Are you a ‘Silver Streamer’?
Has the tide finally begun to turn? Has lockdown changed us all into streamers instead of traditional scheduled TV viewers? If the statistics are to be believed, then it rather looks like it may have.
It has been reported that time spent viewing content on screens went up by nearly a third in April 2020 compared to the previous year, with Britons viewing an average of six hours 25 minutes a day. Predictably, lockdown accelerated the streaming revolution with approximately 12 million viewers signing up to on-demand services.
The rise in our viewing times during lockdown was chiefly facilitated by on-demand platforms. These made up a viewing average of 71 minutes per day at its peak (or 2 hours among 16 to 34 year olds).
Traditional scheduled television giants such as the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 did enjoy a viewing boost at the start of lockdown as, at first, people looked for reliable information and sought out programmes they knew. However, this upturn in traditional viewing did not last as popular series such as EastEnders and Coronation Street suffered disruption in production and significant sporting fixtures such as the European Championships, Wimbledon and the Olympics were cancelled and by June, the combined monthly share of broadcast TV viewing among the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 fell to 55 per cent, its lowest level in a year.
The up take in streaming during the pandemic may not have been unexpected but what is significant is the sheer number of over 50’s, previously content to watch broadcast television, who have signed up.
In fact, a third of these Silver Streamers (55 to 64 year olds) used subscription streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime video in the first few weeks of lockdown, compared with a quarter previously.
So, it appears the over 50’s have finally bitten the bullet, got to grips with streaming and are rather enjoying it.
Do you still watch traditional scheduled television, or have you been bitten by the streaming bug?
