MUMBAI: Enthused by the success of last summer's TV Producers' Boot Camp, the National Association of Television Program Executives (Natpe) is introducing Pitch Pit in the Natpe 2004 conference to be held at Sands Expo Centre and Venetian Hotel in Los Angeles from January 18-20, 2004.

Pitch Pit is being pegged as an improved version of Natpe's popular contest Pitch Me. The difference in this version is that instead of 15 people getting a chance to pitch a television idea, now 90 people will have the chance to sit one-on-one with agents from the top Hollywood talent agencies.

Announcing the contest, Natpe CEO and president Rick Feldman said, "Our TV Producers' Boot Camp in August and subsequent conversations with our members led us to this idea. Also, we wanted to amend the Pitch Me competition with a more professional, productive and formal way for ideas to be exchanged."

Located on the exhibition floor, and open only to Natpe 2004 registrants on a first-come, first served basis, the Pitch Pit will allow participants a maximum of ten minutes to formally pitch their program ideas to and seek general information on the development process from television agents and development executives from such top entertainment companies as Banyan Productions, Granada America, Hallmark Channel, Lifetime, Paradigm and UTA.

The contest will also help raise money for Natpe's educational foundation since the confirmation of the meeting requires a $25 cash-only donation to the Natpe Educational Foundation.

Hallmark Channel EVP programming David Kenin was quoted in a company press release as saying, "Our goal is to provide some guidance on the development process and potentially hear some great ideas for programming on Hallmark Channel. Either way, we want to do what we can to support Natpe and its Educational Foundation."