PARAMUS, N.J.—Worries about the ongoing spread of COVID-19 cases have prompted Sony Electronics to announce that it has withdrawn from in-person participation at trade shows in October, including the NAB Show and InfoComm.
Sony will, however, be hosting a press conference at the NAB Show in conjunction with the NAB prior to the show’s opening on Sunday, October 10 at 9am PT/12pm ET.
On Sept. 7, the following statement was released by Theresa Alesso, Pro Division president at Sony Electronics.
“Sony Electronics has been closely monitoring the evolving situation of the COVID-19 Delta variant. With October on the horizon, we’ve considered the unprecedented circumstances and made the difficult decision that we will not be participating in person at next month’s NAB Show or InfoComm. While these events are an important forum to reach our customers and introduce new products, this is a choice we made to ensure we’re putting our employees’ and our partners’ health and well-being first. As the world continues to grapple with the pandemic and businesses adopt digital alternatives and online opportunities to prevent the spread of the virus, Sony Electronics will continue to communicate and engage with our customers and partners in interactive, accessible ways that allow us to safely deliver exciting product news and updates to a wide online audience. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and look forward to participating at industry events in-person at some point in the future,” said Theresa Alesso, Pro Division President at Sony Electronics.
“Additionally, we’re excited to announce that Sony will be hosting a press conference at NAB Show, in conjunction with the NAB, prior to the show’s opening. Please join our online event on Sunday, Oct. 10, at 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET at NABShow.com/Live and pro.sony, where we’ll unveil and showcase Sony’s latest professional innovations” Alesso concluded.
NAB responds:
“Sony is a valued partner, and we respect this difficult decision. We look forward to continuing to work with them to reach the NAB Show audience both in person and virtually,” said Ann Marie Cumming, senior vice president of communications at NAB. “Recognizing that NAB Show is an economic engine for our industry, we are committed to delivering a productive in-person experience and have taken important steps to prioritize the safety of our community, including requiring proof of vaccination. We are excited to host more than 600 exhibiting companies, ready to meet with buyers and get back to business in Las Vegas.”
In a video address on Sept. 7, NAB president and CEO Gordon Smith was upbeat about the upcoming show. Following are excerpts from Smith’s address. “We have learned that there is simply no substitute for being together in-person. We have heard from countless members of our NAB Show community that you are ready to return, re-engage and reconnect. It is important not only for our industry, but for our country, that we move forward and continue to energize our economy.
This year’s NAB Show attendees will be those at the center of the industry—the decision-makers focused on doing business, making deals and investing in new technologies to propel the industry forward. We can’t wait to see you. And co-locating our signature industry events, such as the Radio Show and the Sales and Management Television Exchange, allows attendees to personalize the event to their needs, delivering even more value.
