Avid pulls out of NAB in response to coronavirus outbreak

Avid has become the latest company to pull out of NAB 2020 in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The company announced its decision on Tuesday 10 March, revealing that it will cancel participation in all trade conferences and other large face-to-face events globally for at least the next 60 days, a period of time that includes NAB Show 2020.

Additionally, the Avid Connect 2020 conference in Las Vegas that was planned for mid-April is cancelled, a decision the company made in close consultation with the Avid Customer Association’s (ACA) executive board.

In April, the community will be invited to participate in an online broadcast to introduce all of Avid’s new products that had been slated for introduction at Connect 2020 and NAB Show 2020 in Las Vegas. Later in the year, when public safety can be assured, Avid and the ACA plan to host regional Connect events in several locations worldwide for the convenience of the community. Details will be announced soon.

“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, organisation and corporation around the globe,” said Jeff Rosica, CEO and president at Avid. “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.”

The organisers released a statement on 28 February confirming that the event would still be going ahead.