NATPE Global: What to Expect?
As SVP & Executive Director of NATPE Global, Claire Macdonald is managing the relaunch of the major international market in Miami in early 2024. In this interview, she tells Stanislav Kimchev what will be some of the highlights of the event (most of which are still in preparations) and what are the ambitions of the new NATPE Global brand following the successful revamp of NATPE Budapest this summer.
Claire Macdonald, SVP & Executive Director of NATPE Global, Claire Macdonald
NATPE Global is the content industry’s most important event that’s located in the world’s most valuable market. In 2024 you are changing the venue of the market. What are the dates and the new place of the event?
NATPE Global will take place January 16-18, 2024 at the freshly renovated InterContinental Miami, along the city’s waterfront and within easy reach of South Beach, the Design District and Wynwood’s many galleries, restaurants and boutique shops.
In January 2023 Brunico acquired NATPE’s assets, including NATPE Global, previously known as NATPE Miami. What were the main reasons behind this acquisition and what are your plans for the event?
Brunico is known for producing market-leading events including the Banff World Media Festival, Realscreen Summit and Kidscreen Summit. When the opportunity arose to invest in the NATPE brand we saw that we could fill a gap, connecting all parts of the media ecosystem. There is no other event in North America that brings together players from all aspects of the business. We’ll be addressing topics in content distribution and development and platform distribution, and connecting stakeholders with a goal of creating new opportunities.
What are the main elements that have made NATPE Miami so successful throughout the years that you will also utilize in NATPE Global and what will be the novelties next year?
Over the course of 60 years NATPE has seen many transformations, but it’s always been a venue where decision-makers have gathered and where commerce has been done. Those elements remain core to our vision and rigorous vetting is in place to ensure that our buyers’ list is not only extensive, but also diverse and deep. I think that returning delegates will notice a marked increase in meaningful networking opportunities that provide unrivaled access, and that great care has been taken to present an efficient and comfortable environment to conduct business.
NATPE Global is focused on the North American TV and digital market but it also attracts many participants from Latin America, Europe; etc. What are the main topics that will be discussed during the event in Miami in January 2024?
We will be living up to our name and providing a global perspective and representation. We currently have delegates from 45 countries locked in to attend, and while there will be a some LatAm and U.S.-centric conversions, we are taking care to deliver an international view. Key topics and threads will include IP and ownership, unraveling and revealing new deal models, identifying content that does (or does not) travel and we’ve integrated Streaming+ – an entire strand that digs deep into the most pressing issues and challenges surrounding the OTT business, content and consumer experience to help surface opportunities and solutions for global industry.
NATPE Budapest in June 2023 proved to be the ‘winner’ in terms of number of exhibitors, delegates and feedback from partners compared to a similar event which was organized by another company which already filled the NATPE Miami slot this year and is holding its NA market event again in January 2024. This aggressive scheduling of events head-to-head by your competitor has left the TV industry somewhat confused. What has been the feedback about this from your partners and what are your expectations for January 2024?
Yes. There’s no question that our constituents are puzzled and indeed, frustrated by the proliferation of events in key markets. In these challenging economic times, few have the budget to attend what they perceive to be “similar” events. The truth is they are very different, albeit in in the same geographic location and days apart. Our view is to provide unmissable events and unrivaled experiences, which certainly did manifest in Budapest. Fully 100% of respondents to our post-event survey said they planned to return in 2024. That’s remarkable validation. Our goal is to replicate that response to NATPE Global. From an exhibitor point of view, we are well positioned to meet our targets.
Tell us more about NATPE Global’s advisory board - what is its role for the market?
We lean on the advisory board to help distill the key issues and trends that are driving the industry now. We’re covering content from concept to delivery and have to ensure that the content on stage and in breakout rooms provides practical and tactical takeaway for attendees.
Can you reveal some of the executives that will have keynotes at NATPE Global?
Confirmed keynotes to date are Matthew Ball, CEO, Epyllion; Izzet Pinto, Founder and CEO, Global Agency; Fernando Szew, CEO, FOX Entertainment Global & MarVista Entertainment and Chris Williams, CEO & Founder, pocket.watch. Lots more to come.
You have also announced the NATPE Global Pitch Showcase. Could you reveal more details on it?
The NATPE Global Pitch Showcase is an international live pitch event designed to further develop projects in Scripted Comedy, Scripted Drama & Unscripted/Formats. The finalists will have the chance to pitch live to decision-makers and an audience during the event, giving them access to an international network of contacts and personalized mentoring. ′
NATPE Global will take place January 16-18, 2024 at the freshly renovated InterContinental Miami, along the city’s waterfront and within easy reach of South Beach, the Design District and Wynwood’s many galleries, restaurants and boutique shops.
In January 2023 Brunico acquired NATPE’s assets, including NATPE Global, previously known as NATPE Miami. What were the main reasons behind this acquisition and what are your plans for the event?
Brunico is known for producing market-leading events including the Banff World Media Festival, Realscreen Summit and Kidscreen Summit. When the opportunity arose to invest in the NATPE brand we saw that we could fill a gap, connecting all parts of the media ecosystem. There is no other event in North America that brings together players from all aspects of the business. We’ll be addressing topics in content distribution and development and platform distribution, and connecting stakeholders with a goal of creating new opportunities.
What are the main elements that have made NATPE Miami so successful throughout the years that you will also utilize in NATPE Global and what will be the novelties next year?
Over the course of 60 years NATPE has seen many transformations, but it’s always been a venue where decision-makers have gathered and where commerce has been done. Those elements remain core to our vision and rigorous vetting is in place to ensure that our buyers’ list is not only extensive, but also diverse and deep. I think that returning delegates will notice a marked increase in meaningful networking opportunities that provide unrivaled access, and that great care has been taken to present an efficient and comfortable environment to conduct business.
NATPE Global is focused on the North American TV and digital market but it also attracts many participants from Latin America, Europe; etc. What are the main topics that will be discussed during the event in Miami in January 2024?
We will be living up to our name and providing a global perspective and representation. We currently have delegates from 45 countries locked in to attend, and while there will be a some LatAm and U.S.-centric conversions, we are taking care to deliver an international view. Key topics and threads will include IP and ownership, unraveling and revealing new deal models, identifying content that does (or does not) travel and we’ve integrated Streaming+ – an entire strand that digs deep into the most pressing issues and challenges surrounding the OTT business, content and consumer experience to help surface opportunities and solutions for global industry.
NATPE Budapest in June 2023 proved to be the ‘winner’ in terms of number of exhibitors, delegates and feedback from partners compared to a similar event which was organized by another company which already filled the NATPE Miami slot this year and is holding its NA market event again in January 2024. This aggressive scheduling of events head-to-head by your competitor has left the TV industry somewhat confused. What has been the feedback about this from your partners and what are your expectations for January 2024?
Yes. There’s no question that our constituents are puzzled and indeed, frustrated by the proliferation of events in key markets. In these challenging economic times, few have the budget to attend what they perceive to be “similar” events. The truth is they are very different, albeit in in the same geographic location and days apart. Our view is to provide unmissable events and unrivaled experiences, which certainly did manifest in Budapest. Fully 100% of respondents to our post-event survey said they planned to return in 2024. That’s remarkable validation. Our goal is to replicate that response to NATPE Global. From an exhibitor point of view, we are well positioned to meet our targets.
Tell us more about NATPE Global’s advisory board - what is its role for the market?
We lean on the advisory board to help distill the key issues and trends that are driving the industry now. We’re covering content from concept to delivery and have to ensure that the content on stage and in breakout rooms provides practical and tactical takeaway for attendees.
Can you reveal some of the executives that will have keynotes at NATPE Global?
Confirmed keynotes to date are Matthew Ball, CEO, Epyllion; Izzet Pinto, Founder and CEO, Global Agency; Fernando Szew, CEO, FOX Entertainment Global & MarVista Entertainment and Chris Williams, CEO & Founder, pocket.watch. Lots more to come.
You have also announced the NATPE Global Pitch Showcase. Could you reveal more details on it?
The NATPE Global Pitch Showcase is an international live pitch event designed to further develop projects in Scripted Comedy, Scripted Drama & Unscripted/Formats. The finalists will have the chance to pitch live to decision-makers and an audience during the event, giving them access to an international network of contacts and personalized mentoring. ′
