|
contents | america | ||||
| National Association of Television Program Executives Conference With Turkey Day behind us, it's time to start compiling the new first-run program offerings at the annual National Association of Television Program Executives conference, which is back in Las Vegas Jan. 28–31, 2008. At this point, announced shows for fall 2008 include talkers The Bonnie Hunt Show (from Warner Bros.) and The Doctors (CBS TV Distribution); gavelers Family Court with Judge Penny (Program Partners) and Judge Karen Mills (Sony Pictures TV); and a syndicated version of Deal or No Deal, hosted by Howie Mandel, from NBC Universal. In addition, Twentieth TV has three new first-run syndicated daytime projects in development: a talk show hosted by comedian Steve Harvey, egomaniac Donald Trump as a mediator and counselor for real people with financial disputes, and a joint venture with Yahoo featuring popular Web videos. Debmar-Mercury is pitching game show Trivial Pursuit. And the little distributor that could, Radar Entertainment, has an inventory of 11 original projects—talk, court and comedy/variety—to choose from. So, there is no drought this year in the new, first-run strip department. But since I am never happy unless something distresses me, three issues about NATPE have me reaching for the Rolaids. The first is CBS' decision to snub the confab, which means that more than half of the current syndicated offerings (Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Dr. Phil, Entertainment Tonight, etc.) will not be present. No matter how NATPE spins it, CBS' absence leaves a huge gap—and the emphasis on new technology won't cover that void. Plus, by deemphasizing the rest of the syndication landscape, I think NATPE is only creating more damage. On Nov. 13, I received a press release about the conference addressing the three key issues: the convergence of programming, advertising and emerging media. That "accessibility" seems to completely overlook the value of syndicated programming. Digital is growing, I understand that. But that doesn't mean the days of watching talk, court, game, newsmagazines and off-net sitcoms—or anything else—on our TV sets are over. While stations aren't necessarily going to NATPE to buy syndicated shows anymore, why undercut the value of these programs in the marketplace? The recent rise of the Consumer Electronics Association confab in early January, my third concern, has me worried. Sony Pictures TV has already publicly said that that conference is more viable for it than NATPE. Is that code for Sony also ending up a no-show at NATPE? write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Exhibition News :: home page |