Trade Shows: Advanstar Communications has bought for...

Trade Shows: Advanstar Communications has bought for an undisclosed amount Live Time Inc., producer of the Los Angeles-based ShowBiz Expo, an entertainment industry trade show and conference. The 10-year-old program started as a computer show, called Micro Show, for the entertainment industry and has since developed into a major trade show for the film, television and video industries. Advanstar holds more than 50 expositions and conferences, and also publishes nearly 60 magazines and journals for video retailers and television executives. Advanstar said Liz Crawford, a former company marketing and promotion director, will manage the trade show. ShowBiz Expo co-founders Bob and Nalini Lasiewicz will continue to work on the program. The next ShowBiz Expos are scheduled to be held in New York in January and in Los Angeles in June.