NATPE said its upcoming trade show in Miami is “pacing well ahead of last year’s market.” The association also boasted that it is seeing a growing number of international attendees.
The National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) is hosting a trade show Jan. 17-19 at both the Fontainebleau and Eden Roc Miami Beach resorts. The group said the event draws roughly 5,000 attendees, 1,100 content buyers and 350 exhibitors. Speakers at the upcoming show will include Sony Pictures’ Mike Royce, David Freeman from Creative Artists Agency and Susanne Daniels, the global head of original content for YouTube.
“NATPE Miami 2017 continues to be a must-attend event and is the definitive global marketplace for television and platform executives,” JP Bommel, the association's COO and managing director, said in a release. “We have an increasing number of buyers from overseas ready to meet with our international exhibitors and distributors. Our goal for 2017 is to create a unique experience for our members and attendees and offer them all of the elements that will enrich their businesses and professional careers.”
NATPE also said it launched a new tier of membership called NATPE Next Gen, which the association said would “service industry up-and-comers looking to enhance their burgeoning careers and establish strong relationships for the future.”
NATPE isn’t the only media-focused event that is reporting growth. For example, The National Association of Broadcasters said its own show in 2015 in April grew to 103,042 attendees, though the association reported a slight decline in attendance in 2016 (to 103,012). However, NAB said its New York show last month drew a record 12,055 attendees.
Growth in trade shows for the media industry reflects increasing investment in the space from a range of traditional and up-and-coming players. Indeed, industry observers have described a “golden age of TV” as companies ranging from Netflix to YouTube to established media companies like Viacom and NBCUniversal invest in both scripted and unscripted content.
And that investment is largely being driven by the growth of streaming video and the OTT market. Indeed, the percent of consumers with over-the-top (OTT) subscriptions increased from 25% to 45% during the past 12 months, according to billing company Paywizard.