Diversity Dispatches: No Free Lunch, or Breakfast; More Posts

The good news is that there was so much interest in diversity that NAMIC’s lunch Mon was overflowing, with dozens of attendees crowded in the back of a huge Marriott Marquis ballroom without lunch. Quick work by NAMIC and the hotel staff and all the hungry attendees received food, followed by some food for thought courtesy of CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, who was an engaging speaker. The larger picture, of course, was that the 2-day NAMIC conference brought record attendance despite a declining economy and predictions from NAMIC of lower attendance. Word is that a lot of attendees came from locals in the NY area who registered on site. More than 800 people attended the conference, which ended Tuesday. It will be interesting to see how NAMIC draws next year, when it will be part of cable’s activity week.
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Tougher to, er, stomach was the canceled breakfast Tuesday morning that was to be hosted by Multi. One of our publishing rivals graciously invited your blogger to the breakfast gratis, which we appreciate. Your blogger, along with several others, arrived at the Marquis at 7:30 and immediately asked a NAMIC registration worker for the location of the breakfast. “7th floor,” we were told. Yours and a few others headed to the 7th. No breakfast. We then went up to the 8th floor, again to no avail. What the heck, we went to the 9th floor. Ditto.

Our confidence began to unravel when we checked the super-fast (too fast to read the first time through) electronic events board in the hotel. No sign of the breakfast. After 10 minutes our band of breakfasters was back on the fifth floor, at registration. It was there that an alert NAMIC registration staffer, after checking with hotel personnel, informed our small band that the breakfast had been cancelled. Fortunately, that made us early for the large and excellent breakfast buffet for conference attendees that was sponsored by Disney/ABC (those folks know how to do breakfast). With gullets satisfied it was time to turn to the real business of the day—informing the CableFAX Daily staff that its potential lead story had been cancelled…by Multi, of all people!

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If this was the final Cable Positive Broadway fundraiser (although Cable Positive insists it’s not), it went out with gusto, and perhaps the best show for Diversity Week ever. The Tony award-winning In The Heights drove home the multicultural theme in a big way, as its energetic score weaved hip-hop, salsa and regaeton idioms, as did its imaginative choreography. Cable Positive held its traditional and always fun after-show Q&A with members of the cast. Also on tap, as tradition would have it, was CP’s well-attended after-party.  Appropriately the soiree was held at Havana Central, a spacious club near the theater. Thanks to an attentive staff the Mojitos flowed well after midnight, as did the plantains, fish tacos and barbecued chicken. Loved the Rainbow-sponsored gift bag containing the cast album and goodies from Ovation, NBC U and ION. The best part, of course, was that the event raised some $90K for CP’s education effort to fight HIV/AIDS. The cable industry, once again, stepped up to support the cause. Will it do so when next year there are fewer tentpole events that tend to drive giving?

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The pleasurable smells of Latin cuisine won’t subside just because Cable Positive’s after party is finished. Word is that Food Network talent Ingrid Hoffmann, a co-emcee of the Kaitz Dinner Wed night, will be overseeing some of the food for the dinner, along with consultants from Food. Hoffman’s background is as diverse as a United Nations meeting. We can’t wait to sample her fare.

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From the nearly confirmed rumor mill, NCTA, by popular demand, is bringing back Battle of the Bands. Battle was a big success at the most recent NCTA show in New Orleans when bands made up of cable people (and more than a few ringers)  rocked for thousands. Besides the good time, the money NCTA saved on entertainment was donated to New Orleans. OK,  that’s the good news. The bad news is that the Battle will be joined on the last night of cable’s spring activity week. Yes, Friday night. It’s anyone’s guess how many attendees will hang in DC Friday evening for the jousting. On the up side, we hear CTAM’s Research Conference will be held the next day in D.C. and SCTE’s confab will be that weekend, too. So, at least marketers and techies should be in town. We’re hoping NCTA does its best to encourage attendees to bring their families in for the weekend to see the Cherry Blossoms, which should be getting into fine form in early April.

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Diversity Week Memorable Moments

1. Charlayne Hunter-Gault’s fabulous acceptance speech upon receiving the Mickey Leland Award from NAMIC.

2. Charter boss Neil Smit opening his remarks at NAMIC by asking the crowd to think of those suffering the weather related disasters in Texas and elsewhere.

3. One of the most unfortunate choices of words ever uttered at NAMIC, when an MSO executive, comparing the gradual movement of diversity through a corporate culture, said it was similar to the way “a watermelon moves through the belly of a snake.”

4. Perhaps sensing that attendees had enjoyed the previous evening in NY a bit too much, NAMIC chose the perfect background music as attendees gathered for Tuesday’s general session at 9 am. As people made their way into the ballroom speakers blared a lively salsa composition. Forget the caffeine jolt, it’s Diversity Week, let’s have more Latin music.

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