National Assoc. of Television Programmers conference

[Digger]

From Marc Berman at Mediweek Magazine:

The upcoming National Association of Television Program Executives conference (www.natpe.org), which will be held at the Sands Expo Center and Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Jan. 18-20, 2004, will feature a number of top industry executives and journalists as key speakers. Included will be the WB's Jordan Levin, Lifetime's Carole Black, Sci Fi's Bonnie Hammer , Survivor's Mark Burnett, Anime Network president Kevin Corcoran, Rich Frank of Integrated Entertainment Partners, Motorola's Geoffrey Frost, E! Entertainment's Mindy Herman, Fox Sports Net and Speed Channel's Zig Gauthier, Showtime's Mark Greenberg , Trio's Lauren Zalaznick, MindShare North America's Mark Greenberg, Carsey-Werner-Mandabach's Caryn Mandabach, Buena Vista's Janice Marinelli, Jack Myers, producer Jacquie Jordan and Tony Vinciquerra of the Fox Networks Group. In addition, Brian Lowry of Daily Variety and myself will moderate a series of Q&A sessions labeled The Chat Room.

[PrairieScaper]

Perhaps this will be another interesting source for BH's illuminating quotes: :bonnie:

[vhsiv]

Should we send a representative?

[PrairieScaper]

This meeting is not a freebie.

I snurched this from the conference website (http://www.natpeonline.com/2004/V40/index.cvn?id=10007&p_navID=20):

Registration Fees [before Dec. 12]:
General Admittance, non-member $730
Day Pass, non-member, onsite $425
Educational [whatever that means], non-member $100

[Digger]

Perhaps this will be another interesting source for BH's illuminating quotes
No doubt it will. I would LOVE for this question to be asked.

"So Ms. Hammer, how do you feel about (insert Network here) picking up Farscape? "

[PrairieScaper]

If we could ask such a question, it might be worth those exorbitant registration fees! ;)

[Susana]

This should be on the campaign strat page IMHO. I think we should send a delegate! I have no doubt we can raise the money to send someone to this thing.

[Digger]

If we could ask such a question, it might be worth those exorbitant registration fees!
Actually, if this question was asked, having someone there would be moot. If someone else picks up Farscape I won't waste a microt of my time or energy worrying about Bonnie. But it would be nice to hear what she would say to such a question.

[Riot Chik]

I wish I could go as a rep. I'd ask the following question:

So Ms. Hammer, have you seen the error of your ways concerning Farscape?

[PrairieScaper]

Originally posted by Digger
Actually, if this question was asked, having someone there would be moot. If someone else picks up Farscape I won't waste a microt of my time or energy worrying about Bonnie. But it would be nice to hear what she would say to such a question. Agreed!

I think the Television Viewers Consortium would be the perfect group to send a rep to this meeting.

[MediaSavant]

BTW--

I've been to NATPE. If you have never gone and you can swing the bucks, you will be amazed. I learned a lot about the TV marketplace just being there and attending some pitches. Other than the executives, many of the actors from the shows that are being sold to stations make personal appearances and photo ops are included in the price of admission. Many of the distributor booths offer free food and drink.

The educational rate is probably for students.

Here's how I think Bonnie would answer your questions, though.

"So Ms. Hammer, how do you feel about (insert Network here) picking up Farscape? "

"I hope it does well for them. We loved the show, but it just got too pricey for us. But if <insert network here> can make a go of it, I am happy for the producers and the cast

So Ms. Hammer, have you seen the error of your ways concerning Farscape?

I'm sure every programming executive on this panel and at this convention has had to make a tough decision to cancel a series, particularly one you like yourself. Every negotiation has two parties and the cancellation decision wasn't cut-and-dry like you imply. They made their best offer. We made ours . The two offers couldn't be rectified . That's it. We don't think we could have done it any differently. You move on.

IMO, confrontational questions get handled quickly. I saw this at Comicon when the anticipated Battlestar Galactica "uproar" actually was more of a whimper.

You would be better off asking a question about Farscape that sounds more neutral, like "Ms. Hammer, there was a lot of negative publicity regarding the cancellation of Farscape. At the time it was one of your highest rated shows. Can you tell us a little bit more about the cancellation decision and how it came about? Also, after the publicity, did you reconsider?"

No industry professional would ask a question with "error of your ways" in it. They all know that there are things that go on in a negotiation that no one knows about except the people in the negotiation. No one would assume they know enough about it to label it an "error". (Frankly, this shouldn't be unique to professionals. It's common sense to assume that every business decision whether it is to discontinue an automobile or change a menu in a restaurant has a lot behind it that you will never know unless you were involved in it.)

If you go to the convention, it's best to act and think like an professional rather than a protester or troublemaker. Remember what David Kemper said about angry fans and how they come off as "nutcases" to the industry. (and he worked in it) If you go to a convention like this, you are in full view of the industry--network executives, station executives, ad agency executives. These are all people you want to "sell" Farscape to as a concept. You don't want them to have a negative view of what a Farscape fan is.

I think the Television Viewers Consortium would be the perfect group to send a rep to this meeting.

Yes, it is definitely something they should do. As I understand it, the idea of the Consortium is bigger than Farscape. It's about viewer involvement in the funding of TV shows.

NATPE is loaded with producers trying to get shows off the ground. What better opportunity to make connections and collect information on how to do that?

[PrairieScaper]

I've sent an e-mail to TVC (including a link to this thread) to see if they are considering attending this conference. Here's hoping they already have plans to do so.

[TechnoBoY]

And if they do lets hope for lots of gooodies!

[Riot Chik]

Oh gee, Media Savant, you've graced us with your presence again. How fortunate for the entire Farscape community. It must be tough taking time from your busy schedule at Mt. Olympus to impart your vast wisdom to the masses.

If your demeanor is indicative of the behavior of those executives attending this conference, it wouldn't matter how the questions were asked. Any question offered would get a standard bulls**t answer in return. These type of individuals do not really care about viewers opinions. They think that they can throw out any type of garbage and the viewers will watch. Only their opinion is the correct one. Gee whiz, who does that remind me of . . .

[Shipscat]

Ms, you know perfectly well that Bonnie wouldn't handle it as well as those two examples you just gave. Those were far too intelligent and sensible. You didn't even get a dig in about the fans!

[PrairieScaper]

Well, I think MediaSavant is just being realistic. It's the job of industry execs to defend their turf. I don't care for their spin either -- and I think Bonnie's insults to SciFi's audience are absolutely bizarre -- but let's face it, most of them would lose their jobs if they tried honesty for a change. I have to agree with RiotChik that television programmers "do not really care about viewers opinion" -- they care about the advertisers who are actually paying for the programs. That tunnel vision is the big flaw in advertiser-supported television, in my opinion.

Interestingly, though, a television exec occasionally does something completely unexpected and tells the truth. NBC's Jeff Zucker recently stated that ratings were down because "some of the programming just sucked." Now there's some completely unexpected honesty from an industry exec! :roflmao:

The whole story is posted at http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16696

[PrairieScaper]

I received this reply from the Viewers' Consortium:

Prairiescaper,
Thanks for the information on the Natl. Assn. of Television Program Executives conference. I have passed the information along to the board and we will definately consider sending a representative. Feel free to continue sending useful information our way. :-)

Thanks,
-Elizabeth Barrett
ebarrett@theviewerconsortium.com
Fundraising Director
The Viewer Consoritum