MUMBAI: Natpe president, CEO Rod Perth has announced that investor Mark Cuban, owner-chairman of AXS TV (formerly HDNet) and owner of the NBA?s Dallas Mavericks, will serve as the opening keynote speaker at the organisation?s milestone 50th anniversary market and conference, to be held from 28-30 January 2012 in Miami. Cuban?s session will kick off the three-day event built around the theme of moving ?Beyond Disruption?.

Cuban?s keynote conversation with CNN?s Poppy Harlow will headline the Game Changers track at Natpe Content First, which spotlights leaders from companies that have continually challenged mainstream thinking.

Perth said, "Mark is an innovative businessman whose work has helped to change the face of the media world. With each step of his career, this entrepreneurial mogul has expanded his interests and influence, fully embodying Natpe?s theme of ?Beyond Disruption.? As we dedicate this year?s market to how new business models are being created, we are excited to have his voice set the stage for the game changing conversations among industry leaders at Natpe."

Cuban?s HDNet, the world?s only all high-definition television network, launched in 2001 when HD was still an infant technology. The channel, now known as AXS TV, is a multiplatform hub for live events, concerts and breaking news in pop culture, music, fashion and entertainment, and reaches an estimated 35 million homes.

Other speakers in the Game Changers track include Yahoo! VP, head of video Erin McPherson, Norton VP, global brand marketing, PR Rhonda Shantz, Google/YouTube global head of content strategy Jamie Byrne and Maker Studios chief development officer Chris M. Williams..

Studio Lambert CEO Stephen Lambert, will serve as the international keynote speaker on day three of the conference to kick off the Global Navigators track. Other speakers focused on international content and programming-including channels, formats, global production solutions and cross cultural brand strategies-are Univision Networks president, programming and content Alberto Ciurana; Telemundo Media COO Jacqueline Hernandez and The Gurin Company president Philip Gurin.

Speakers on the Masters of Messaging track will feature top executives from brand and production companies, studios and ad solution providers, including Nielsen president, Global Media Products and Advertiser Solutions Steve Hasker; Media Behavior Institute executive director, marketing Mike Bloxham and P&G corporate innovator Dustin Garis.

The Storytellers That Shape Pop Culture session will feature Howard Gordon, executive producer of Showtime?s ?Homeland?; Dick Wolf, creator and executive producer of NBC?s ?Law and Order? franchise and head of Wolf Films; Anthony E. Zuiker, creator of the CBS drama series ?CSI: Crime Scene Investigation? and Tim Kring creator of ?Touch? and ?Heroes?.

In the Technologies That Fuel Multi-Platform Content track, speakers will explore the explosion of video and broadcast capabilities across all screens. They include Fox VP of innovation, social media Hardie Tankersley, Akamai principal architect - media engineering Will Law, Sony Pictures Interactive director of social media marketing Ann Glenn.

Participating in the Visionaries series of talks will be Current TV founding producer and host Jason Silva, YouTube Next Lab director, global head Lance Podell, Simplynew Studios Marc Scarpa and Vuguru CEO Larry Tanz.

MUMBAI: Recently appointed Natpe Content First president, CEO Rod Perth has announced preliminary numbers for room reservations at the market and conference are pacing ahead of last year.

The increase comes as all of the major domestic distributors have committed to attend the 2013 NATPE Market and Conference from 28-30 January 2013 in Miami, marking its 50th anniversary with a forward-looking agenda built around the theme of moving "Beyond Disruption."

Perth noted that each of the major studios will be joined at Natpe 2013 by independent distributors, producers, networks and program representation firms covering all platforms, including Debmar-Mercury/Lionsgate, Banijay, Electus, CableReady, Content Media Corp., FremantleMedia, Globo TV, Hasbro Studios, Lionsgate International, MGM Worldwide Television, Televisa, Univision and Venevision, to name a few.

Next year?s Natpe theme, ?Beyond Disruption?, describes how content, advertising and technology are now interdependent ecosystems that are encouraging reinvention of tomorrow?s business models.

Natope adds that over the past half century it has transitioned from a domestic syndication programme selling forum into a global, multi-platform content market and conference. In that time, it has played an integral role in the success of some of the greatest and longest-running shows in television history.

Perth said, "We?re grateful to provide all who attend the chance to celebrate NATPE?s important role in the history of the television business, as well as to be able to take a thoughtful, reflective, service-oriented approach to exploring the many exciting opportunities and serious challenges that lie ahead. Our objective is to encourage a sense of optimism and reason to the conversation. With the 50th Anniversary celebration providing the perfect opportunity to honor the early foundations of the industry and map out its future, we look forward to a fantastic market and conference in January."

In addition, Perth announced Natpe?s 10th annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award. The honorees will include Steve Levitan, creator of ABC?s comedy series ?Modern Family?; John Langley, the ?Godfather of Reality Television? as creator/executive producer of COPS; and Debra Lee, CEO of BET, the TV network aimed at African-American audiences, which currently reaches more than 90 million households worldwide.

Named in honour of Brandon Tartikoff, arguably one of television?s greatest programmers, the award was created to recognize a select group of television professionals exhibiting extraordinary passion, leadership, independence and vision in the process of creating television programming. The Legacy Award ceremony will be presented during a special reception in Miami.

Natpe will explore the ?Beyond Disruption? theme in a new conference format encompassing panel discussions, thought-provoking one-on-one conversations and individual 20-minute presentations that take a close look at disruption and, more importantly, what comes next. Highlights include:

• "Game Changers" - Spotlighting leaders from some of the world?s top companies that have continually challenged mainstream thinking, moving beyond traditional business models and seeking innovative partnerships to find the intersection of disruption and opportunity.
• Masters of Messaging - Featuring top brand executives, production companies, studios and ad solution providers.
• "Storytellers That Shape Pop Culture" - Pairing television?s top icons and creators in a "Chat with?" format.
• Technologies That Fuel Multi-Platform Content - Examining the explosion of video and broadcast capabilities across all screens.
• "Visionaries" - Viewing the media world through the eyes of innovators, content creators, advertisers, technology experts, research analysts and entertainers who will deliver ten 20-minute presentations
• Global Navigators - Focusing on international content and programming including international channels, formats, global production solutions and cross cultural brand strategies.

Speakers will be announced in the months ahead.

MUMBAI: Rod Perth has been named as the new NATPE Content First president, CEO.

The association?s co-chairs Jordan Levi, Chris Grant made the announcement.

Perth has overall responsibility for the vision, strategic evolution, marketing, programming and financial/administrative operations of the organisation. Reporting to the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors, he will also lead a senior management team made up of six direct reports and a total staff of 20 people.

Bill Simon and Nicola Shocket of Korn/Ferry conducted the search on Natpe?s behalf.

Levin and Grant commented, ?After an expansive executive search process, where there were many highly qualified candidates, we concluded that Rod?s broad range of experience reflects the diverse influences shaping our industry and Natpe?s role in bringing together its various constituencies. Combined with his vast network of relationships and senior management skills, we believe Rod is ideally suited to evolve Natpe into a dynamic global organisation relevant to all who touch content. His imprint will be on next year?s conference in Miami, which marks Natpe?s 50th anniversary. It will recognise the considerable milestones in our business and serve as a springboard into our new initiatives for the future.?

Prior to joining Natpe, Perth was RHP Media Consulting founder, president specialising in strategic consulting and planning for digital media, broadcast, cable and new media initiatives.

He said, ?I have grown up professionally knowing and experiencing what NATPE has to offer, and find the prospect of developing and implementing a path for its future to be an extremely exciting and challenging one. NATPE?s Executive Committee and Board represent many of the top leaders in our business and, with their support, I believe that we can accomplish a great deal together for the benefit of our members from around the world?.

Natpe Content First is a global, nonprofit organisation committed to serving as a catalyst for the content revolution. Natpe operates and manages a US-based global content marketplace, a destination event where creativity meets connectivity and commerce.