The New England Connectivity and Telecommunications Association is the new name for NECTA, the five-state regional trade association for companies in the cable-TV business. This weekend (October 23-25) NECTA brings back its annual conference hosting cable companies, regulators and legislative officials in Newport, Rhode Island. 

The plan is to make the gathering a summertime affair again in 2023, association president Tim Wilkerson said. The last in-person conference in Newport was held in 2018, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We think that making that change, even though it’s one word, it's a lot more than than that,” Wilkerson said of the rebrand. “We think that word, connectivity, really symbolizes and encapsulates what the future is. These world-class broadband networks that exist today, but are going to be powering those 10G networks in the near future, are really going to be driving our innovation economy and those connected emerging technologies like robotics, telemedicine, fintech, ed tech, sports wagering and then world-class entertainment like NESN and NBC Sports and NBCUniversal that they rely on.”

Cable-centric associations such as NCTA–The Internet & Television Association and more recently NCTC for years have been looking to make their names say more than just cable while retaining the same basic letters. NECTA worked with an agency, Seven Letter, on the new name, a new logo and a new website that for the first time spells out a mission statement for the group, Wilkerson said. A new tagline reads, “Connecting New England.”

Topics important to NECTA include how the $14.2 billion in broadband subsidies under the national Affordable Connectivity Program are handed out, and whether or not the states will adopt parallel programs that help subsidize the cost of a residential broadband subscription, Wilkerson said. The biggest cable companies in NECTA's territory of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont are Comcast, Charter Communications, Cox Communications and Breezeline, Wilkerson said.

“NECTA has always played an important role in shaping public policy, analyzing trends in technology and implementing best practices for these industries,” Mark Reilly, senior VP of government affairs for Comcast, said in a NECTA statement about the rebranding. “With the constantly changing landscape and new technologies emerging on a rapid scale, NECTA’s role will be even more important to help policymakers grapple with advancements of technology and how it can help expand economic growth and improve the lives of all New Englanders. Their refreshed brand and focus reflect where these industries are going, and I am excited to see what comes next.”

NECTA formed in 1961 as the Community Television Association of New England, headquartered in Tilton, New Hampshire. In 1982, the association rebranded and became the New England Cable Television Association. In 2004, NECTA updated the name to New England Cable & Telecommunications Association.

The first, small NECTA conference in Newport was held in 1972 and grew to be a popular destination, peaking in size around the year 2000, the former NECTA CEO Paul Cianelli recalled in a 2012 interview. “We’d literally get every room in Newport and beyond,” he said then. Wilkerson said the decision was made over this past summer to restart the in-person convention, but by then it was difficult to find open dates, hence the October scheduling. This weekend’s conference will be held at the Newport Harbor Island and Resort. ■

The National Association of Television Program Executives is moving its 2023 Marketplace and Conference to The Bahamas, the trade group announced Tuesday.

The flagship event, which has been held in Miami Beach, Florida, since 2011, will run from January 17-19 at the Baha Mar Resort and Convention Center in Nassau.

“After many months of research and discussions with our partners we have greenlit the move to this bold new destination," said JP Bommel, president and CEO of NATPE, in a statement. "Our aim is to ensure that we provide added value and new revenue opportunities to attendees across the content ecosystem. With hundreds of new exhibition and activation options and over forty restaurants and entertainment venues across three hotels, Baha Mar is perfect for both business meetings and the networking that has made NATPE an industry staple for decades."

NATPE canceled this year's conference amid a nationwide surge in COVID infections less than a month before it was scheduled to take place in person at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel and resort. At the time, Bommel said that even though the decision would "cost the organization a great deal of money, that was secondary to our primary concern, which is to put the welfare of our members first." Earlier, the conference and marketplace event was held in Las Vegas, New Orleans and San Francisco.

The 2023 program, under the theme "Content, Networking and Monetization," will feature leadership sessions and networking meetings with industry executives across production, distribution, marketing, advertising, finance and data. The event additionally includes an awards program and a marketplace for buying and selling TV content. 

NATPE's international conference is currently underway in Budapest, running from June 27-30. ■

NATPE said Saturday (January 8) it has canceled the upcoming NATPE Miami Conference and Marketplace, slated for January 18-20, after weighing health and safety concerns and the experience of an event that would no doubt have diminished attendance amid the latest nationwide surge of COVID-19. 

The National Association of Television Program Executives will look to smaller virtual and possibly (where appropriate) in-person events in 2022 at no charge to attend, NATPE CEO JP Bommel said in a statement. 

While the CES consumer electronics convention went ahead as an in-person event this past week, with extra safety measures and much smaller than usual attendance, other conventions and awards shows have succumbed to the reality of rising COVID-19 cases and travel difficulties and canceled in-person gatherings. TV shows have had to cancel or reschedule production after hosts tested positive, and sports leagues including the NHL have had to call off games or limit attendance.

Also: Golden Globe Awards Ceremony Won't Be Livestreamed 

NATPE Miami typically is a smorgasbord of content-focused panels and keynotes, an awards platform and a marketplace for buying and selling TV shows, including a strong international focus.  

“Although this decision from a financial point of view will cost the organization a great deal of money, that was secondary to our primary concern, which is to put the welfare of our members first," Bommel said in a statement. "We put a great deal of safety protocols in place, but it is just not enough given the intensity of this virus which is spreading at an enormous rate all over the world. We look forward to producing a strong conference at the right time and under the best circumstances, and to provide all our attendees with the greatest value we can offer.”

NATPE Miami went virtual in 2021 when COVID-19 was raging, that decision being taken in October 2020. ■

The Consumer Technology Association said Tuesday (Dec. 21) that its upcoming CES 2022 in Las Vegas Jan. 5-8 will host a record number of Senators, and they will be showing up in person rather than remotely.

All attendees and participants in the show have to be fully vaccinated and CES is recommending testing for COVID-19 prior to leaving for Las Vegas and within 24 hours of entering a CES venue.

Discussing tech policy issues at a Friday, January 7, panel will be a mix of high-profile senators from both sides of the aisle: Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). The session will be led by Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada).

Also from the other side of the aisle, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) will talk about universal, accessible and affordable high-speed internet on January 7.

They will be among more than 100 government officials, including a panel of governors featuring Govs. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas and Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and FCC commissioner Nathan Simington.

In addition to in-person attendance, CES is offering a digital-only option, though it points out that “nothing can quite recreate the excitement, connections and spontaneity the in person attendees will experience.” 

Future, parent company of Next TV, B+C and Multichannel News, publishes the official CES Daily. ■

Streaming video tech company Broadpeak said it has cancelled its in-person exhibitor presence at IBC2021, the international media and entertainment tech show, saying that was the safest decision for everyone.

Broadspeak's cancellation follows similar IBC announcements from Viaccess-Orca, Iredeto, Synamedia and Xytech

Broadspeak said it made that tough decision after IBC decided to move forward with the in-person event despite a partial lockdown by the Dutch government that includes Amsterdam, where the trade show is being held Dec. 3-6.

IBC made the decision to go ahead Nov. 16 saying that was after “close examination of new COVID protocols from the Dutch government and consultation with key IBC stakeholders.” The board said the event can be ”delivered safely [according to the new protocols] and create the essential business momentum that the industry needs.”

IBC said that while the new Dutch government restrictions affected opening hours and capacities at seated events, ”trade shows were not materially affected.”

Notwithstanding that or IBC‘s promised protections, Broadpeak opted out.

”As eager as we are to meet with industry partners and customers in person, our decision to cancel participation at IBC2021 was guided by making the safest choice for everyone involved,”  Broadpeak CEO Jacques Le Mancq said of the decision. “We are concerned about the daily increase of COVID-19 cases throughout Europe, and despite the measures taken by the IBC, we consider that a large international trade show in Amsterdam doesn't feel safe enough right now. We look forward to meeting everyone face to face soon when circumstances are better.”

In the interim, the company said, it would meet with customers in smaller settings and showcase its tech, which is focused on video delivery for OTT, IPTV and others over managed networks and the internet, on various digital platforms. ■

After holding its annual trade show event virtually earlier this year, the National Association of Television Program Executives said it will hold its next conference in-person Jan. 18-20 in Miami.

The organization said a list of speakers and an event schedule will be announced soon. 

NATPE said the Miami event will follow the highest standards and COVID-related protocols to keep exhibitors, buyers, sponsors, honorees, partners and all attendees safe, including: mandatory proof of vaccination for all attendees, outdoor tents for select sessions and meetings, and designated NATPE Safe zones fully controlled by the event production team. More information on NATPE Safe protocols is available here. 

“We are thrilled to see our exhibitors, sponsors coming back to Miami and to be welcoming new partners as we are ready to be the new year’s first major platform for the business of content as the industry continues to evolve globally,” NATPE president and CEO JP Bommel said in a statement. “All of us at NATPE are hard at work building a strong program focusing on new business, new markets, and financing. But most importantly, we look forward to NATPE Miami as a time to celebrate our return in person for what is sure to be a productive and educational week in the content industry.”

The Independent Show, slated to return to live-and-in-person for the first time in about a year, has told its members that the conference, slated for Oct. 5-6 in Minneapolis, will now be held virtually.

This will be the second virtual Independent Show -- the 2020 conference was also held virtually because of pandemic concerns. Although the show’s organizers -- the National Cable Television Cooperative and ACA Connects -- were enthusiastic about returning to an in-person format (this year's show is titled "The Power of Together"), concerns about the COVID-19 virus (and its delta variant) forced their collective hands.

“After thoughtful discussion, ACA Connects and NCTC decided to take the Independent Show online next month because of difficult planning issues despite strong enthusiasm for such an important industry event to take place in Minneapolis. It’s the correct decision, with broad support from both ACAC and NCTC members,” ACA Connects Chairman Patricia Jo Boyers said in a press release. “I’m positive the online event will be a smashing success.”

Other industry events that had also been slated to be in-person have pulled back to virtual status because of concerns over the pandemic as well as continued business travel restrictions. In June the Cable Center said it would hold its Hall of Fame celebration virtually in October. Earlier this month, it pushed the date to Nov. 15. Last week, the Mid-America Cable Telecommunications Association said its annual conference would be held virtually as well. 

TIS organizers had planned several COVID precautions, including requiring attendees show proof of vaccination or provide a negative test for the virus prior to the meeting, that face masks be worn indoors at conference events regardless of vaccination status and that social distancing be practiced. The organizers had also planned to live stream sessions so members could watch the events from home or at the show.  

But that apparently was not enough to quell concerns.

“COVID-19 and the Delta variant have been a moving target. While our plan was to finally meet in-person, it has become more and more clear that it was not the responsible thing to do,” NCTC CEO Lou Borrelli said in a press release. “Nevertheless, the online show to me is a can’t-miss program, and I greatly look forward to seeing friends and members on the big screen.”

I’m hurriedly rushing through this blog post this morning because there’s an OTT panel downtown at 11:30 a.m. featuring speakers from STIRR, Philo, Tubi and Pluto TV.

The OTT-centric discussion is taking place at Promax 2019, a business conference broadly skewed around entertainment marketing.

But if I don’t finish in time, it’s no big deal. I’ll have at least half-a-dozen opportunities to hear the positions of major streaming companies at OTT business events throughout the next 12 months.

In the post-print age, demand for business-to-business marketing exposure remains in high demand, and the live b2b event business continues to thrive from sectors ranging from healthcare to energy to media and technology.

And one of the highest areas of concentration concerns the transition of television into over-the-top distribution methods. It seems that every publication and research company is producing a trade show focused on OTT delivery and disruption. That includes my own company, Future, which will produce the “OTT & Video Distribution Summit” on September 5 in Santa Monica, Calif., among other b2b events touching the distribution of video over IP in the coming months.

Right off the top of my head, I can name half a dozen other notable OTT events on the calendar:

There’s this week’s TV of Tomorrow confab in San Francisco. Tracy Swedlow, CEO of producer TMRW Corp., has been putting together trade events focused on the intersection of television and the internet for more than two decades. TV of Tomorrow is Silicon Valley convenient and typically draws a clubby selection of high-level internet video technology execs to a gorgeous location on the old Navy Presidio base overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.

The also venerable Streaming Media West confab will take place November 19-20 this year at the Westin Bonaventure in Downtown Los Angeles. Streaming Media East was just held at the New York Hilton Midtown on May 6-8.

In December, Parks Associates will once again hoist its Future of Video conference in Marina Del Rey, Calif.

But we’re really just coming out of the busy season.

Last week, there was the OTT Video Executive Summit, a one day event at the Marriott Marquis Times Square produced by market research company Trender Research

Earlier in May, MCN attended the multi-day Pay TV Show in Denver, which is produced by Questex. In its second year, the event drew more than 800 attendees.

There was also the Connected TV World Summit in London back in March. That event regularly draws speakers and attendance from powerful European media and technology companies including Canal +, Virgin Media, the BBC and Deutsche Telekom AG, just to name a few.

These are just a few of the standalone events focused on OTT. There are, of course, notable OTT tracks in major, more broadly skewing events such as CES and NAB. And there are outfits like Digital Hollywood that produce numerous events throughout the year that also touch on the subject.

Demand is somewhat understandable.

You have lots of young companies, many of them startups, looking to establish the kind of profile that drives investment, acquisition and partnerships. And you have lots of b2b companies looking to directly drive business. And, of course, there’s the bewildered industry masses, looking to gather some roadmap that points their careers into an at least vaguely correct direction.

As far as the producers, the business imperative is also clear, with a multi-day, all-encompassing registration typically priced at around $1,200.

These companies typically don’t like to talk about their margins. But even with rental prices of big city convention spaces exceeding $100,000—including food and drink costs—revenue also rains in from sponsorships, which typically go from $5,000 to $10,000, with some deals approaching $20,000.

Premium sponsorships not only deliver booth space, but often an opportunity for company executives to speak in keynotes and on panels.

As press, I typically contribute nothing—tangible, anyway—to this bottom line, with registration and food invariably comped. (Although, I must take this opportunity to express that the Streaming Media people make me pay for my lunch—a perhaps very justifiable position that after two decades of entitled consumption, always jars me a little!)

As for quality, I’d say there’s a ton of repetition in terms of speakers and topics. Sling TV content chief Warren Schlichting is among the more interesting and relevant folks in the video business, but I’ve already seen him speak three times this year.

And the experience is uneven. Last month, for instance, I went to one Android TV panel, which featured Jon Stewart, Google’s strategic partner development manager for the platform. It felt like nothing more than an Android TV sales pitch for pay TV operators.

But at the same show, I also saw a keynote with DAZN North America territory chief Joe Markowski that informed me nicely about a European force in sports streaming I previously didn’t know nearly enough about.

That alone was worth a ride on Southwest Airlines and biting through the rubber chicken.