Latinstock Digital, the asset-management subsidiary of the Latinstock photographic cooperative, has entered into a joint venture agreement with KIT Digital, a provider of on-demand video-management software. The two companies have agreed to cross-market services, thus expanding the range of the total offering, to each other's and potential new clients. For Latinstock, the agreement means a stronger foothold in the video and European markets and an expansion of its service roster.
ZenithOptimedia (Publicis) says that global ad spend for 2009 will be 10.2% lower than 2008, but that in 2010 it is expected to be up 0.9% compared to 2009. Group M (WPP) thinks 2009 spending will only be down about 6.6% from 2008 levels and expects 2010 to be 0.8% above 2009. There is no expectation that ad spending will get back to 2008 levels anytime soon.
Getty Images, which has held the official title of photographic agency to the International Olympic Committee for 22 years, is gearing up to cover the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games in February. The agency was first designated as the official provider of such services during Canada's first Winter Olympics of 1988 in Calgary, Alberta-the home of Getty-owned iStockphoto.
Corbis is the new exclusive rep of a collection of Egyptian imagery by Sandro Vannini, who just launched a limited-edition large-scale photography book A Secret Voyage featuring this collection. Vannini has spent the past 12 years capturing Egyptian archaeological heritage in collaboration with Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Marrying the features made familiar by companies such as OnRequest, fotoLibra and various community-based photo businesses, Austin-based FocalPop launched a marketplace where buyers can post requests for photographers to reply with photos. Buyers describe images, the price they are willing to pay and the type of license they seek-then select a winning image among submissions from site users.
Cambridge-based Imense, which produces image-recognition and other software, has updated its Annotator keywording platform.
National Geographic has announced that it is ceasing regular publication of "National Geographic Adventure" with the current December/January issue after 10 years of publishing the travel and outdoor adventure magazine.