Survey: 84% intend to watch more TV in self-isolation
March 20, 2020
TV Time, the TV and movie tracking tool, has released a survey around viewing habits in the US while people are social distancing themselves due to the coronavirus. The goal was to access not just what they’re watching but why they’re watching during this volatile time period.
The key findings include:
– Among those planning to stay home/isolate or considering it (91 per cent), the vast majority (84 per cent) are intending to increase their TV consumption during this period.
– To tap into the mood or emotional sentiment among viewers, the survey asked what was motivating their viewing choices. 86 per cent of respondents said they wanted to watch shows already on their watch list, implying that this period of viewership could be used to watch shows that people have been meaning to get around to. Other popular motivations were to give them an escape from reality (73 per cent) and to make them laugh (72 per cent), with comforting them at about half (53 per cent). Only 19 per cent of respondents said they plan to watch the news, indicating they are largely turning to TV for entertainment.
– When asked what types of shows respondents were planning to watch during this time period, the most popular choices were Dramas (78 per cent) and Comedies (76 per cent), followed by SciFi/Fantasy at 67 per cent. Fewer than a fifth of respondents selected News and Children’s Program,es, with only 9 per cent selecting “Sports-Related” content during the absence of most live sports. Among those who selected “Other,” Anime emerged as a popular choice.