National Association of Television Program Executives

The National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) is a professional association of television and media executives, established in 1963.^[1]

Logo

History

As the medium of television grew, program directors at television stations in the United States 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 began organizing a meeting.

The first formal meeting of the National Associates of Television Program Executives was held in May 1964 at the New York Hilton Hotel and drew 71 registrants. The majority of participants were program directors. During the first two-day meeting in New York, the topics of discussion included “The Network’s Relationship to Local Programming,” “Where Do You Find Talent?”, “Government’s Influence on Programming,” and “Successful Formats for Handling Politicians & Political Issues.”

As an added link between the television industry, the academic community, and students, the N.A.T.P.E Educational Foundation, was formed in 1978. Its mission was 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 provides a number of annual fellowships, grants, and prizes to the academic community.

In 2010, "NATPE" changed its name to "NATPE Content First" and expanded into actively pursuing new media and technology speakers, exhibitors, and attendees in addition to their customary television members. ^{[according to whom?]}

In 2019, NATPE signed a partnership deal with China International Television Corporation (CITVC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Chinese state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV).^[2]

N.A.T.P.E announced in October 2022 that it planned to file for bankruptcy, stating that it was "optimistic that [NATPE] will emerge from the reorganization process in the same position."^[3] NATPE added that it still intended to hold its annual conference in January 2023 in the Bahamas,^[3] though the event was later cancelled.^[4]

Budapest

In 2011, NATPE acquired DISCOP EAST, which hosts an event covering the central and Eastern European media industry. The event is named NATPE Budapest.^[5]