NAB 2020 Canceled Due to Coronavirus

News

by Jakub HanMarch 11^th, 2020

NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith just issued an official letter to the NAB Show community. In light of coronavirus concerns, the NAB 2020 is canceled and will NOT take place in April. The promoters are currently considering a number of potential alternatives. The NAB might happen later in 2020.

Although we were hoping it will not happen, we kind of anticipated it for a few last days. After many governments and companies started taking restrictive precautions because the COVID-19 “Coronavirus” started spreading around the world, it was only a question of time when NAB promoters would not be able to withstand the pressure anymore. NAB Show in Las Vegas will NOT take place in April 2020.

NAB 2020 Canceled due to Coronavirus. Image credit: cinema5D

NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith issued the following letter to the NAB Show community regarding plans for NAB Show in light of coronavirus concerns:

Dear NAB Show community,

As you know, we have been carefully monitoring coronavirus developments both domestically and globally over the past few weeks.

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.

I want to stress that despite our disappointment at how this year’s Show has been impacted by global public health concerns, we are more excited than ever about the future of NAB Show and our relationship with you.

We are grateful for each and every member of our Show community. It is your passion for the industry that makes NAB Show a success year after year, and it is that same passion that will drive us into the future as we look ahead to new possibilities later this year and beyond.

The cancelation is a huge problem for everyone involved in the NAB Show, including cinema5D. We understand, however, the potential health risks of going forward with such a large event in these uncertain times. We will, of course, keep you informed if anything new comes up.

A statement from cinema5D owners Nino Leitner & Johnnie Behiri about NAB 2020 Cancelation:

The cancellation of this year’s NAB Show due to the Coronavirus means that for the first time in cinema5D’s almost 12 year long history, there won’t be an avalanche of gear news coming from Las Vegas in April, and we obviously wouldn’t have anything to report from there if we went there. 

Nevertheless, the entire cinema5D team remains committed in bringing the latest and most important gear news to our readers in any way possible. As our valued audience you can rest assured that we will work around the clock to bring a similar output of product news videos and articles, probably spread out over a longer period of time – assuming that most manufacturers will be announcing new products despite NAB Show being canceled. We are working on giving you a great show experience, even without there being a show. 

Obviously, health and safety come first, but because of the fact that NAB will not take place, online industry news and review sites like cinema5D have an even bigger responsibility in presenting what’s new and relevant in our industry. 

Let’s not have us taken down by the impact of the pandemic has on our everyday work and industry. We’re all currently being served a lot of lemons – our team will, as always, try making something resembling lemonade. Onwards!

Were you planning on attending this year’s NAB Show? Let us know in the comments underneath the article.