Apple Pulls Out from SXSW amid COVID-19 | Finance Brokerage
Apple Inc. and Netflix have pulled out of the South by Southwest music amid the coronavirus outbreak. Following Amazon’s exit from the Austin-based festival, the two companies along with other notable attendees are skipping the event.
Line Up Cancelled
Apple’s lineup included exits for the premieres of Apple originals like Spike Jonze’s documentary Beastie Boys Story. Screenings of Central Park, the new animated series from Bob’s Burgers’ Loren Bouchard; Home, a new docuseries, and Boys State. The series Little America also ended.
Netflix had canceled the screening of its documentaries, A Secret Love, L.A. Originals, and Mucho Mucho Amor. The same occurred for Netflix feature Uncorked and another documentary Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelic.
Amazon’s sci-fi show Upload, Tales from the Loop, and Amazon Video’s marketing activation with Entertainment Weekly were canceled.
Facebook and Twitter had earlier pulled out of the fest which runs from March 13 to 22. Moreover, Buzzfeed’s “Dreamz, Queenz, & Everything in Between” party at Mohawk and Latinx House Austin activities were canceled.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey canceled his appearance at the event in an interview with Axios’ Dan Primack on Sunday. Given the coronavirus crisis, Twitter is implementing a mandatory global business travel restriction for its employees effective immediately. This, unfortunately, includes the South by Southwest film, TV, music and technology festival.
Facebook had about a dozen speakers at the multi-media festival and one activation. The largest social media of modern technology has axed its F8 2020 conference which draws up to 5K attendees.
Festival Pushes Through Despite Pull-outs
Apple’s pull-out along with other attendees would not alter previous plans of SXSW. Festival organizers have declared that the event would go on later this month despite concerns of the coronavirus. Moreover, they said they are working closely with local, state and federal agencies to plan for a safe event.
The US death toll from coronavirus infections prompted California Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a statewide emergency. In the wake of the death toll rising to 11 on Wednesday, it has become the nation’s largest outbreak.
In other technology news, the outbreak has also disrupted Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and Google’s annual developer event, Google. IBM has issued new travel restrictions through the end of March. Its developer conference “IBM Think 2020” would be an online event to take place from May 5 to 7.
