile, or internet service branches of the company.  Or, whether that fifteen to twenty percent reduction of market presence will come from a combination of all three.  Also, at issue in the partial divestiture is whether American Movil has to share it wires or its mobile-phone towers, when it becomes a normal (non-preponderant) company.  The executive, a son-in-law of American Movil's owner, said the sale would be to a strong competitor.  Stock speculators say interest is focused on AT&T, of the United States of America, which divested its stake in American Movil last month.  The sale depends on whether a new regulator, the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT), approves the plan.  American Movil could be litigating these issues  in front of a judge and jury for "up to two years," says a boss of one of American Movil's competitors.  Also, according to Business Week, American Movil's stock price for its shares surged on the announcement of a partial sell-off of American Movil.  See full story,  www.businessweek.com. 

Free Mobile Video Gaming

       New York - Apple has already agreed to refund at least $32 million to consumers whose children made in-game purchases without their parents permission.  Some longtime players and game developers also worry that the freemium model is ruining the culture of gaming by nickel-and-diming players and making video games feel like slot machines.  Freemium games make a lot of money.  Revenue in the mobile-gaming market is up 13% over 2013, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.  Most of that comes from in-applet purchases.  In-applet purchases accounted for a large increase of revenue for Apple's applet store.    
     A few mobile games, like mine craft have become huge hits even though they use the old-fashioned approach of charging players up front.  The debate over freemium games continues.  For example, in one opinion article on the game site Polygon last month, Barry Meade, a founder of the mobile-game developer Fireproof studios, criticized the poor quality of free mobile games.  So, called Fremium ware allows you to download the software for the game for free.  The patron pays nothing until they want to upgrade features of the game.  To upgrade features such as a characters power or move up to the next level people have to spend 99 cents here and 99 cents there.  Customers who previously spent $20 to $60 to own the game can now download the software for free to their mobile unit (cell phone, tablet, personal computer, etc.).  However, after playing for a while consumers may need to upgrade the features on the game they originally downloaded for free.  Ubisoft, the publisher of Trials, said that more than 12 million people had downloaded that particular mobile game.  King Digital Entertainment which publishes Candy Crush Saga, a successful game that involves arranging identical confections in a row, has said three percent of its active monthly players spend money in King Digital Entertainments' in-game applets.  The number of players is so large however, that King Digital Entertainment still makes a sizable profit.  "We make games that people love to play and are fun - whether they chose to pay or not," said Sebastian Knutsson, chief creative officer of King.  Fans of free games have said they are no so different than full-size arcade games; the kind of arcade games that require a constant feed of quarter to keep playing.  See full story,  www.nytimes.com.                      

HGTV Still Successful At 20

       Hollywood - The network relies heavily on shows featuring duos of "real people," knowledgeable in real estate.  The so-called property brothers, identical Canadian twins Drew and Jonathan Scott, have three shows with a fourth on the way and have become the de-facto faces of HGTV.  Tarek and Christina El Moussa are featured on "Flip or Flop."  And, Chip and Joanna Gaines are the husband-and-wife team on "Fixer Upper."  For many fans the relationships are as funny as the real estate they are viewing. 
     HGTV launched December 1994 as a TV equivalent of niche lifestyle magazines like Better Homes and Gardens.  It was initially a tough sell with cable operators, who questioned whether the public would be interested in watching 24 hours of  "paint drying and grass growing," as one HGTV executive joked at the time.  But, by 1999 HGTV was reaching 57 million homes and turning a profit, after only three years of broadcasting on cable television.  HGTV has built a lineup full of quiet consistent performers - most notably the 15-year old House Hunters franchise.  The network's pleasantly formulaic programming, which includes "Property Brothers," "Flip or Flop," and "Fixer Upper," offers ever-so-slight variations on the same theme:  people buying, renovating, and selling property.  For many fans the relationships between the duo-hosts are as intriguing and funny as the properties. 
     The launch of "House Hunters" in 1999 marked a pivotal moment in the network's evolution.  In 2006, "House Hunters International" was added to HGTV's lineup and quickly became as popular as the original show, spawning yet more spinoffs (shows revolved from a similar previous show):  "House Hunters Renovation," "House Hunters on Vacation," and "House Hunters:  Where Are They Now?"  The L.A.Times says, some 2000 episodes of "House Hunters" and its various incarnations have been made by Pie Town (the production company co-founded by Jennifer Davidson) and other independent production companies, using bare-bones crews and budgets that are on the lower side.  Jennifer Davidson along with Tara Sandler conceived "House Hunters," when they discovered a niche in the early days of reality television with such low-budget documentary series' as "A Baby Story" and "A Dating Story," for TLC.  The pair, also life partners, were inspired by their own stressful experience buying a home.  HGTV's tidy unwavering formula of programming is probably one of its greatest selling points.  Aside from a few small script changes, including adding the prices of the homes for sale and over the years shifting to bigger characters (more interesting hosts and guests), the programming has remained unchanged.  According to the television ratings company Nielsen, in June the typical week-end tune-in to HGTV was 25% longer than the cable average.  Unlike other cable channels that rely on a few breakout hits, HGTV built a lineup of shows with solid ratings.  Other reality networks have tried their own versions of real-property improvement programming.  "Flip That House" on TLC, "Flip This House" on A&E, and "Flipping Out" on Bravo.  All of these shows played up the idea that with a fresh coat of paint and some stainless steel appliances, practically any home could be re-sold for a profit.  Compared with these shows HGTV's programming is tame, soothing - even polite.  This relaxing escapist television viewing is heightened by the number of Canadian accents heard on several shows.  "We call it property porn, said Drew Scott of "Property Brothers."  That's what people want to see.  They'll never get enough of it."  See also, www.hgtv.com. 

Doctors Doing House Visits are Making a Virtual Comeback

             Boston - Medical appointments via smart phones that have downloaded  an applet or via telephone texting are gaining favor with consumers that have full schedules.  These new services can help you more quickly connect to your doctor.  
     Download the applet and after a few minutes you will be connected to a board-certified doctor.  These doctors will provide a prescription to ease the symptoms you're contacted them for.  And, they will give you a list of tips from the doctor about how to fight off future infections.  One recent user says, "For me it was worth it to pay $40 to avoid spending two hours at the doctor's office."
     Consumers seeking convenience and predictable prices are being driven to search for medical services that are available at extended hours and for a fixed fee.  Critics of the service say there is no substitute for a face-to-face examination and a first hand diagnosis.
     Employers and insurers are beginning to make these products offered in their benefits packages.  Anthem Blue Cross, for instance, recently announced that policyholders would have access to video consultations through American Well for $49.  The cost may be covered by insurance depending on the benefit plan. Web-based services combined with the ability to telephone text a doctor have increased your ability to reach a physician.  First Opinion is a text-messaging service that connects patients within nine-minutes to a physician who can answer questions by responding in text message format.  "We're meant to be the first place you go when you have a question," says McKay Thomas, First Opinion's chief executive officer. However, unlike video consultation, the doctors working with this service cannot give a prescription.  What they give you instead is one text message consultation per month for free.  If patients need more contact, they can buy it for $12, or get unlimited access for $25 per month.
     Treatment via online video and text is convenient and cost-effective but not right for everyone or every situation.  For example, if a person has a chronic condition these medical services are not for them.  Online medical exams and retail clinics offer a convenient, low-cost alternative to long waits at primary care offices. These services may even help to avoid un-necessary trips to emergency rooms across the country.  Like patients, some doctors are also finding new primary-care models appealing.  They can get re-imbursed right away and avoid the red-tape of insurance contracts, says a Boston healthcare consultant.  A web-based primary care service is one that uses technology like remote video medical examinations.  This feature is offered by companies like Doctors on Demand, American Well, MD Live Inc., and Teledoc Inc.  For a flat fee of roughly $40 to $50 patients can have a 15-minute visit with a licensed physician via smartphone, tablet, or computer.  During the doctor's virtual visit the doctor can evaluate symptoms and offer a diagnosis (if appropriate) and prescribe a prescription if needed.
     These medical services can also be useful when patients have been diagnosed with an illness and want a second opinion.  See also,  www.nejm.org.