The event organisers said they "cannot guarantee that we will be able to deliver a safe and valuable event to the quality expected of IBC".
IBC2020 has been cancelled due to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, IBC CEO Michael Crimp announced.
In an official statement, Crimp said: “As previously outlined, the IBC team has been focussed 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.”
Crimp said that the organisers could not guarantee that they will be able to deliver a safe and valuable event to the quality expected of IBC and that an early decision is preferential for the industry to plan for the future.
“It has also become evident, through our dialogue with the IBC community, that an early decision is preferential for the industry so it can plan for the future.
Right now, despite the best work of the IBC team and our Dutch colleagues, there are still many unknowns. 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.
“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,” Crimp said.
However, IBC said that it will continue to play a vital role in supporting the industry to get back on track wherever they are able. For more than 50 years, IBC has been the central annual meeting place for the media, entertainment and technology community.
Crimp also announced that over the coming months, IBC will continue to engage with the industry through its digital platform IBC365.
