Western Rides Out, Rupert Rides In
Where’s Rupert and what’s he gonna do? Those were the questions being asked by most of the 6,150 cable execs who gathered in Anaheim, Calif., to say goodbye to the Western Show. They permeated everything from the standing-room-only panel sessions to the small-but-bustling show floor. The questions also gave the lame-duck convention a sense of purpose. Many executives pointed to the popularity of the panels as proof that the Western Show should come back as a conference rather than a full-blown show. But there was no talk of that by the show’s sponsors, the CCTA, which made it clear this is the end of the road. The show was marked by an unmistakable sense of nostalgia, starting with the unsurprising resignation of CCTA president Spencer Kaitz. While only a few programming companies exhibited, several networks ponied up as official sponsors and many had suites in nearby hotels to accommodate meetings and demonstrations. Ironically, Starz Encore, which was the first major programmer to pull out of the show three years ago, had one of the largest booths on the show floor. Parties were few and far between. WE entertained a small group of executives with a performance by Jewel. And the ESPN-sponsored press reception and annual chairman’s reception were well-attended. We won’t miss trekking to the West Coast during the first week of December, but we will miss the Western Show