NATPE
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NATPE, the National Association of Television Progam Executives, is an organization dedicated to providing information, marketing and meeting opportunities in television programming. NATPE also has an educational foundation that provides grants and scholarships to students and educators, as well as offering presentations on relevant subjects to the television programming community. NATPE sponsors a three-day annual annual conference in January that draws attendees from more than 70 countries worldwide.
[edit] History
As the medium of television grew up, program directors at local U.S. television stations felt a need for a program specific forum to discuss and resolve the challenges faced as a result of the Prime Time Access Rule, which gave responsibility for programming between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. to local stations and program directors. Encouraged by syndicated programming salesmen, 64 program directors (NATPE’s charter members) named Stan Cohen of WDSU New Orleans temporary president and set about organizing a meeting.
The first formal meeting of the National Associates of Television Program Executives was held in May of 1964 at the New York Hilton Hotel and drew 71 registrants. The majority of participants where program directors. During the first two-day meeting in New York, the topics of discussion ranged from “The Network’s Relationship to Local Programming” and “Where Do You Find Talent?” to “Government’s Influence on Programming” and “Successful Formats for Handling Politicians & Political Issues.”
NATPE has changed dramatically over the past 40 years - membership grew from 64 to 210 by 1970; up to 1,206 in 1980; 1818 in 1990 and to a peak of 3,812 by the new millennium in January 2000, although membership and conference attendance declined significantly from the "dot-com bust" of 2001. The NATPE conference event added exhibition suites in 1980 and an exhibit floor in 1981.
As an added link between the television industry, the academic community and students, the NATPE Educational Foundation, was formed in 1978. Its mission is to reach out to students by providing hands-on opportunities for them and their teachers in order to help prepare them for a future in television. NATPE’s Educational Foundation, underwritten by membership fees and the support of sponsors and special endowments, provides a number of annual fellowship, grants and prizes to the academic community. Lew Klein, one of the founders of NATPE and an early president of the organization, continues his dedication to the association as president of the Educational Foundation.
NATPE also remains committed to providing its members with education, networking, professional enhancement and technological guidance by publishing timely directories and offers numerous online services to its membership, in addition to its role as the only American program market serving the worldwide television community.
