By sea. By land By air. In 2022 all roads lead to NATPE Miami, which is the best way for people who are vaccinated against COVID to start the new year. And the industry is responding to the call of NATPE organizers.
But it isn’t just the TV industry that’s jumping on the exciting Miami bandwagon. “Art Basel Miami Beach Makes Splashy Return” was the headline of a December 5, 2021 Wall Street Journal article. This is especially interesting in light of the fact that we are now in the midst of an Omicron variant scare. Art Basel is a major U.S. art fair that was canceled in December 2020. “Americans who skipped European art fairs earlier this fall turned out en masse [in Miami],” explained the Journal.
A big turnout is also expected at CES 2022, the Consumer Electronic Show, which is back in person in Las Vegas at six locations, including the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Mandalay Bay Hotel, and the Venetian Expo. More than 1,800 exhibitors have already signed up.
It is predicted that NATPE Miami will receive the same warm welcome when it is held January 18-20, 2022 at the Fontainebleau Hotel’s three towers and floor areas. A November press release from NATPE emphasized that the major U.S. studios were to be in attendance in Miami, including Disney (which will be taking its usual suite), NBC Universal, ViacomCBS, WarnerMedia, MGM, and Sony Pictures. Plus, A+E, Banijay Americas, Debmar-Mercury, Lionsgate, and Univision will also be there.
The indies are also in the mix. Chevonne O’Shaughnessy, president of American Cinema International, said: “I’m going to get a booth for this market instead of just a table.” Added veteran LATAM distributor Cesar Diaz of Miami-based 7A Media: “We’ll have a large attendance from our LATAM clients. I’m very much looking forward to an in-person NATPE. We’re all craving to get back to some sense of normality.”
In addition, NATPE announced a line-up of top-level executives for its conference program, with names such as Dan Cohen, president of ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group; Laura Molen, president of Ad Sales and Partnerships, NBCUniversal; Byron Allen, chairman and CEO, Allen Media Group; and Cris Abrego, who’s both chairman of Banijay Americas and CEO of Endemol Shine Holdings.
ViacomCBS’ Cohen will be moderating a panel on Tuesday, the market’s opening day, in a tent that is to be set up outside, near the pool area. The tent is a new addition for NATPE, with space for conferences, as well as indoor meeting rooms.
ViacomCBS will be taking the entire 15th floor at the Versailles Tower, where a good number of the group’s divisions will be housed. In addition, the company is planning a major party for Wednesday, January 19, the market’s second day, while Lionsgate will have a cocktail at its Sorrento Tower Penthouse the day before, on Tuesday the 18th. Similarly, SPI is planning a recreational event either on the 19th, or the 20th.
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