Stay-at-home orders issued in response to the coronavirus have had a substantial effect on the amount of time spent watching streaming content, a report by Nielsen showed recently.
Nielsen, the analytics firm best known for measuring television audiences, released a report Wednesday showing dramatic spikes in the consumption of streaming content on smart TVs and other internet-connected devices last month within dozens of local markets monitored by the company.
Major cities in states among the first to issue stay-at-home orders predictably saw sizable increases afterward in the amount of time spent watching streaming content on internet-connected devices, according to their Nielsen report.
In California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom issued the nation’s first statewide stay-at-home on March 19, Nielsen reported that streaming consumption increased by 63% in Los Angeles between the weeks of March 2 and March 23. Nielsen similarly reported increases during that same span of 55% in San Diego and 68% in San Francisco.
Markets in other states where governors quickly followed in the footsteps of Mr. Newsom, a Democrat, were similarly among those where Nielsen reported large increases in streaming consumption between the first and last full weeks of March. Usage of internet-connected devices spiked during that span by 86% in Chicago, 74% in New York and 95% in Portland, Oregon, according to the report.
When considering data collected from within more than 50 of Nielsen’s largest markets, the firm said it also noticed an exceptionally large increase in streaming consumption among a key advertising demographic. Compared to roughly the same time last year, Nielsen said that streaming consumption among people 25-54 increased by almost 100%.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.
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