The National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) is about to conclude a very successfull line-up of speakers and activities for its annual Market & Conference at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas January 25-27.

Some also say the 2010 edition looks like the end of an era.

Variety's CYNTHIA LITTLETON commented today
"...the plan to move the gathering next year to Miami's Fontainebleau Hotel has many longtime attendees feeling that NATPE '10 is the bookend on an era that began in the mid-1980s with the explosion of the firstrun syndie biz. The move to Miami -- which is plastered all over the NATPE signage at the Mandalay Bay hotel -- is a recognition that the confab's best hope for growth is in international sectors, particularly Latin America..."

More than 250 global industry leaders and innovators in content creation, cross platform production and distribution, advertising, marketing and business development shared their experience and vision with attendees.

Rick Feldman, President and CEO of the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE), announced the association’s newly elected 2010 Chair and Board of Directors. Kevin Beggs, President, Programming and Production, Lionsgate Television will serve as Chair for a third term.

"NATPE 2010 offers three days of unparalled opportunities and access for our members to interact with the individuals and companies who are shaping the future of our business," said NATPE president & CEO Rick Feldman.

"Our sustaining theme remains Content, Commerce and Connections. Content, because our business ultimately succeeds or fails via the products we deliver to our viewers. Commerce, because NATPE is still the place where distribution and co-production deals are initiated, refined and often closed. Connections, because NATPE reigns as THE premiere TV business facilitator bringing content creators, rights holders and ad agencies together to identify business opportunities in the global, multiplatform video industry."

NATPE has showcased senior executives from A&E Television Networks; Bravo; CAA (Creative Artists Agency); CABLEready Corporation; CBS Entertainment; Disney Channel; Dori Media; Endemol USA; Fox Television Studios; Gannett Broadcasting; Globo TV; Hearst Television; Lionsgate; MarVista Entertainment; Meredith Corp.; NBC Universal; RDF USA; Reveille; Telemundo Network Group; Televisa; TNT (Turner Network Television); Tribune Broadcasting; truTV; USA Networks along with many others. Innovators from the digital world including 3ality; APE Digital; Babelgum; Blip.TV; comScore; DigitalSmiths; GMX; Google; Impact Mobile; LucasFilm Ltd.; Nokia; Tube Filter; Tubemogul; Twitter; Microsoft Xbox and YouTube will host exciting demonstrations and discussions about the collaboration of technology and production.

The first NATPE Digital Luminary Awards reception on Tuesday evening honored the talent and creativity of people and companies that are paving the way for the entertainment industry in the new media sphere. Omneon, in the Broadcast and Technology category; Xbox LIVE, in the New Media category; THE GUILD, in the Original Web Content category; Google Android, in the Mobile category; and Hearst Television, in the Leadership category Panel and sessions will also illuminate the changing role of the showrunner and creative opportunities inherent in multiplatform video delivery from Neal Baer M.D., Wolf Films; Bravo's Andy Cohen, who will feature Donald Trump, Jillian Michaels and Curtis Stone as his guests; Philip Gurin, The Gurin Company; Hugh Laurie, David Shore and Katie Jacobs from "House"; Bill Lawrence, creator and executive producer of "Scrubs" and "Cougar Town;" Steve Levitan and the cast of the hit comedy "Modern Family;" Jonathan Prince, Once A Frog Productions; Eric Schotz, LMNO Productions; Scott Sternberg, Scott Sternberg Productions and Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri, executive producers, "The Amazing Race."

NATPE 2010 has presented a Who's Who from Madison Ave., including senior executives from Crispin Porter + Bogusky; The Third Act, a unit of Digitas; GroupM Interaction Worldwide; Havas Digital; IPG Emerging Media Lab; Ogilvy Entertainment and Canoe Ventures.