Fireside chats, rock star moments, and consumer panels were the highlights of this year’s PEVE conference, and D2D reports on some of the many topics covered at the event.

Every conference has its rock star moment, and this year’s PEVE was no exception. Danny Kaye, keynote speaker on the first day, took to the stage to the rousing strains of Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love, which brought goofy smiles to just about everyone (at least everyone of a certain age) in the audience. Kaye, the EVP Global Research & Technology Strategy, Twentieth Century Fox, showed a video clip of some of Hollywood’s latest and greatest movie moments and declared, “It’s this kind of content that compels consumers to buy.”

Reducing seasonal susceptibility - The merger of two packaging giants

AGI Media was bought by Atlas Holdings last year, changed its name and identity and then merged with Shorewood. Tony Garnish, European CEO of AGI Shorewood, tells Elizabeth Toppin how the company has overcome various associated challenges – but isn’t yet ready to reveal a new name.

LINES OF DEMARCATION Old and new technology models at NAB

This year’s NAB event focused on looking forward to 3D, second screens, and Smart TV - whatever the heck that is, Dan Daley muses. New technologies offered a refreshing focus after a year spent on seemingly endless legal and legislative issues.

The NAB Show in Las Vegas (16th-19th April 2012) showed decent stats: exhibitor numbers rose slightly to just over 1,600 and they splayed out over more space (815,000 square feet versus 745,000 in 2011). Attendance was flat, though, at 91,932 from 151 countries, according to NAB’s preliminary figures, and substantially below the 108,000-plus who attended in 2007, just before the recession hit.

DIGITAL OR BUST IN VEGAS? The physical media market under scrutiny

A realization that maybe it’s time to figure out a way to jump on the digital bandwagon dominated the proceedings at Packaged Media & Beyond 2012, reports Larry Jaffee.

Maybe it was the Association of Independent Media Manufacturers Association (AIMMA) joining forces with the Media-Tech Association (MTA) and the Colonial Purchasing Co-operative to produce a US show like the latter did in the two previous years. Or maybe it was the zany Day Two keynote presentation by Troma co-founder Lloyd Kaufman whose oldest running US independent movie studio has been making independent, non-mainstream movies for nearly 40 years.

HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD - Paramount and Universal Turn 100

Two major studios celebrate their centenaries this year and a lot has changed since they were both founded. Jill Bilzi looks at how they are coping with box office fluctuations, changes in home entertainment delivery, and the increasing power of social media.

Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios, which brought us iconic and unforgettable movie characters like The Godfather, the adorable extra-terrestrial E.T. and the great white shark in Jaws, both turn 100 years old this year. The two studios are celebrating their centennials in much the same way: new logos, restorations of classic titles and consumer sweepstakes and promotions all year long.