Paid Streaming Use in Pandemic Outpaced Pay TV For First Time: CTA

Stay-at-home COVID-19 directives fueled a surge in U.S. consumers using paid video streaming services, reported CTA Thursday. The 71% proportion of streamers using a paid service outpaced the segment using traditional pay-TV services (58%) for the first time, it said. A quarter of consumers added at least one paid streaming service within the past few months, said the report. “Consumers are watching more content and watching longer, as new innovations in format and delivery draw in millions of first-time users," said Sayon Deb, CTA manager-market research. "New digital activities such as virtual concerts, livestreaming and shared viewing on social platforms are also resonating with consumers.” Paid and free video streaming services had 19 and 15 point increases from 2018, CTA said, while cable, satellite and fiber pay-TV services fell 15 points over two years. TV is the primary screen for entertainment for 92% of consumers, said a survey of 1,001 U.S. respondents 18 and over, fielded July 30-Aug. 5. Some 47% of U.S. adults have been playing more video games since the pandemic began, led by gaming console use, up 42% year on year. About 85% of mobile gamers play weekly; daily gaming is up 26%. About 20% U.S. adults subscribe to a digital gaming service; 28% signed up for the first time during the pandemic.