IBC cancels 2020 show due to COVID-19

18/05/2020

IBC cancels 2020 show due to COVID-19 posted: 18/05/2020

There will be no IBC in 2020. The organisation has announced that, regretfully, the Covid-19 crisis has led it to the conclusion there is no viably safe way to hold the event.

Michael Crimp, CEO, said: It is with a heavy heart IBC has made the difficult decision to cancel the IBC2020 show. You may have seen IBC and the IABM surveys on this topic. Evidence gathered from these IBC stakeholders helps to confirm this decision. Whilst this is hugely disappointing for us all, IBC will continue to play a vital role in supporting the industry to get back on track wherever we are able. For more than 50 years, IBC has provided the central annual meeting place for the Media, Entertainment & Technology community. For example, over the coming months IBC will continue to engage with the industry through its digital platform IBC365. Details of our plans will follow soon. For those exhibitors who are eligible for the credit voucher or cash refund scheme, separate details about the next steps will be sent to you very shortly, he added

This is the statement in full:

I hope you are safe and well, as we continue to adapt to the changing world in which we find ourselves. Following on from my previous statement I wanted to give you an update on the developments and situation at IBC.

As previously outlined, the IBC team has been focused on assessing and developing appropriate plans for IBC2020 this September at the RAI Amsterdam.

Within these plans, it is crucial that IBC can deliver a safe and successful environment. However, as governments announce the route forward, it has become clear that a return to (a new) normal is unlikely to be achieved by September.

Right now, despite the best work of the IBC team and our Dutch colleagues, there are still many unknowns. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to deliver a safe and valuable event to the quality expected of IBC.

It is also evident that important aspects of a large-scale event such as IBC will be greatly altered by social distancing, travel restrictions, masks etc. so much so that the spirit of IBC will be compromised.

Right now, despite the best work of the IBC team and our Dutch colleagues, there are still many unknowns. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to deliver a safe and valuable event to the quality expected of IBC.

With that in mind and based on what we know at this point, it is with a heavy heart IBC has made the difficult decision to cancel the IBC2020 show. You may have seen IBC and the IABM surveys on this topic. Evidence gathered from these IBC stakeholders helps to confirm this decision.

Whilst this is hugely disappointing for us all, IBC will continue to play a vital role in supporting the industry to get back on track wherever we are able.

For more than 50 years, IBC has provided the central annual meeting place for the Media, Entertainment & Technology community. For example, over the coming months IBC will continue to engage with the industry through its digital platform IBC365. Details of our plans will follow soon.

My very best wishes to all of you during this time of unprecedented challenges and I look forward to welcoming you next year at IBC2021, in Amsterdam.

Ross Video and Panasonic had already announced that they wouldn't be exhibiting at the show this year.

IBC 2020 was due to take place at the RAI in Amsterdam 11-14 September

If you have suggestions, questions or concerns regarding IBC's decision and announcement, a dedicated email address has been set-up by the organisers: statusupdates@ibc.org

LINK:	https://www.live-production.tv/news/products/ibc-cancels-2020-show-due...
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