NATPE

Rick Feldman, the president and CEO of the National Association of Television Program Executives, provides a look at some of the highlights of next week’s convention and exhibition, taking place January 25 to 27 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.

The 47th edition of NATPE is just around the corner. Many of you may already or will soon be making your way to Las Vegas.

Unfortunately, many of you are not.

Over the past few years, the global recession has reduced our numbers. Some of our friends from Western Europe have been particularly hard hit with significant loss of ad spend and increased consolidation.

For those of you who can come, you will find a more convenient market geography and a rich environment in which to meet people, buy and sell product, and hopefully expose yourself to some thought-provoking ideas and conversation.

NATPE continues to be the number one market and conference in the U.S. for professional video content and welcomes a significant contingent of professionals from Canada, Mexico and Latin America, as well as TV professionals from 50 other countries.

Our conference program of over 200 speakers covers the broad global digital landscape that our delegates have asked for.

Featured speakers include David Zaslav, the president and CEO of Discovery Communications; Michael Eisner, the CEO of The Tornante Company; Elisabeth Murdoch, the chairman and CEO of the Shine Group; Jeff Gaspin, the chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment; Jeff Wachtel, the president of original programming at USA Network and co-head of content for Universal Cable Productions; Nancy Dubuc, the president and general manager of History; Hugh Laurie, Dr. Gregory House on House; and David E. Kelley, the CEO of David E. Kelley Productions.

There will be parties, dinners and awards available to all.

For those of you that can’t make it, please check out www.natpemarket.com and see what is on the schedule. Our entire program will be available online a few weeks after the show for a very manageable price.

But online does not take the place of being there and the possibility of that chance meeting that could be the one that more than pays for the trip. E-mails, tweets, text messages, etc., will never replace actually sitting across from someone and meeting face to face.

It would seem to me that in bad times, going to a venue that has more than 5,000 people who all do what you do is more important than ever.

In January 2011, NATPE will move to the Fontainebleau in Miami Beach. We will take over the entire hotel, which will enhance networking opportunities. The new venue will have us all rubbing elbows, which will make the marketplace that much more efficient and productive for all.

There is so much going on at NATPE this year, I hope those of you attending have a successful and enjoyable three days. For those of you not able to make, I look forward to seeing you in Miami Beach.