The National Association of Television Programming Executives (NATPE) has announced the most comprehensive outreach to the global advertising community in the Association's history, in conjunction with the NATPE 2002 Conference to be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center January 21 - 24, 2002, it was jointly announced by Jon Mandel, co-managing director/chief negotiating officer MediaCom and NATPE chairman, and Bruce Johansen, NATPE's president and CEO.

Mandel stated, "The initiatives we have put in place for our 2002 Conference are dedicated to creating the highest level of interaction between the most influential players in the advertising world and the conference floor exhibitors. We are confident that this interaction will lead to rewarding new business opportunities for both parties."

Johansen added, "Never before has the critical importance of advertising, as it relates to the global television industry, been made more evident than over the past year. Advertising is the foundation on which our industry is built and our initiatives are devoted to giving it the recognition it truly deserves while benefiting our members in the process."

This is the first time that NATPE is developing these outreach programs. The advertising related activities planned for NATPE 2002 include:

The creation of dedicated lounge areas in key locations around the Conference floor which will showcase the major global advertising agencies and allow exhibitors to interface with top advertising executives. MediaCom has already come on board and it is anticipated that many other agencies will be represented.

An invitation-only reception, chaired by Mr. Mandel, for key advertisers and agencies, heads of sales for major media organisations, station groups, broadcast and cable networks, cable MSOs, barter sales and station rep firms from both domestic and international companies. This event will be held Monday, January 21st.

A session focusing on family friendly programming scheduled for attendees and exhibitors committed to this initiative is currently scheduled for Tuesday, January 22nd.

"The Best of the Clinet Pitches." Pitches from invited sales executives will be presented in a special session on January 23rd. Open to all conference attendees.

"Global Branding," a top-line panel to include leading executives from the global television networks, produced in association with PROMAX, is scheduled for Wednesday, January 23rd.