JOHANSEN'S PLEDGE: ‘THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A NATPE’

Johansen said TV programming business was in “a new era that’s calling for new ways to do things.” He said NATPE would “evolve” to meet realities of today’s TV industry: “We need to change… We need to be smarter and stay ahead of the curve.” NATPE formed Task Force, due to report in April, to consider what changes Assn. should make. Task Force member Carole Black, pres. of Lifetime Entertainment, said preliminary survey showed 85% of respondents favored keeping annual conference.

Meanwhile, Dick Robertson of Warner Bros. (one of dozen major syndicators that left NATPE exhibit floor this week for suite in Venetian Hotel) blasted NATPE as no longer relevant to needs of programmers. Robertson said he had called meeting outside NATPE auspices with advertisers in N.Y. in March and in Nov. with programmers in Hollywood. Johansen expressed “shock” at Warner Bros. plans for many reasons. Of Robinson, Johansen said: “He didn’t even have the courtesy to wait for the report from our task force.” He said future conference agendas “will not only meet the needs of our diverse membership, but spearhead a new environment for networking and accomplishing your goals.”

Some of major syndicators expressed support for Robinson’s position, but most didn’t. Official of Viacom’s KingWorld told us its Pres. Roger King “likes NATPE [and] he'd like to come back.” At Wed. news conference, NATPE had executive of Hearst-Argyle and Dick Askin, NATPE board member and pres. of Tribune Entertainment, speak in support of Assn. and its efforts to change. “Continuation of NATPE is vital,” said Askin (whose company had joined other defectors at Venetian), as it provides “one central place to meet once a year.” Mandel told reporters “NATPE is a town hall that reflects the ongoing business environment.” As for major drop in attendance and number of exhibitors, “we had a boat- load of dot-com companies” in 2000 and 2001 that no longer exist, he said. Johansen said “fantastic sales” were being made in exhibit hall and brought 2 international program executives to news conference to back up his statement.

Attendance was down 31% halfway through convention, while NATPE had predicted 40% drop from record 20,000 last year, Johansen said at news conference. Citing “quality, not quantity,” of attendees, he said: “I'm thrilled.” He said NATPE 2003 was a firm go: “We will be in New Orleans. There will be a conference.” Countered Robinson: “I just can’t imagine we would go to the New Orleans event.”

Wed. morning general NATPE session was scheduled as “a conversation with” FCC Chmn. Powell, with ABC correspondent Cokie Roberts asking questions, but neither showed: Powell for what was called a “minor illness,” no reason given for Roberts. FCC Comr. Abernathy filled in for Powell, with NATPE Washington counsel Mickey Gardner asking questions during 30-min. session. Asked her top priority as a commissioner, Abernathy said it was to be of service to consumers and “to get all these new [consumer electronics] products to the market.” Asked about FCC’s relations with Congress, she said “our job is to work with the entire Congress [and] Chairman Powell is well respected up there.”

Abernathy said she would be strong supporter of FCC rules while they were in place and “enforcement in my mind is critical.” However, she conceded, existing rules in some instances have resulted in “regulatory uncertainty.” Commission still must decide what future role, if any, it should play in “structural diversity,” while questioning whether consolidation had had adverse impact on content diversity. She praised industry’s coverage of Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and their aftermath “and they did this without any government involvement.”