MAM
International media trade magazine World Screen shuts after 40 years
The veteran trade publication covering the international television business closes its doors, ending four decades of industry coverage
NEW YORK: World Screen, one of the longest-running trade publications in the international television business, has ceased publishing after 40 years, its president and publisher Ricardo Guise announced on Wednesday.
No buyer, no pivot, no second act. Just a full stop.
The New York-based title, which built its reputation chronicling the global business of programme sales and, latterly, the streaming revolution, published its final edition this week. In a farewell note, Guise offered thanks to advertisers, readers and partners but gave no explanation for the closure, citing only the conclusion of “publishing activities.”
The company will not wind down immediately. It will continue operating through a transition period to collect outstanding invoices and process refunds for prepaid long-term online campaigns, a sign that the closure was not entirely without complications.
World Screen had carved out a distinctive niche, covering the buying and selling of television content across borders at a time when the business grew from a cottage industry of tape-trading into a multi-billion-dollar global marketplace. It tracked every twist: the rise of the format business, the cable boom, the advent of on-demand platforms and the streaming wars that have since reshaped everything.
Forty years is a long run in trade media. That it ends with a quiet note from the publisher rather than a fanfare says much about the brutal economics now battering specialist publishing, even in an industry awash with content and cash.
“Thank you for being part of the World Screen story,” Guise wrote. For many in the international television business, it was rather the other way around.
Digital
After 22 years, Google lets users finally change their Gmail IDs
New feature ends long wait, keeps emails and history intact
CALIFORNIA: In a move many users have been waiting years for, Google has begun rolling out a feature that allows people to change their Gmail username without losing their emails or account history.
The update marks a significant shift from Gmail’s long-standing rule where users were stuck with the address they first created. Now, users can switch to a new username while retaining access to their inbox, files, photos and purchase history.
Google said users will not need to create a new account to move away from outdated or awkward email IDs, noting that all existing data remains intact through the transition.
The feature works on an alias-based model. The newly chosen email becomes the primary address, while the old one is retained as an alternate. Messages sent to either address will continue to land in the same inbox, and users can sign in using both credentials.
However, the company has introduced a few guardrails. Users can only change their username once every 12 months and are limited to three changes over the lifetime of the account. The new username must also be available and cannot be reused if previously deleted by another user.
The rollout has begun in phases, starting with users in the United States, with a broader global release expected over time.
There are a few practical considerations. While Google services update automatically, users will need to manually update their email ID on third-party platforms such as banking, streaming or social media services. Devices like Chromebooks may also require a fresh sign-in to ensure seamless syncing.
The timing of the announcement has raised a few eyebrows, given Gmail famously launched on April 1 in 2004. Still, references to official updates and statements from Google leadership, including CEO Sundar Pichai, suggest this is no prank but a genuine platform upgrade.
For millions stuck with legacy usernames, the change offers a fresh start without the hassle, proving that even in tech, second chances do arrive.
