Reuters
Disney CEO Bob Chapek
TV and film productions are being put on hold, major sporting events are being canceled or postponed, and theme parks are closing their gates as businesses and governments try to slow the spread of the coronavirus globally.
The media industry, along with the rest of the economy, is being strained by the pandemic.
The companies most exposed to the threat are those that generate significant shares of their revenue from theme parks, the box office, or advertising - all of which could be threatened by the coronavirus outbreak or a broader economic downturn.
Wall Street firm UBS forecasted earlier this week that Disney was the media company most threatened by the spread of coronavirus, followed by Discovery, Fox, ViacomCBS, and AMC Networks.
New Disney CEO Bob Chapek is already being tested as a leader. The company is being forced to temporarily shutter its parks globally and push theatrical releases and productions. UBS estimated Disney could lose more than $2 billion in revenue if its parks close for 30 days.
The company's cable networks, including ESPN, could also be hurt by the canceled sporting events, though analysts say it's too soon to estimate how much.
Netflix, meanwhile, is expected to benefit from the social distancing that's being encouraged by governments around the world. More time at home could mean more opportunities to stream Netflix.
But there could be downsides for Netflix's business as well.
The streaming company is counting on a boost in subscribers and revenue from international markets this year, including regions like Europe and Asia that are among the worst hit by the pandemic, analysts at Needham said. People in those areas may be less incentivized to subscribe to Netflix if they're worried about their next paychecks.