Report: Consumers streaming more on mobiles amid pandemic
February 18, 2021
OTT streaming has exploded as consumers seek out on-demand entertainment more than ever before, according to a report released by global app marketing analytics platform Adjust, further demonstrating a fundamental shift in consumption patterns toward mobile. Busting the myth that the majority of mobile streaming takes place on commutes, 84 per cent of consumers across the countries surveyed have used their smartphones to stream the same amount or even more content since social distancing has been in place.
On average, over half of consumers surveyed (52.5 per cent) said they are streaming more video content on their smartphones while social distancing. Only 12 per cent of consumers are streaming less — which means four times more consumers are mobile streaming. Drawing on consumer research from 7,000 respondents across the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Turkey, Japan, Singapore, Korea, and China, The Mobile Streaming 2021 Report also finds strong streaming habits across generations in mobile-first countries. In total, nearly 90 per cent of users aged 55 and older in China (89.8 per cent) and Turkey (88.9 per cent) say they stream via their phone every day or at least more than once a week.
“This drastic shift to routine mobile streaming around the world and across generations has created massive advertising opportunities and a new role for mobile analytics,” said Dr. Gijsbert Pols, lead product strategist at Adjust. “By understanding how and when consumers stream, as well as which channels and campaigns deliver the highest marketing impact, the potential to build a large, loyal user-base with high lifetime value is virtually limitless.”
Additional key takeaways from the report include:
- Most consumers are using mobile to stream at least once a day. Users in China (93.8 per cent) and Turkey (91.9 per cent) stream most frequently — every day to once a week — compared to 69.4 per cent for the U.S., 57.2 per cent for Japan, and 45.7 per cent for the U.K.
- Users across all generations and regions stream for at least an hour per session, proving viewers are no longer just snacking bite-sized content — they are binging on entire episodes and full-length movies.
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- Millennials, the biggest users of mobile streaming, are also watching for the longest periods of time. Session length averages just over 90 minutes (94.2), closely followed by Gen Z, which comes in at just under 90 minutes (87.6).
- Users 55 and older may appear to be the laggards in the data set, but 65 minutes per average session suggests this audience is warming up.
- Consumers are spending a sizable amount on streaming and on-demand entertainment services. Korea is out in front at $42.68 per month, on average, compared to $33.58 for the U.S. and $34.82 for the UK.
Connected Television unlocks new second-screening opportunities
Adjust’s research also sheds light on how pervasive second-screening has become around the world, with the rise of Connected TV (CTV). On average, more than three quarters (76 per cent) of all respondents use their mobile phone while watching television, with this viewing behavior most pronounced in Singapore and China (both 85 per cent), closely followed by the US. (83 per cent).
Social apps are the number one choice for second-screeners — favored by 65.4 per cent of respondents, on average — followed by banking (54.9 per cent) and gaming (44.9 per cent). Second-screeners in APAC have a healthy appetite for food delivery apps, with use strongest in China (65.2 per cent), Korea (36.6 per cent) and Singapore (48.2 per cent).
Advertisers can tap into the dual-screening trend by putting a call-to-action in their television ads, such as downloading a mobile app via a QR code. This has the potential to create a whole new and interactive brand experience, across two devices.