COVID-19 destabilizing trade shows around the world

ConnecTechAsia 2020, the leading broadcasting technology convention of Asia, has been rescheduled to 29 September – 1 October due to the COVID-19 virus. The location of the event will be moved from the icon of Singapore, Marina Bay Sands, to Singapore EXPO & MAX Atria.

Coronavirus has not spared the media industry, and it has been observed by IABM that global trade shows are being postponed to the beginning of the last quarter of 2020.

IABM, the international trade association for suppliers of broadcast and media technology, is blunting the COVID-19 crisis by creating an industry forum, IABM TV as well as a series of webinars to allow broadcasters to e-access to the developments in the industry.

To-date, according to IABM, seven out of twenty-one trade shows in APAC have been rescheduled till the second half of the year.

Last week, Nikon sent waves of shocks to the industry as the first major exhibitor that pulled out of 2020 NAB Show, and this was followed by AJA Video Systems.

AJA Video Systems, in withdrawing from the upcoming NAB and switch to web-based conferences, said: “It is with a heavy heart that AJA is withdrawing from the NAB 2020 show in Las Vegas due to the risks from the Coronavirus.

“We have made this decision out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our employees and partners worldwide.”

In response, NAB 2020 has released a statement on 8 Mar 2020 to reassure that the show will proceed and precautionary measures will be implemented to ensure the safety of all attendees. Some of the precautionary measures include:

• Increasing cleaning protocols to include more frequent wiping and disinfecting of touchpoints in its facility during occupied show hours, such as door handles, elevator buttons, handrails, restroom stall doors and sinks.
• Adding hand sanitizer stations in strategically placed areas throughout the facility.
• Increasing the outside air intake/air change rates during occupied show hours.
• Reinforcing its standard employee health practices, including sending employees home and or encouraging employees to stay home if they are sick or demonstrated health symptoms that could impact colleagues or guests.
• Reinforcing its standard food safety awareness programs including frequent hand-washing and making alcohol-based hand gel-rub available at every food station and every table at food outlets.
• Participating in ongoing webinars and conference calls with the International Association of Venue Managers to stay abreast of new practices, protocols and guidance.