OTTAWA – Canadian broadcast technology and software maker Ross Video announced today it will not attend or exhibit at the annual IBC Conference & Exhibition, scheduled for Amsterdam from September 11-14th 2020.
So far, IBC organizers have not said anything publicly about cancelling the show, but the Ross cancellation, a significant one, follows one from Panasonic, which has said it won’t attend.
“While everyone at Ross understands that the public health situation will likely be more positive by September, it is clear to us that social distancing rules are likely to remain in force for the remainder of the year, and many countries will still be tightly regulating international travel and large gatherings and events,” reads the Ross release. “Given these facts, and the possibility of visitors to Amsterdam contributing to a second wave of infection, we cannot commit to the IBC exhibition in good conscience.”
CEO David Ross added organizers should just cancel the show, as many are doing and have done this year. “Everyone wants the world to return to normal as soon as possible,” he said in the release, “but not at any cost.
“The media industry has played an important role in spreading and reinforcing the message that social distancing saves lives. It’s therefore incongruous for the same media industry to try and hold one of the world’s first very large international gatherings,” the CEO continued.
“We value the IBC exhibition and it’s an important part of our annual calendar, but our approach to the Covid-19 virus has consistently prioritized health and welfare. Our decision today is based on that same principle, and I would call on the organizers of IBC to follow suit, remove any uncertainty, and cancel the event for 2020.”
