Video Age International October 2015

16 October 2015 V I D E O A G E NATPE Europe Report Reportedly, there were very fewwalk-ins, and quite a few no-shows, especially for smaller exhibitors. For next year, NATPE organizers are said to be considering incentivizing smaller buyers because they tend to patronize smaller distributors (who happen to make up the bulk of the 140 total exhibitors). This year, buyers from both Russia and the Ukraine were also in attendance, though in small numbers. Given the political climate, sellers and market organizers were careful not to keep them in the same room. But the tension between the two countries was palpable, particularly when television reports from Russia made it sound like a war with the U.S. seemed inevitable and young people were filmed in the Russian streets wearing military uniforms in solidarity.  On Tuesday afternoon, traffic on the basement floor — where stands, viewing boxes and tables were located — started to pick up; the suites on the first floor were busy from the morning on, even though the corridors were not crowded. For the closing party on Wednesday, NATPE organized cocktails at the Municipal House, a beautiful Belle Époque-style restaurant located in the town center. The opening party the day before was held on the top floor of the Hilton Hotel. The weather in Prague was unusually wet and cold for the first two days of the market, keeping most participants indoors. If indeed NATPE Europe returns to Budapest after its two years in Prague, the market will go back to its roots where it started 23 years ago as DISCOP East (later called DISCOP Budapest, and subsequently renamedNATPEBudapest when the U.S. organization acquired it in 2011). However, at that time, before it was sold to NATPE, the event focused mostly on CEE emerging territories; now it has evolved into a mature market. Whether the changed nature of the trade show will benefit the market is something that remains to be seen. NATPE’s New Challenges NATPE’s new managing director and COO JP Bommel will be taking over after NATPE Miami, in early spring. Current CEO Rod Perth will remain in his position until February 2016 and will stay involved as a board member. Bommel will start under good auspices since the Reelscreen Summit has moved its dates further up, to January 31-February 3, 2016, while NATPE has moved back to January 19-21 in Miami. Reelscreen is a yearly trade event for non-fiction and unscripted TV production, held in Washington D.C. It has been organized for the past 17 years by the Canadian trade publication of the same name, part of Brunico Communications. When they were held concurrently, the perception was that Reelscreen took some key participants from NATPE. A new challenge, however, is the potential relocation of NATPE Europe, which has been struggling after its change from a trade show for developing territories to one for mature markets. An added challenge is the loss of Beth Braen, NATPE Marketing Senior VP, who left the Los Angeles-based Association last August, after 22 years. And more location changes may be ahead. The agreement with the Fontainebleau Hotel, NATPE Miami’s exhibition site, will expire after the 2017 market. (Continued from Page 14) Closing party at the Municipal House in the Prague town center Telefe International’s Maria Eugenia Costa, Maria del Rosario Cosentino From l. to r.: Telemundo Internacional’s Karina Etchison, Marcos Santana, Olimpia Del Boccio, Xavier Aristimuño, Melissa Pillow and NATPE’s Rod Perth