Rick Feldman, president and CEO of the National Association of Television Program Executives, told TelevisionWeek Tuesday morning that he’s confident the organization’s annual conference will be back at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas for next year’s convention.

“I’m 99 percent certain we’ll be back in the Mandalay Bay” for NATPE 2006, he said, adding that the final papers have not been signed but that he’s confident the details will be worked out.

NATPE 2006 kicked off Tuesday morning at the Mandalay Bay, the first time the event has been held at the facility. Ted Turner was the featured speaker at the opening session.