Table of Contents
Overview
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- What you need to know
- Key issues covered in this Report
- COVID-19: Market context
- Economic and other assumptions
- Products covered in this Report
- Related Reports
Executive Summary
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- The consumer
- Purchasing of physical media drops following COVID-19 outbreak
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- Figure 1: Physical media purchases, December 2017–2-14 July 2020
- With cinemas closed the number of people renting TV/films grew
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- Figure 2: Media downloads, December 2017–2-14 July 2020
- Viewing on free video streaming services grows but not Freeview TV
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- Figure 3: Media activities, December 2017–2-14 July 2020
- Number of people using video streaming subscription services rises significantly
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- Figure 4: Use of paid-for media subscriptions, December 2017–2-14 July 2020
- COVID-19 outbreak alters listening habits
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- Figure 5: Devices used for media activities, 2-14 July 2020
- YouTube expands advertising options on TV
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- Figure 6: Devices used for viewing, 2-14 July 2020
- More than half of people socialised via video call in the three months to July
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- Figure 7: Video calling and live streaming, 2-14 July 2020
- Many have increased their use of social media, but a few are reducing their time
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- Figure 8: Impact of COVID-19 on time spent doing media activities, 2-14 July 2020
- Over half of young men have increased spend on video games following outbreak
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- Figure 9: Impact of COVID-19 on amount spent on media content, 2-14 July 2020
- Media expenditure looks set to be resilient over the next 12 months
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- Figure 10: Planned media expenditure, 2-14 July 2020
Physical Media Purchases
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- Purchasing of physical media drops following COVID-19 outbreak
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- Figure 11: Physical media purchases, December 2017–2-14 July 2020
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- Figure 12: Repertoire of physical media purchases in the last three months, June 2019, January 2020 and 2-14 July 2020
- Pandemic presents roadblock to HMV’s experience strategy
- People have continued to buy print books
- Bookstores could explore offering virtual staff interaction
- Fewer people buy print newspapers and magazines
- Children’s magazines are a bright spot
Media Downloads
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- With cinemas closed the number of people renting TV/films grew
- Film release structures to remain varied
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- Figure 13: Media downloads, December 2017–2-14 July 2020
- E-books sales up as pandemic presents new opportunity for digital books
Media Activities
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- Viewing on free video streaming services grows but not Freeview TV
- Broadcasters and streaming services struggle with a decline in advertising revenue
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- Figure 14: Media activities, December 2017–2-14 July 2020
- Free print newspapers and magazines hit hard by pandemic
- More people are reading newspaper websites/apps
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- Figure 15: Read a free newspaper website/app (not part of a subscription) in the last three months, by age, January 2020 and 2-14 July 2020
- More people are listening to free podcasts
Media Subscriptions
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- Number of people using video streaming subscription services rises significantly
- Netflix grows further while Disney+ launched at just the right moment
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- Figure 16: Use of paid-for media subscriptions, December 2017–2-14 July 2020
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- Figure 17: Use of paid-for video streaming subscriptions, by age, June 2019, January 2020 and 2-14 July 2020
- Pay-TV subscriptions do not see a boost from pandemic
- Return of live sport was crucial for pay-TV broadcasters
- More people using music streaming subscription services
- Use of online newspaper and magazine subscriptions remains stable
Devices used for Media Activities
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- COVID-19 outbreak alters listening habits
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- Figure 18: Devices used for media activities, 2-14 July 2020
- Facebook Gaming looks to differentiate itself by making mobile its focus
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- Figure 19: Device typically use to play video games, by age, 2-14 July 2020
- Quibi struggles as launch comes at just the wrong time
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- Figure 20: Devices used for viewing, 2-14 July 2020
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- Figure 21: Devices used for viewing, June 2018, June 2019 and 2-14 July 2020
- YouTube expands advertising options on TV
Special Focus: Video Calling and Live Streaming
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- More than half of people socialised via video call in the three months to July
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- Figure 22: Video calling and live streaming, 2-14 July 2020
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- Figure 23: Video calling and live streaming, by generation, 2-14 July 2020
- Video calls have become a central feature of many people’s working lives
- Security is a growing concern for video calling services
- Growing popularity of live streaming offers new opportunities for ecommerce
Special Focus: Impact of COVID-19 on Time Spent Doing Media Activities
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- Half of people have spent more time watching TV/films since outbreak
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- Figure 24: Impact of COVID-19 on time spent doing media activities, 2-14 July 2020
- Many have increased their use of social media, but a few are reducing their time
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- Figure 25: Time spent using social media since outbreak of COVID-19, by generation, 2-14 July 2020
- COVID-19 further brings to the fore the issue of content moderation on social media
- TV platforms make viewing more social
Special Focus: Impact of COVID-19 on Amount Spent on Media Content
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- Many have increased spend on TV/film
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- Figure 26: Impact of COVID-19 on amount spent on media content, 2-14 July 2020
- Over half of young men have increased spend on video games following outbreak
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- Figure 27: Amount spent on video games since the outbreak of COVID-19, by age and gender, 2-14 July 2020
- Pandemic to help boost console sales
Special Focus: Planned Media Expenditure
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- Media expenditure looks set to be resilient over the next 12 months
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- Figure 28: Planned media expenditure, 2-14 July 2020
- Those with younger children have plans to spend more
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- Figure 29: Parents’ plans to spend on media content in next 12 months, by age of children in household, 2-14 June 2020
Appendix – Data Sources, Abbreviations and Supporting Information
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- Abbreviations
- Consumer research methodology
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