Brunico selected as stalking-horse for NATPE assets

Baha Mar

Brunico Communications, the organiser of Kidscreen Summit, Realscreen Summit and Banff World Media Festival, is poised to acquire NATPE (National Association of Television Programming Executives) assets, and aims to have its schedule of international content markets, conferences and events back on track by summer.

The agreement covers NATPE Global, NATPE Budapest, NATPE Streaming+ and the Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards, though is contingent upon the outcome of an upcoming public auction, in which Brunico has been selected as the stalking-horse bidder by the NATPE board of directors and the United States Bankruptcy Court.

Last month, NATPE filed for bankruptcy, blaming the impact of the pandemic on its event schedule and revenues. It soon after cancelled NATPE Global in the Bahamas, which had been due to take place at the Baha Mar Resort and Convention Center in January 2023.

“Working in consultation with NATPE’s board, membership and longtime sponsors, we intend to orchestrate a full-scale return of all NATPE annual events, beginning with NATPE Budapest from June 26 to 28, 2023 at the Intercontinental Hotel, and followed by NATPE Global in Miami during its traditional timeframe in January 2024,” said Brunico Communications President and CEO Russell Goldstein.

“Brunico is dedicated to building on NATPE’s substantial legacy, and plans to invest significant resources in elevating this premiere North American-based global content marketplace. We look forward to welcoming the world’s leading content providers to connect with international buyers as part of the premium experience that only NATPE delivers.”