- The coronavirus pandemic is upending the advertising business, along with other swaths of the economy.
- Here is a breakdown of how the pandemic is impacting advertising, from layoffs and furloughs to events cancellations to softening sales for startups.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
The advertising business has been upended by the coronavirus, along with other sectors of the global economy. Advertisers have hit the breaks in spending as sales plummet, audiences for live sports have fallen, and layoffs rip through media and advertising agencies.
Read more here: Layoffs and furloughs hit holding companies WPP, Omnicom, and MDC Partners as advertisers slash spending
Amazon experts and sellers say that brands that sell essential goods are advertising more on the e-commerce platform while brands that sell discretionary items like clothing are struggling for sales.
Get the details here: 'It's a total bloodbath:' 5 Amazon sellers and experts share stories of turbulent sales amid the coronavirus outbreak
The number of major cancelled sporting events continues to grow, causing a headache for TV networks who are betting big on live sports for ad revenue and advertisers who have to find those audiences elsewhere. According to ad-buying agency Magna Global, the networks that were planned to air live sports can expect to take a drastic viewership hit.
JPMorgan Chase analysts said the largest and most heavily leveraged companies, like WPP and Publicis, and those most exposed in Asia, like Dentsu, are most at risk from advertisers cutting spending, while IPG could fare better because of its data and healthcare business.
See the breakdown on how holding companies could be impacted: Analysts lay out the effects of the pandemic on the ad holding companies, with advertisers slashing TV and digital spending
Live events have been particularly devastated by the coronavirus as in-person gatherings have been cancelled to prevent the spread of the pandemic, forcing related businesses to pivot.
Read how one is working through the crisis: How an events agency that has worked with Hilton and Barack Obama is safeguarding its business as the coronavirus wreaks havoc on live events
Advertising hasn't completely stopped, but marketers are scrambling to make sure all their messaging is right for the moment, even pulling entire campaigns in some cases. Media buyers are trying to keep up with all the disruptions, and agencies are figuring out how to win new business through remote pitching.
See what advice agencies are getting: Top consultants issue coronavirus guidelines for ad agencies as they pivot to remote pitches
The pandemic has stirred up debate about advertisers' practice of avoiding hard news, which is making it hard for news publishers to monetize big readership gains. Meanwhile, investors offer advice for media companies on how to make it through the downturn.
Go deeper here: Media companies have never had more readership, but a group of adtech companies are making it tough to monetize
And here: Ad agencies are calling on advertisers to get comfortable with coronavirus news
Some buzzy Silicon Valley startups that were modeled on explosive growth are seen as particularly vulnerable as people hunker down and stop spending. Some from men's health startup Ro to new parent-aimed Frida are finding ways to try to stay foremost on consumers' minds.
We've also been looking ahead to the coronavirus's lasting impact on these industries. It will not only deal a severe financial blow to the ad industry in the near term but materially transform advertising in the long run, and strengthen the tech giants, said industry insiders.
See more on the virus' long-term impact here: 'It will fundamentally reshape the advertising industry': Ad insiders from Burger King, Freshly, McCann, and Vita Coco say the coronavirus will radically change the business
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