It’s no surprise that the sour economy apparently has taken its toll on Las Vegas, but now it looks like the Consumer Electronics Show has crapped out too. Last week’s tech gadget extravaganza in Sin City drew an estimated 110,000 attendees, down 22 percent from last year’s audited total of 141,150, according to the Consumer Electronics Association, which puts on the annual event. But a hundred grand, give or take a few thousand, may be the right number for this trade show. According to a CEA news release, organizers of the event may limit future attendance to 2009 levels. “Our board concluded that it is essential to have the right people attend CES. Board members reported getting more business done this year than at any prior show,” said CEA president and CEO Gary Shapiro in the release. One step to limit CES attendance this year included a new $100 pre-registration fee implemented on November 1, the release states.
The lower body count won’t come as a surprise to CES regulars, some of whom commented on the mellower, more pleasant experience, which included smaller crowds, and shorter cab and monorail lines. And despite the disappointing turnout, the show proved to be more exciting that this year’s Macworld, others reported. CES brought the unveiling of cool new gear like the Palm Pre smart phone, Internet-connected HDTVs, and in-car satellite TV service. And Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer used the show to drum up interest in the new Windows 7 beta. It’s unclear whether CES organizers are simply trying to put a happy face on a disappointing turnout, or whether a smaller, more manageable show is really their ultimate goal. We may have to wait a year to find out.
Source: PC World
Comments(7)
Hmm, their spin does bear a distinct scent of sour grapes, but meh. There's also at least 2 grammatical mistakes in there, PC World should get some proper reporters :/.
I would think that exposing more people to CES exhibitors would be better. Isn't the whole idea of the event to expose people to the new technologies. I am a retailer. I would love to be able to attend and find new products for my store. People like me tend to be left out of these events due to other industries getting priority.
The coverage of CES was limited to the few products I could see on the news, and a couple of specials on TV. As a retailer, I like to actually touch the products I sell. There's just something about actually touching a product that tells us if it will work in our stores. Every retailer has a different idea of what works for them.
I really hope they don't limit access to the event. Perhaps they could do what convention center is smaller cities do. They use buses. Load up a bus with people from a hotel, and take them to the event. Have them make the rounds to the hotels that have the most people going….usually, that is just a few big places. The rest can use the standard transportation methods.
BTW… getting a cab in Vegas has ALWAYS been hard.
yep, i can see how the attendance dropped, look at that post, just 2 comments by now.
More lead up to Bush's New World Order's take over, a world-wide depression, famines and the 3rd World War.
Thank you Americans.
its still a good show, sum really interesting ideas.
Sample with night vision nav, internet car radio, and ATT's satellite TV service for car
http://rapidshare.com/files/182579413/cs09_cars2_pod.mp4
I definately noticed the attendance level wasn't there like previous years! I also got the feeling they cut back on stuff and some of the smaller Consumer electronics exhibitors had even smaller booths this year. There were none of the perks and entertainment like previous years either. And no Traditional keynote speech from Mr. Gates this year!
Hope next year is better and of course the economy too!
I went to CES two years ago. I would never bother going back, the show was awful and I doubt the economy has anything to do with sub-par attendance reports.
It's filled with coorperate buisiness suits who go around hobshnobbing each other for contacts and whatnot. Half or better of the devices seen at the show you could already purchase at your local Best Buy and find better information about on the net. The floor/booth attendants have next to no idea what they are talking about as far as the products they represent and it only gets worse when they have more stuff to show off.
You don't get to see anything new much at all. The best parts are the big companies keynote speeches and they aren't that great, just a lot of self back patting and flashy shiny video clips. So yeah, go check out a few big TV's that cost as much as a new car, some new cellphones that your not even allowed to touch, and yeah, basically just navigate your way through a crowd of adjudicated business men if your into self-torture.