About the only evidence that the Allen & Co. annual media mogul
shindig took place last week was the phalanx of ultra-chic private jets parked along
Hailey airports tarmac.
In its 18th year this season, the combination family vacation and
high-stakes, deal-making schmooze-fest usually nets at least one industry-shaking
transaction. Most famous, perhaps, was Walt Disney Co.s purchase of Capital
Cities/ABC for $19 billion in 1995.
The transactions of people like Microsofts Bill Gates, News Corp.
chairman Rupert Murdoch, America Online CEOs Steve Case and Gerald Levin or Blockbuster
Video co-founder and Miami Dolphins owner (second jet from the left) Wayne Huizenga
might have far-reaching effects on the rest of humanity, but the world will have to wait a
while to find out what those effects are. After opening the door to reporters last year,
organizers slammed it this year. Not even photographer Annie Liebovitz, who usually snaps
an annual "family portrait" of participants for Vanity Fair magazine, was
allowed in, according to a report from Bloomberg news.
Although impossible to know what transpired behind closed doors at the Sun
Valley Lodge, some hint can be found in Wired Magazines January quote from host Herb
Allen on his vision for the high-tech media future. Heres what he said:
"How many years are we from having a screen that will fan out of a
pen that you carry in your breast pocket? Youll be able to play visuals on the
inside of your eyeglasses, on your dishwasher."
Stay tuned.
Travis Purser