Canadian exhibitors are prepping for NAB Show in Las Vegas, April 5-9, albeit with the expectation they’ll potentially see fewer Canadian attendees on the show floor, amidst the current political climate and ongoing U.S.-Canada trade war.

Saskatoon-based broadcast supplier Pippin Technical Service, is among the Canadian companies headed to Las Vegas. Sales & Marketing Specialist Grant Biebrick said deciding to attend this year’s show was definitely a “back and forth,” for both management, as well as the crew attending.

“The numbers from our pre-show callouts are definitely tracking lower than a standard year as far as Canadian attendance goes,” Biebrick told Broadcast Dialogue. “Our goal is always to add value to the on-the-ground experience for the end users we deal with, getting them in front of the right people and helping them see what they need to at the show to make the most out of their trip. The other focus is to keep our team abreast on what is new and emerging in the technology space, as we are always asked about that from folks who weren’t able to make the trip.”

Biebrick said with ongoing uncertainty around the U.S. tariff situation, looking at prospective vendor partnerships from around the globe will definitely play a larger role at this year’s show.

“With fewer Canadian boots on the ground, we will likely have some more available time to hit the floor ourselves and explore. I think a fair amount of time spent at the show this year will be looking at and vetting vendors from around the globe,” said Biebrick. “They may or may not be the right fit for a specific project, but with current trade uncertainties, it’s definitely good to have qualified options available if procurement directives for projects become more specific about where equipment should or should not be sourced.”

Burnaby-based news software provider, Burli, is also headed to NAB Show. President ChiChi Liu said while they did give more thought to attending this year, NAB Show remains “an essential event” to connect with customers.

Liu said while they’re continuing to monitor the trade situation, thus far, software vendors haven’t been impacted.

“North America is a key market for us, but Burli has had an international footprint from our earliest days,” explained Liu. “That helps buffer us from against turmoil in any one region. We’ve been exhibiting at the IBC in Amsterdam, for example, for many years and will be there again this year. We still have strong presence with broadcasters and media organizations in the UK, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region.”

Liu said Burli’s focus at this year’s show is to encourage customers to embrace new AI tools and reduce their reliance on on-premises IT, in addition to showcasing flagship products like Burli NewsHub. Networking with global partners is also on her agenda.

“We’re looking forward to connecting with industry professionals, including our resellers – Eumedianet from Europe, and AVC Group, which serves Burli in Australia and New Zealand, as well as exploring new opportunities,” said Liu.

Dean Cooper, a corporate video producer who owns his own production company, Afterimage Media, is among the Canadians who’ve opted not to attend this year’s show.

Cooper, who was set to travel with a Winnipeg contingent of six freelance producers and videographers, said the entire group cancelled their trips in February, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs.

“We’re not heavy hitters by any means, but I’ve been to 15 NAB Shows over the years and this is the first time I’ve cancelled my trip,” said Cooper. “I just had a feeling that I did not want to travel to the U.S. I didn’t want to support anything U.S.-related and frankly, a little bit of me feared for my safety – in terms of the border stuff and how Canadians would be looked at.”

“It’s such a weird feeling to think we have to be worried about our safety, but that wasn’t the main reason, the main reason is I don’t want to support the U.S. right now,” Cooper continued. “This was just something on principle and being a good Canadian at the end of the day.”

NAB Show declined to comment on whether there are any indications attendance or exhibitor numbers for this year’s show will be impacted by the current political climate.