For most industries, the lockdowns and social-distancing measures imposed by governments around the world to contain the covid-19 pandemic will be crippling. For video-streaming services, however, they could be a godsend. Citizens face what could be months of isolation at home, ideal conditions for binge-watching.
Data from Nielsen indicate that people do indeed turn to the box in a crisis. Television use of all sorts in America went up by 18% in the week ending March 22nd, compared with the week before. Viewership of live television rose by 14%, while the use of video-game consoles climbed by 35%. The increase in watching live TV was especially marked for teenagers (31%); many of them can no longer go to school. Overall internet usage rose by 28%, partly because so many workers must now meet their colleagues digitally, rather than face to face.
Source: The Economist. (2020, March 27). Covid-19 is a short-term boon to streaming services. The Economist.