NAB cancelled over coronavirus fears

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NAB will no longer take place in April
President Gordon Smith says decision taken to “address health and safety concerns of our stakeholders”
Vendors including Avid, Adobe and AJA among those to have withdrawn from the event earlier this week

NAB will not take place in April, following a raft of cancellations by some of the industry’s largest vendors amid concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.

NAB president and chief executive Gordon Smith announced the decision not to hold the exhibition and conference, which was due to take place in Las Vegas in April.

Gordon H Smith at Broadcast Leadership Training Reception

Gordon Smith: NAB president and CEO

Smith said NAB was “deferring to the developing consensus from public health authorities on the challenges posed by coronavirus”.

As the number of people to test positive for coronavirus around the world continues to rise, a raft of exhibitors have withdrawn from the event. Avid, Adobe, AJA and EVS are among the firms to have pulled out this week, citing concerns over the wellbeing of staff.

In a statement, Smith said: “In the interest of addressing the health and safety concerns of our stakeholders and in consultation with partners throughout the media and entertainment industry, we have decided not to move forward with NAB Show in April. We are currently considering a number of potential alternatives to create the best possible experience for our community.

“This was not an easy decision. Fortunately, we did not have to make this decision alone, and are grateful to our NAB Show community for engaging with us as we grappled with the rapidly-evolving situation. This Show is as much yours as it is ours, and it is important to us that we move forward together.

“For nearly 100 years, NAB Show has provided superior value and the best possible experience for exhibitors and attendees. We knew that if we could not deliver on those expectations, we would not move forward. More importantly, keeping the community safe and healthy is NAB’s highest priority; therefore, we are deferring to the developing consensus from public health authorities on the challenges posed by coronavirus.

“We are still weighing the best potential path forward, and we ask you for your patience as we do so. We are committed to exploring all possible alternatives so that we can provide a productive setting where the industry can engage with the latest technology, hear from industry thought leaders and make the game-changing connections that drive our industry forward.”