NATPE CONVENTION TO CHANGE, NOT GO AWAY, JOHANSEN SAYS
WEST HOLLYWOOD -- Annual NATPE convention may be down, but not out, NATPE Pres Bruce Johansen said in annual preshow briefing here Wed. “It’s going to change and we are excited about those changes.” Organization caused furor when news it had cancelled its 2003 hotel reservations in New Orleans leaked, but Johansen said Wed. conference was indeed returning there in 2003, and presumably 2004, as planned, despite resistance by some domestic distributors. “There are going to be some people who are not happy about that decision, but we think it’s the smartest thing for us to do, to honor that commitment.”
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NATPE has assembled task force to consider NATPE’s future, headed by Hearst-Argyle COO Tony Vinciquerra, in line to be NATPE’s 2002 Chairman. Other members include Lifetime Pres. Carole Black, AOL-Time Warner’s Julie Kantrowitz and Studios USA’s Steve Rosenberg. Task force will have its first conference call Thurs. and is expected to present its recommendations to NATPE board this spring. Johansen said most in industry still supported NATPE, but whether it would keep same format or time of year were open questions: “We don’t want to do a quick fix right now. These are complex issues and we want the input of the entire industry before we make the decision as to what we are going to look like.”
Among possibilities raised was joining with other conferences, such as PROMAX marketing organization, or domestic syndication advertising group SNTA. Johansen said consolidation wasn’t just fact of life for corporations, and NATPE might be wise to follow the same path. Attendance for Jan. 2002 conference is expected to be significantly lower than 2001. Beth Braen, senior vp-mktg., said current registered attendance is down 40%, with 500 exhibitors. Johansen said NATPE was working with distributors who are hosting off site mini-market at Venetian Hotel. Two sides will share shuttle costs and NATPE has agreed to list Venetian companies in official NATPE guides, and in turn NATPE will have kiosk at Venetian.
FCC Chmn. Powell will keynote Jan. 23, while Comrs. Abernathy and Martin will participate on panels, NATPE announced.