After a turbulent year for the brand, NATPE is back to Budapest with new owners and new ambitions. Undoubtedly, the first test after the forced pause showed that NATPE is one of the most highly valued and popular industry events, especially in Central and Eastern Europe.

This year’s Budapest edition will be one of the biggest in terms of attending numbers and agenda. Ahead of the market, more than 650+ delegates and 350+ buyers have been confirmed with over a 100 exhibitors. For the first time, NATPE Budapest will welcome official delegations from Spain, France, UK, Ukraine and the U.S. in partnership with Audiovisual from Spain, IFTA, OUP, Pact and Unifrance. This once again underscores the growing importance of CEE as one of the key regions for the global TV business. The new Co-Pro Connections initiative will also try to help and create new partnerships between regional and international players.

This time, NATPE Budapest will be not only an event where companies can sell their content, but can also find out more about the specifics of the CEE markets. For this purpose, an exclusive report and presentation of market data from the region will be provided by the consultancy agency weCAN covering 16 CEE countries.

In another first, one of the top executives in the region will deliver a keynote from the NATPE stage, stressing on the importance to recognize and put the international spotlight on the winning busi- ness strategies being created in the CEE region. The speech of CEO Pavel Stanchev comes at a time when his TV2 Media Group is enjoying its best numbers in Hungary and Slovenia and looking to expand into other media markets with potential.

NATPE Budapest is also about long-standing traditions, like the Screenings (where CEE meets the Studios), the format contest PITCH & PLAY LIVE! and the trademark Boat Party, which are also coming back.

In a recent interview for TVBIZZ Magazine, Brunico Communications CEO Russell Goldstein assured that they will continue to build on the NATPE legacy “and help these crucial industry events reach their full potential.”

The debut in Budapest will only reaffirm these ambitions and create more prospects for the future. In short, NATPE means business and TVBIZZ Magazine is here to make the market even better.

It’s time for business, in Budapest!