The organization’s CEO, Rod Perth, says TV station attendance is healthy for the annual gathering next month, with the number of total antendees and exhibitors also up from 2014. Exhibit floor space is sold out.
NATPE 2015
NATPE Registration Paces Ahead Of Last Year
The 2015 NATPE market and conference taking place in Miami Beach, Fla., on Jan. 20-22 is pacing ahead of last year’s conference in the number of exhibitors and attendees, including 26 television station groups so far signed up to attend, according to Rod Perth, the group’s president-CEO, who spoke with reporters on a conference call earlier today.
He noted that TV station attendance is healthy, despite there being a dearth of first-run shows debuting in broadcast syndication next fall. Warner Bros.’ Crime Watch Daily, Disney-ABC’s The FAB and possibly NBCUniversal’s Crazy Talk are among the few new entries.
TV stations “don’t live in just a first-run syndication world anymore. That’s the old days,” says Perth. “They are being progressive. They are being exposed to new possibilities, which is why the [new] digital market is so important. There are so many new possibilities for them.
“Local TV stations, I think would say themselves, were slow to adapt to digital. A lot of [what NATPE] is about is meeting people. You’re there; you connect and that leads to a world of possibilities.”
Perth also noted that all the major studios will back this year, including 20th Century Fox, Disney-ABC, NBCUniversal, Sony and Warner Bros.
And, “we have 230 exhibitors so far and we’re still six weeks away. We have 28 brand new exhibitors. We’re sold out on the exhibit floor. We have all the major exhibitors returning. Buyer registration is pacing is very strong. So far, 64 countries are represented.”
BRAND CONNECTIONS
He also noted that the 12th annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards, which take place on Jan. 21, are presenting awards to Jay Leno; Cisneros Media Group’s Adriana Cisneros and Gustavo Cisneros; reality producer Jonathan Murray; former Entertainment Tonight producer Linda Bell Blue; and Netflix content chief Ted Sarandos.
Among other speakers, All in the Family producer Norman Lear will be the NATPE keynoter on opening day, Tuesday, Jan. 20. And also that day, NATPE will introduce its first reality TV awards luncheon.
“We’re feeling fantastic about what we’re putting together,” Perth says.
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