This is how COVID-19 is affecting the advertising industry

Jun 8, 2020

Shoppers are seen walking past the electronic billboard at Piccadilly Circus, showing retail adverts incuding one for 'Black Friday' in London, Britain, November 23, 2017. REUTERS/Toby Melville - RC14BDFDA300

The coronavirus pandemic has led to an immediate drop in advertising spending. Image: REUTERS/Toby Melville

Cathy Li

Head, AI, Data and Metaverse; Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum Geneva

Stefan Brambilla Hall

Project Lead, Media, Entertainment and Sport, World Economic Forum Geneva

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adverts advertising spendings spend marketing Coronavirus china virus health healthcare who world health organization disease deaths pandemic epidemic worries concerns Health virus contagious contagion viruses diseases disease lab laboratory doctor health dr nurse medical medicine drugs vaccines vaccinations inoculations technology testing test medicinal biotechnology biotech biology chemistry physics microscope research influenza flu cold common cold bug risk symptomes respiratory china iran italy europe asia america south america north washing hands wash hands coughs sneezes spread spreading precaution precautions health warning covid 19 cov SARS 2019ncov wuhan sarscow wuhanpneumonia pneumonia outbreak patients unhealthy fatality mortality elderly old elder age serious death deathly deadly

Advertising spend is falling in key markets across most channels. Image: eMarketer, Accenture

marketing marketer advertising adverts Coronavirus china virus health healthcare who world health organization disease deaths pandemic epidemic worries concerns Health virus contagious contagion viruses diseases disease lab laboratory doctor health dr nurse medical medicine drugs vaccines vaccinations inoculations technology testing test medicinal biotechnology biotech biology chemistry physics microscope research influenza flu cold common cold bug risk symptomes respiratory china iran italy europe asia america south america north washing hands wash hands coughs sneezes spread spreading precaution precautions health warning covid 19 cov SARS 2019ncov wuhan sarscow wuhanpneumonia pneumonia outbreak patients unhealthy fatality mortality elderly old elder age serious death deathly deadly

Image: E-Marketer

Coronavirus china virus health healthcare who world health organization disease deaths pandemic epidemic worries concerns Health virus contagious contagion viruses diseases disease lab laboratory doctor health dr nurse medical medicine drugs vaccines vaccinations inoculations technology testing test medicinal biotechnology biotech biology chemistry physics microscope research influenza flu cold common cold bug risk symptomes respiratory china iran italy europe asia america south america north washing hands wash hands coughs sneezes spread spreading precaution precautions health warning covid 19 cov SARS 2019ncov wuhan sarscow wuhanpneumonia pneumonia outbreak patients unhealthy fatality mortality elderly old elder age serious death deathly deadly

Brand categories to be most impacted by covid-19. Image: IAB

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