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Wright To Lead NATAS’ New-Media Peer Group

May 1, 2007  •  Post A Comment

Bob Wright, the outgoing chairman of NBC Universal, will head a new peer group being formed by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to focus on the creators of new-media content.
The group, approved Tuesday by the NATAS board of trustees, will be called the National Academy of Media Arts & Sciences.
The new group will not dispense awards for broadband or other new-technology content. Therefore it will not run afoul of some of the issues that are driving NATAS and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences into arbitration, NATAS President-CEO Peter Price said.
Instead, the announcement said, the National Academy of Media Arts & Sciences (NAMAS) will “focus on membership and education.”
The press release also cited NATAS’ existing Advanced Media Committee, chaired by Advanced Media Ventures Group Managing Director Shelly Palmer. That group hosts education programs, newsletters and briefings, as well as events at industry functions such as the Consumer Electronics Show and the National Association of Broadcasters’ annual conference.
It was NATAS’ campaign to create new broadband Emmy Awards, something neither Emmy group is allowed to do unilaterally under an agreement forged in 1977 when the groups split with great acrimony, that has the two groups headed for abitration.
“This [local] chapter-based peer group recognizes the new digital generation that has captivated our industry,” Mr. Price said in the release. “Through the formation of this peer group, we will embrace our peers in the new media and broaden our membership to include television and media. We are grateful for the support and leadership Bob Wright, one of the greatest visionaries in our industry, gives to this group.”
“This move is exactly the right move at the right time, and we’ve got the right guy to move the National Academy in this direction ” said NATAS Chairman Herb Granath.
Mr. Wright said, “I am very happy to be involved with [the National Academy of Media Arts & Sciences]. It has been clear to me for some period of time that we have converging technologies, and we need to figure out a way to get these people involved with us. This new group is a great way to connect with these people.”
(Editor: Horowitz)

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