Digital Signage Expo and the NAB Show are the latest AV industry shows to postpone spring conferences as coronavirus declared a pandemic
The coronavirus (COVID-19) is clearly having a profound impact on every aspect of daily life globally. Declared a pandemic yesterday by WHO, the spread of the respiratory virus has turned from a concern into a worldwide medical emergency as cases in the U.S. seem to double daily. In the face of such a far-reaching illness, and with world governments closing borders and banning travel, it was inevitable that the large yearly gatherings we in the AV industry hold dear would also be affected. Looking back to just last month with what we know now, it is a miracle that ISE 2020 even happened.
Here are all of the industry shows and conferences that have been cancelled or postponed to date. AVNation will update this as news develops around travel and government mandates around COVID-19.
Digital Signage Expo 2020 was officially postponed with CEO Angelo Varrone sharing that “the escalation of travel bans and coronavirus cases dictated this action.” The show will potentially be staged this summer or fall.
Gordon Smith, NAB’s CEO and president, issued a letter outlining that organization’s path to the 2020 show’s postponement, revealing that the difficult decision was reached in concert with the NAB community. New show dates are currently under consideration.
CEDIA’s Vancouver Tech Summit, planned for March 12, has also been canceled with a rescheduled event expected to take place later this year. The organization has also cancelled Tech Summits in California and Texas slated for later this month and in April.
Almo Professional A/V’s E4 Experience Santa Clara, scheduled for March 13, has been been cancelled. The company has also canceled E4 Experience D.C., which was scheduled for April 3.
ISC West (March 17 – 20) has been postponed to July by show organizers, Reed Exhibitions, who says the staging of ISC East in New York is still on track for November 2020.
CinemaCon 2020 (March 20 – April 2) organizers, citing the U.S. ban on travel from the E.U. and COVID-19, have cancelled the yearly gathering of theater owners.
Crestron Masters has been postponed until fall 2020, the company said in an official statement.
[…] major AV industry events are cancelled or postponed, where do we go from here? Schaeffer outlines just how serious these event cancellations are, […]