Total TV Viewing Trends During COVID-19 Lockdown.pdf

Total TV Viewing (March - April 2020)

Key Findings:

- Linear TV Growth: Since the announcement of Australian border closures and stricter social distancing measures, linear TV viewing has significantly increased across all demographics. This growth is evident both during daytime and nighttime hours.

- Increased Co-viewing: During the pandemic, people are watching TV together more frequently, with a notable rise in co-viewing among younger audiences (18-24s and 0-17s).

- Elevated News & Current Affairs Viewing: There has been a sharp increase in viewing of news and current affairs programming, rising by up to 79% compared to pre-COVID-19 levels.

- Growth in BVOD (On-Demand) Minutes: While live streaming minutes have plateaued, "on-demand" (VOD) minutes continue to grow, tracking over 30% higher than the same period last year.

- Regional Differences: Melbourne and Adelaide have shown the strongest growth in linear TV viewing since restrictions began.

Main Trends:

- Increased Screen Time: People are watching more linear TV and spending an average of almost three hours more per week on live viewing compared to pre-March levels.

- Diverse Content Consumption: With more people staying at home, viewers are leveraging all screen options, including free-to-air, subscription services, and on-demand content.

- Anzac Day Impact: The COVID-19 restrictions led to a significant increase in linear TV viewing during Anzac Day ceremonies.