Macworld, CES to Start on the Same Day Next Year

Each January, many people in the technology world open the new year with the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, followed by Macworld Expo in San Francisco. Typically, a few days separate the start of each event -- except 2002, when they both began Jan. 7 -- but next year, they will both open their doors Jan. 8.

In a story written for Dow Jones Newswires, reporter Mark Boslet noted that CES and Macworld representatives said that contractual issues with their respective convention centers forced the issue. "The Las Vegas Convention Center and Moscone Center in San Francisco have busy schedules and available dates are determined by hall demand," Mr. Boslet wrote.

A spokesman for IDG, Macworldis parent company, wasnit concerned about the conflict, telling Mr. Boslet: "Our audience is mostly different in terms of exhibitors and attendees." A CES spokeswoman would only say that those dates were locked in, and an Apple spokesman declined to comment.

The Mac Observer contacted the Las Vegas and San Francisco convention bureaus, but representatives for both organizations made referrals back to the trade shows.