New shows, optimism enliven NATPE confab

Couric LakeProbst HarveyThe range from the NATPE confab a year ago to Miami Beach will be a hit with station managers and syndie distribs. The sunny new setting allows industryites to acquire a break from cooler places, rub shoulders with pals and clients in most cases proceed and take temperature in the niche for their wares. Since the National Assn. of Television Program Professionals conference returns now to the Fontainebleau Hotel, there's a feeling among distribs the syndie biz has leave the dark amount of the ultimate few years, and station customers fiare ready to embrace new firstrun shows -- especially people fronted by familiar faces like Katie Couric, Ricki Lake, Rob Probst and Steve Harvey. Part of the optimism is fueled because voids and flaws emerged throughout your day lineups of several top stations which were relatively stable for any very long time, for many years sometimes. And station managers and distribs continue being sorting the options spurred through the famous host the famous host oprah Winfrey's exit from first-run distribution a year ago. "The famous host the famous host oprah certainly produced a void when her show stopped the atmosphere, which we view becoming an chance," mentioned CBS TV Distribution prexy John Nogawski. "There has been plenty of good timeslots available, and stations are readily implementing (talkshows)." Paul Franklin, Twentieth Television's professional veep and general sales director, signifies openings in daytime beyond the The famous host the famous host oprah factor. "Regis (Philbin), who was simply on for 2-and-a-half decades, is completed,In . he mentioned, "as well as the soaps Are going in the air one at a time.Inch Both Franklin and Nogawski are flogging new yakkers for your fall: CBS TV Distribution's "Rob Probst," fronted with the longtime host in the Eye's "Survivor" plus an all-new "Ricki Lake Show" from Twentieth. NBCUniversal Domestic has "Steve Harvey," and Disney-ABC Domestic features its own high-profile Katie Couric talker "Katie" (removed at 93% of U.S. TV houses). As people shows near their airdates, it is necessary for distribution firms to produce friendly connections while using stations buying their skeins, whether it's a meal with Lake or coffee with "Katie" professional producer Rob Zucker. Disney-ABC Domestic TV prexy Janice Marinelli mentioned the face area-to-face reference to customers supplied by NATPE is invaluable. "It is necessary, simply because they stations create a large acquisition of Katie and Rob," she mentioned. "They'll can request questions and start to produce a relationship with Katie." Twentieth will probably be departing somewhat in the rivals -- it's searching not only to showcase Lake and sea food for fascination with approaching offnet characteristics like Fox's hot frosh sitcom "New Girl," but to create its gossip newsmag "Dish Nation," too. The fall show is taken away in 55% of the united states so far. Franklin calls the series a sizable priority for Twentieth at NATPE. It's the first time shortly the major distrib has looked for to take advantage from the confab just like a springboard for just about any new show. The finish outcome is that there are money obtainable in Miami Beach now, or otherwise the idea of it. While using syndie upfronts coming as well as the market largely retrieved within the ad slump that adopted the financial crisis, many do more business at NATPE 2012, which runs through Wednesday, in comparison to previous years. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com