National Association of Broadcasters president and CEO Gordon H. Smith told members the group’s 2020 show, initially planned for the spring in Las Vegas before being postponed, is canceled and the event will resume next spring.
NAB also announced the upcoming launch of NAB Show Express, which will serve as a digital portal for manufacturers to share new product announcements and demos.
In a March 20 letter to the “NAB Show community,” Smith says the decision to cancel NAB 2020 was made because “we believe it is our responsibility to help stop the spread of COVID-19, and put the health and safety of our show community first.”
“In the week since announcing that we will not move forward with the NAB Show in April, the landscape has continued to shift dramatically with major sports leagues, school districts, and other businesses around the country suspending operations,” Smith wrote.
“The governor of Nevada has also made the decision to close all nonessential business operations in the state. National authorities are imploring Americans to telework wherever possible,” wrote Smith. He announced NAB 2021 is slated for April 11-4 in Las Vegas and NAB New York is in the fall.
Here’s more from Smith’s letter about NAB 2020’s cancellation:
While we recognize that much of our show community is focused on other issues at the moment, we have heard from many of you over the last week who are eager for an update on our plans.
For that reason, we wanted to convey now that, in light of the current circumstances, it is impossible to hold a rescheduled 2020 NAB Show this year.
We will instead proceed with a two-pronged approach to deliver as much value as possible under these circumstances to our exhibitors, partners, and the broadcast industry as a whole.
First, we are exploring a number of ways to bring the industry together online, both in the short and long term. We know from many years of serving the community with face-to-face events, that connectivity is vital to the health and success of the industry. That’s why we are excited to announce NAB Show Express, targeted to launch in April 2020. [related]
This digital experience will provide a conduit for our exhibitors to share product information, announcements and demos, as well as deliver educational content from the original selection of programming slated for the live show in Las Vegas, and create opportunities for the community to interact virtually—all of which adds up to something that brings the NAB Show community together in a new way.
Second, we will be enhancing NAB Show New York with new programs, partners, and experiences. We have already had numerous conversations with show partners about expanding their participation, and have heard from numerous exhibitors interested in enhancing their presence at this fall’s show.
We’re also committed to being an active part of the solution to the current crisis in the months ahead. Last week we launched a new public service announcement campaign on radio and television that will provide crucial information to keep communities safe.
The PSAs are part of a comprehensive Coronavirus Response Toolkit that we have made available online to help broadcasters accurately cover the pandemic and prepare for the threat it poses to their staff, communities and businesses.
