FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 20, 2020
CONTACT Dennis Wharton (202) 429-5350 @AirWharton
Washington, D.C. – NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith today issued a letter to the NAB Show community providing an update about plans for NAB Show activities in 2020. In the letter, Smith announced that rather than rescheduling NAB Show for later this year, NAB would be unveiling a new digital offering called NAB Show Express, and enhancing NAB Show New York later this year.
In response to today’s announcement, Tim Shoulder, the President of Grass Valley said, “We’re thrilled to join NAB at this year’s show in New York, and look forward to having a large presence there. Like so many in our industry, we understood the difficult decision NAB had to make regarding the Las Vegas show, but we’re optimistic that the New York show will be a fantastic experience for vendors and attendees alike.”
The full text of Gordon Smith’s letter is below:
Dear NAB Show Community,
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a truly unprecedented situation around the world. Our thoughts are with those who have been directly affected by the virus, and all of those who are struggling with the ramifications of this global health crisis.
At the National Association of Broadcasters, 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. That’s why we made the decision, after extensive conversations with our industry partners, not to move forward with NAB Show as previously scheduled. In the week since our announcement, the landscape has continued to shift dramatically with major sports leagues, school districts, and other businesses around the country suspending operations. The governor of Nevada has also made the decision to limit the size and scope of public gatherings. Many members of our show community have begun to work from home, as all of us do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19.
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. Given the uncertain road ahead as it relates to the spread of COVID-19, we have decided not to reschedule the 2020 NAB Show this year. Instead, we will proceed with a two-pronged approach to deliver as much value as possible under these circumstances.
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. 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. NAB Show New York represents the best opportunity for companies to announce and showcase their latest innovations and comes at a perfect time for the industry to gather face-to-face to restart, refocus, and reengage as we move forward together.
We will have more to say about these efforts in the coming weeks. This is a unique and challenging situation, but we are committed to working hard to deliver as much value as possible.
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. We’ll be doing more in the weeks to come to harness the power of our industry as a force for good in these difficult times.
As we move forward, we will keep an open line of communication with our show community, and look forward to engaging with you throughout the year. We’ve already begun planning for our 2021 NAB Show in Las Vegas, which will take place April 11-14th, and look forward to seeing you then, as well as this fall.
We look forward to connecting with you, and hope that you and your loved ones remain safe in the months to come.
Best,
Gordon H. Smith
President and CEO
About NAB Show
NAB Show, to be held April 10-14, 2021, in Las Vegas is the world’s largest convention encompassing media, entertainment and technology. With more than 90,000 attendees from 160 countries and 1,600+ exhibitors, NAB Show is the ultimate marketplace for solutions that transcend traditional broadcasting and fuel the digital storytelling economy. From creation to consumption, across multiple platforms, NAB Show is where global visionaries convene to bring content to life in new and exciting ways. For complete details, visit www.nabshow.com.
About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America’s broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.