NATPE 2018

The just-concluded NATPE conference underscored for me the central problem of the broadcast syndication business: the big studios’ apparent unwillingness to spend big dollars for big shows, ones that could take their place as evening news lead-ins or in prime access. While this was the second year a row that NATPE came and went without any “big stage” show emerging, that doesn’t mean none will. “The drought will not continue,” says Hearst’s Emerson Coleman.

The tower is power. That was the message from a NATPE panel Wednesday focused on the next-generation broadcast TV standard, aka ATSC 3.0. “Amazon could try and put up sticks around the U.S. and couldn’t match the infrastructure that broadcasters have built over the last 60-70 years,” said Andrew Finlayson, SmithGeiger’s EVP of digital and social media strategies.

The trend of station groups creating and syndicating their own shows has proven itself as a worthy way to create cost-effective programming that speaks to local and regional audiences, according to a panel of executives who spoke Wednesday at NATPE.

Tribune Broadcasting president Larry Wert began his appearance on a panel at NATPE’s Station Summit by joking that this would likely be his last time ever at the conference. Technically that could be true — Sinclair Broadcast Group is weeks or even days away from final regulatory approval of its long-anticipated takeover of Tribune. But Wert ended the session on a more serious note, warning of the significant risk that comes with the consolidation wave swallowing up his company.

As the 55th edition of NATPE begins Tuesday morning in Miami, the syndication business that long served as its heartbeat continues to show a faltering pulse. Even so, the conference has managed to stabilize itself by bulking up offerings in streaming video, unscripted programming and local TV, rebounding after lean years when many in the industry thought it might vanish entirely.

Once again, the new first-run offerings are slim as stations are mostly content with what’s working for them. The big question is whether Harry will be back for a third season. While some syndicators have new entries for sale, only one new show has so far found a station launch group (Fox) that virtually assures its debut this fall. That is Debmar-Mercury’s new court show Caught in Providence (AP photo/Michelle R. Smith).

At NATPE 2018, Telco Productions will be offering Ask Dr. Nandi, a medical lifestyle weekly series that seeks to improve the health of Americans. Each one-hour episode features Dr. Partha […]

Emerson Coleman, Hearst’s SVP of programming, is going to Miami with a surging Matter of Fact to offer. When he puts on his buyer hat, he will be looking for a few shows, including replacements for the slots now occupied by Harry, whose return seems doubtful. In this wide-ranging interview, he also talks about the stagnant first-run syndication business, station groups’ producing their own programming, Hearst’s kids programming subsidiary Litton, multicasting and his continued enthusiasm for NATPE.

Other features of the Jan. 16-18 conference include a conversation with the team behind the critically-acclaimed Dear White People and a mega-session on international production. In addition, Maria Menounos will host the 15th Annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards and the finalists for the NATPE Unscripted Breakthrough Awards will be revealed.

A strong presence from international and independent production communities has the annual marketplace and conference pacing ahead of last year. Among the innovations are a new streaming summit. Opening night party sponsors Kanal D and Olympusat will feature a live performance by Elvis Crespo.

Greg Berlanti, Cesar Conde, Jane Fonda, Kevin Reilly and Tom Selleck will be honored on Jan. 17 during NATPE conference in Miami Beach.