Netflix and Apple the latest to pull out of SXSW over coronavirus concerns

Netflix is the latest big name to withdraw from this month's South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, amid concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus, the streaming giant confirmed to Axios Wednesday night.

Details: Apple told Axios earlier in the evening that it was withdrawing from the event.

• SXSW organizers insist the event will go ahead despite a petition signed by more than 45,000 people by Wednesday night and the withdrawal of Apple, Netflix and other big names from the festival — including Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and Amazon.

The big picture: Other major conferences have been canceled in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

• IBM canceled Think, its biggest conference that drew 30,000 people to San Francisco last year. It also suspended most employee domestic travel and participation in large conferences.
• Microsoft is encouraging all employees in the Seattle area in Washington — which has emerged as a major outbreak location in the U.S. — to work from home.
• TED said it would either delay its conference to July or move to an online format, as first reported by Axios.

Go deeper: Coronavirus drives more tech industry events to be postponed or canceled