End of an Era for U.S. TV Events

Brunico Communications, the Toronto-based organizer behind major industry events, has announced the closure of its U.S. television events business. The decision marks a significant shift for the media landscape, as the company winds down operations for the NAPTE and Realscreen Summit conferences.

Market Consolidation and Budget Pressures

Russell Goldstein, president and CEO of Brunico, stated on Tuesday that the decision was the result of extensive consideration. He attributed the move to ongoing market consolidation, which has created structural impacts on the content production sector.

The company noted that media content production budgets have been significantly reduced, forcing a reevaluation of their U.S. event portfolio. Despite the closure of these events, Brunico confirmed that Kidscreen and Realscreen will continue to operate as publications for the kids and unscripted content industries, respectively.

Context Behind the Closure

The closure follows a turbulent period for NAPTE. Brunico acquired the assets of the National Association of Television Program Executives after the organization filed for bankruptcy protection in October 2022. This financial struggle was largely driven by the forced cancellations of the 2021 and 2022 U.S. TV markets during the pandemic.

NAPTE Global made a return to Miami in 2024, but the event faced a challenging environment. The industry was simultaneously grappling with several disruptive factors, including:

  • The 2023 dual Hollywood strikes
  • The rise of emerging streaming platforms
  • Accelerating rates of cord-cutting

These pressures triggered a wave of industry consolidation as major studios attempted to balance the high costs of streaming services with declining linear television revenue. Brunico, which also operates the Banff World Media Festival, had managed the Realscreen and Kidscreen summits as part of its broader international conference portfolio since before 2016.