Zattoo analysis: How the corona virus is changing TV consumption in Switzerland
The COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing restrictions on public life are leading to an increase in TV viewing. Zattoo users are streaming more and more hours each day. News and informational programs, in particular, are currently being watched more frequently than usual. Regional stations are an important source of information in this regard. More than usual, people are streaming content on the big screen at home. This is according to an analysis of user data from the TV streaming provider Zattoo.
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has people around the world firmly in its grip. Fear of infection, social distancing, but above all quarantines and curfews - almost everyone is currently spending all their time at home, wanting to keep up to date with the latest developments.
Currently, much more television is watched overall
An analysis of user data at Zattoo for January and March this year has revealed that the Swiss are currently spending more time watching TV. The number of hours streamed monthly via Zattoo was 19 percent higher in March than in the same month of January. Growth is particularly pronounced on the big screen at home, further increasing the proportion of hours streamed on connected TVs. While 38 percent of all hours were watched on smart TVs and streaming devices such as Apple TV in January, this figure had already risen to 41 percent in March. In absolute terms, more Zattoo was also used on mobile devices and the web, even though the share of these device types in the total hours streamed fell.
Average television consumption increases significantly
At the level of individual users, it can be seen that both the average frequency of use and the average monthly duration of use have increased. In relative terms, the usage time of users of the ad-financed Zattoo Free service increased in particular. Here, the average monthly usage time increased by 14 percent from around 19 hours to 22 hours. For Zattoo Premium and Ultimate subscribers, the monthly usage time increased by 9 hours. This corresponds to an increase of 11 percent.
Information programs currently in high demand
In addition to usage time, TV viewing behavior, in terms of content watched, has also changed. The need for up-to-date information and the cancellation of almost all sporting events have led to some shifts in terms of specific genres in TV streaming. In March, 46 percent fewer hours of sports shows were streamed than in January. Even though series are still the most popular among the Swiss with a 25 percent share of all genres, informational shows continue to move up. The number of hours streamed there has increased by more than half, giving information shows a 22 percent share of all genres in March. In January, that figure was 16 percent. The number of users streaming news and info shows on Zattoo in March increased by 22 percent. This means that information shows overtook the movies genre in March, which was still in second place in January.
This increase is also noticeable in the example of the Tagesschau. Compared to January, more than twice as many users switch to the daily news on SRF in March. The number of hours that the Tagesschau is streamed by users has also increased by 150 percent. The Tagesschau that had the most Zattoo users tuning in was the Tagesschau on Monday, March 16, 2020, which reported on the Federal Council's declaration of an extraordinary situation and the declaration of a national state of emergency.
Regional stations as an important source of information
The importance of information about the latest news on the corona virus is also reflected in the rising user figures for regional stations. TeleZüri's ZüriNews, for example, saw viewer growth of 70 percent compared to January. The viewership of TeleBasel News increased by over 200 percent in the period from January to March. TeleBärn News was also seen by 57 percent more users in March than at the beginning of the year. An even greater increase can be observed in the hours streamed. For TeleBasel News, for example, there are over 400 percent more hours than in January. The figure is 77 percent for TeleBärn News and 85 percent for TeleZüri's ZüriNews.
"The demand for information has increased significantly. This benefits not only the Tagesschau on SRF, but also the regional channels that keep people up to date on current developments in the individual regions," says Jörg Meyer, Chief Officer Content and Consumer at Zattoo. "The almost obvious assumption based on the current situation that TV consumption as a whole, and especially the consumption of news broadcasts, will increase significantly is clearly confirmed by the Zattoo usage figures."
