NAB Show Update: Avid, EVS, Red Bee Are Latest To Withdraw; Tech & Engineering Emmys Postponed
The companies plan to showcase their latest solutions remotely
Story Highlights
Avid, EVS, and Red Bee have announced that they are withdrawing from NAB Show 2020 because of the uncertainty surrounding the outbreak of COVID-19. The three companies join a growing number of exhibitors that will be skipping the NAB Show this year, including Adobe, AJA Video Systems, AV Design, Image Video, Imagine Products, Nikon, Ross Video, TVU Networks, Western Digital, and Zaxcom. In addition, the Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards, which was scheduled for April 19 at the NAB Show, has been rescheduled for NAB New York. As of Wednesday, NAB’s Coronavirus Updates and Resources page says, “We are moving forward with NAB Show, while continuing to evaluate the national and international situation carefully.”
Avid Exits NAB 2020, Cancels Avid Connect
In an official announcement late on Tuesday, Avid said it will “cancel participation in all trade conferences and other large face-to-face events globally for at least the next 60 days.”
Says Avid CEO/President Jeff Rosica, “While these were difficult decisions for Avid, and for me personally, we feel strongly that helping stop the spread and severity of the COVID-19 virus is not just the job of governments and healthcare providers but the responsibility of every individual, organization, and corporation around the globe. We will take this opportunity to try new methods and experiment with different approaches to better engage with our clients, users, and the community around the globe. Avid remains supportive of the NAB Show and looks forward to next year’s event.”
Avid also announced that it will produce a live broadcast in April to replace its participation at the show and announce its latest lineup of products. In addition, the company plans to re-create its Avid Connect conference with multiple regional events (dates and locations TBA) later in the year — “when public safety can be assured.”
EVS Withdraws, Will Still Introduce New Products
EVS released a statement on Wednesday announcing its withdrawal from NAB Show 2020. With the impact of the coronavirus being felt worldwide, the company decided on the precautionary measure to mitigate the health and safety risk for everyone involved. Despite canceling its physical attendance, EVS is working on a plan to introduce its new products and solutions and to remain engaged with the NAB community. More information on this plan will be communicated soon.
Says EVS CEO Serge Van Herck, “NAB is a key milestone for us every year. We take pride in showcasing our new solutions there and meeting up with our customers, partners, and prospects. So it has been a very tough decision to make. While we are now seeing some positive signals coming from Asia, it is clear that the situation in other parts of the world is not yet under control. I strongly believe we should keep on the safe side during these uncertain times. As always, our primary responsibility is the health of our teams, business partners, and their families.”
Red Bee Out of NAB 2020, Plans To Showcase Offerings Remotely
Red Bee also announced its withdrawal from NAB Show 2020 on Wednesday. It was not a decision taken lightly, but, with the current spread of COVID-19, the company is taking all possible measures to ensure the health and safety of its employees, customers, and partners, as well as to safeguard the integrity of its mission-critical–service delivery, according to the statement. Red Bee has introduced a number of safety measures, including international travel restrictions, and is currently exploring ways of showcasing its offering remotely, without having to participate in international trade shows in the nearest future.
“Withdrawing from NAB this year was not an easy decision since it’s a great opportunity for us to connect with the industry and showcase our innovation, but we have to put the health and safety of our employees, customers, and partners first,” says Red Bee CEO Media Steve Nylund. “As a managed-services provider to some of the biggest broadcasters and media brands in the industry, we also have to minimize the risk of introducing the virus on any of our sites, in order to safeguard the continuity of our service delivery. With travel restrictions and other safety measures already in place, we now have to get creative and explore alternative ways of connecting with current and potential customers around the globe.”
Red Bee is closely monitoring the development of COVID-19 and related recommendations by relevant national authorities and international bodies, such as WHO. The company has restricted non-essential business travel globally and is limiting travel between facilities within the same country.
Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards Postponed
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) also announced it has postponed the 71st Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards dinner in response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.
“The event had been scheduled for April 19th in Las Vegas, kicking off the National Association of Broadcasters ‘NAB Show’ for a third year,” says NATAS President & CEO Adam Sharp: “Today we made the difficult decision to In consultation with health officials, award recipients, and other prospective attendees, we determined that it was no longer prudent nor viable to move forward with our ceremony. The NAB Show has been a wonderful home for the Tech Emmys, and we intend to reschedule the ceremony to correspond instead with NAB’s fall convention in New York.
“At this moment, we plan to move forward as scheduled with our other upcoming ceremonies: the Sports Emmy® Awards on April 28th in New York, the Daytime Emmy® Awards on June 12-14 in Pasadena, and the News & Documentary Emmy® Awards in September in New York. We are closely monitoring public heath authorities’ guidance, seeking feedback from our awards communities, and evaluating the flexibility of our venue and production partners as we make determinations around these other events based on day-to-day developments.
“In every case, the health and safety of our event attendees and staff will remain our paramount concern. We are particularly grateful to and proud of the thousands of NATAS members across America’s local newsrooms who are doing the front-line work of informing the public in this time of anxiety, confusion, and ever-changing information.”
