Brunico Communications acquires assets of NATPE

Realscreen and Banff World Media Festival organisers Brunico Communications has acquired the assets of NATPE (National Association of Television Programming Executives), three months after the organisation filed for bankruptcy.

The deal sees Brunico, which became the frontrunner for the assets in November, taking control of the NATPE Global, NATPE Budapest and NATPE Streaming+ events, as well as the Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards.

The sale, reportedly around the $150,000 mark, has been approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court and is expected to close before the end of January, with Brunico confirming that NATPE Budapest will run from June 26-28 at the Intercontinental Hotel.

The Canadian firm is also planning a “full-scale return” of NATPE’s annual slate of events, including NATPE Global (previously NATPE Miami), and added that it will invest “significant resources” in building the brand.

The deal comes three months after 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. Several events have since been launched to fill the gap in the event schedule, incuding Content Americas.

Brunico president & CEO Russell Goldstein said: “The international content community has been waiting patiently for the return of NATPE, and we are very excited to welcome back our new clients and delegates. Brunico will be reaching out to all NATPE partners in short order to discuss the transition and our plans for the future.”

Andy Kaplan, chair of NATPE’s board, added: “With a distinguished track record building must-attend content markets like Realscreen Summit and Kidscreen Summit, and then reinvigorating the widely-acclaimed Banff World Media Festival, we could not be more pleased with this outcome. With the Board’s full support, Brunico is ideally positioned to elevate NATPE to new heights.”