CCI Cotton Council International Cotton Day
Virtual Event - 2020 | Istanbul & USA
Brief
The annual cotton exhibition, organized by Cotton Council International, was decided to be held virtually in 2020 for the first time due to the ongoing pandemic. Attendees would be joining from all over the world and Turkish Cotton Association would participate in the proceedings with the assistance of MEP Live team. MEP Team was asked to manage the digital flow of the day, all technical aspects as well as media relations.
Challenge
Seamsless transfer of audio visuals, which first went through our reji systems, then to the reji desk in US. After adding of graphics and subtitles, the reji desk then would stream the input live on Vimeo.
Once we received the input from the reji desk in US, we offered it to our audience on Zoom with choices of language (via simultaneous translators).
Solution
With utmost regard to the safety precautions regarding the pandemic, each international participant was welcomed individually. All partners were carefully procured and they were made sure to have qualified fort he Safe Tourism Certification by the Turkish Government. The meeting room was separated in pieces so avoid overcrowding, 1 room was dedicated as waiting space, 1 room for live broadcasting and the other for the simultaneous translators.
MEP Live team set up its systems 2 days prior to the event and the fluctuations in the internet broadband quality followed by necessary upgrades. 3 different internet infrastructures were set up for different requirements. 1 was used solely for the live broadcast, other for the translators and the 3rd as back-up.
Because the content from Turkey was broadcasted live to countries all over the world in different time zones, we had to be adamant timekeepers. One staff was dedicated exclusively as stage manager to make sure the flow ran smoothly and on time.
Result
250 attendees from Turkey and over 2000 attendees globally – all cotton buyers – watched and then participated in the marketplace expo that was operated following the broadcast. We smoothness of the expo led to many business transactions being made and the live broadcast was ended with a special thank you to “MEP Family”.
