Las Vegas, Jan 25 -- Equating the opening of NATPE 2005 to a Broadway show, NATPE's president and ceo Rick Feldman says he's just a little nervous heading into the conference as no matter how much preparation, planning and rehearsal goes into a show, "you just don't know how people will respond until you open."

With registration tracking ahead of last year, and many major studios ba ck in the fold, Feldman's leadership has brought fresh perspective into the annual event.

"People seem to be enthusiastic and upbeat going in, and hopefully, there will be something in the program that conveys the broad base NATPE is trying to cover,"said Feldman. "I want people to leave here thinking the show was worth their time and money."

Feldman, whose contract with NATPE runs through April 2006, added: "If everybody is happy, I'd like to do five years with the organization. Going forward, NATPE has a key role to play in helping the industry address all sorts of issues, from mobile and interactive development, to the recent debate about indecency issues."