Avid has become the latest and highest profile exhibitor to pull out of this year’s NAB Show in Las Vegas. The company has announced that it is cancelling its Avid Connect conference and its participation at this year’s NAB Show in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Avid’s CEO, Jeff Rosica, explained in a statement: “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 said in an official statement that it will be organising a live broadcast in April to introduce the wider community to the products that were scheduled to be showcased at Avid Connect and on the NAB show floor, while regional ACA Connect events would be rolled out later in the year “when public safety can be assured”.
Avid’s cancellation is likely to fan the flames of discussion around whether NAB will, or indeed should, go ahead in light of the escalating coronavirus situation globally, and the cancellation or postponements of other major shows such as Mobile World Congress, SXSW, Broadcast Asia and CABSAT.
An NAB spokesperson informed TVBEurope‘s sister brand TV Technology on Tuesday that the show is ‘moving forward as planned’ and is taking advice from local, federal, and global authorities. You can find more information from NAB’s dedicated coronavirus page and by keeping up to date with TVBEurope‘s Daily newsletter.
