Markets

NATPE Global 2026 officially kicks off today at the InterContinental Miami, marking the beginning of three intensive days dedicated to reshaping the entertainment business under the banner of convergence. As part of an extended industry week that follows the Realscreen Summit, this premier market gathers top studios, distributors, and content creators to explore the evolving dynamics between traditional media and emerging economies in the audiovisual sector.

According to data released by organizer Brunico, over 200 buyers are confirmed to attend, with prominent global players such as Amazon MGM Studios Distribution, BBC Studios, Fifth Season, Fremantle, Fox Entertainment Global, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution, Sony Pictures Television, and Warner Bros. Discovery Content Sales represented on-site.
Business is expected to flourish across the hotel’s suites and corridors, with participants focusing on rights sales, strategic partnerships, and expanding reach in an increasingly fragmented ecosystem.

The conference schedule opens with a headline session featuring Dhar Mann and Sean Atkins, discussing how legacy studios can join forces with creator-led brands that command millions of online followers. Later, Sean Cohan, President of Bell Media and one of this year’s honorees, will unveil the Canadian group’s transformative strategy to unify news, entertainment, and sports in a globally competitive content environment.
One of the day’s most anticipated sessions will be led by Amazon MGM Studios, tackling the role of artificial intelligence in film and TV production. The studio will advocate for AI as a creative catalyst, not a constraint, in a future-forward approach that reframes the technology as a tool of empowerment for filmmakers.Furthering the conversation, executives from YouTube, Publicis Media, and A+E Global Media will debate the evolving role of agencies and brands in shaping and financing narrative content.

As the day progresses, attention turns to the financial backbone of the industry. A high-profile panel of investors and private equity experts will dissect the current wave of mergers and acquisitions, as well as new investment models emerging in the face of disruption across traditional television.
The day will close with an insightful dialogue between journalist David Begnaud and former CBS News President Wendy McMahon, focusing on the future of journalism and narrative storytelling in modern media.
Tomorrow’s spotlight will be on how major studios navigate market volatility. Top executives including Kevin Beggs (Lionsgate), Prentiss Fraser (Fox Entertainment Global), and Jens Richter (Fremantle) will share how licensing and budget strategies are evolving in a world where platform borders are rapidly dissolving.Highlights will also include Luis Fernández presenting NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises’ vision for the Hispanic market and live sports, and Kristin Dolan, CEO of AMC Networks, outlining the company’s shift from traditional cable to a tech-driven content powerhouse.