Avid President and CEO Louis Hernandez, Jr.
The Avid Customer Association’s inaugural Avid Connect event took place April 4-6, 2014 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Avid reports that the event drew broadcast, pro video, and pro audio leaders, technology and creative professionals from 43 countries.
Avid announced its Avid Customer Association (ACA) in September 2013 as a comprehensive initiative designed to provide essential strategic leadership to the media industry, collaborate with key industry leaders and visionaries, and deepen relationships between Avid and its customers. The multifaceted program engages the company’s network of broadcast, creative and media customers to address the most important issues facing the media industry today.
“The level of participation and engagement at Avid Connect has exceeded all of our original expectations,” says Avid President and CEO Louis Hernandez, Jr. “With over 1,000 thought leaders, industry luminaries and influencers, and creative professionals here for the first gathering of the Avid Customer Association, we are proud to have assembled such a significant representation of our community collaborating together to start addressing their key strategic challenges as a group, and set a path forward for the entire industry.”
On Saturday, April 5, Avid revealed the next phases of Avid Everywhere, the company’s vision for the future of the media industry, and presented a technology vision demonstration. Educational breakout sessions further elaborated on Avid Everywhere for the broadcast, video and audio communities. On Sunday, April 6, George Bodenheimer, Executive Chairman of ESPN, and former Co-Chairman of Disney Media Networks, delivered the keynote address following an industry panel discussion.
“It’s fantastic to see this level of leadership and support coming from Avid, and I’m thrilled to be part of this effort,” says David Alfonso, owner and chairman of Todd-Soundelux and ACA Executive Board member. “The entire audio industry is grappling with significant strategic challenges, not least of which is the need to increase monetization across the board. In creating this customer association, Avid is showing its commitment to help us come together to start working to solve these critical issues.”
“Broadcasters face many technical challenges these days and it’s important that we play an active role in helping shape and direct the future of the industry,” says Frank Governale, Vice President of Technology and Operations at CBS News. “The Avid ACA is a good avenue for the industry to help steer change. I am pleased with Avid’s commitment and investment in the ACA and look forward to a successful platform for the industry to be heard, and stay ahead of the curve.”
Avid states that following Avid Connect, the ACA advisory councils will continue holding regular meetings to provide essential strategic leadership for specific industry issues including corporate strategy, products and solutions, industry standards and practices, customer success, customer communities and more.
The list of Avid Connect and ACA sponsors includes channel partners and technology providers such as Aspera, Nugen Audio, G-Technology, AVI, BlueFish444, Front Porch Digital, HB Communications, Key Code Media, MelroseMAC, Oracle, root6, SGL, Tekserve, and Telestream.
Finally, Avid announced the dates for its 2015 Avid Connect event: April 10-12, 2015.
For more information about the ACA, visit www.avidcustomerassociation.com.
