Study: coronavirus expected to add 5% to SVOD subscriptions

Strategy Analytics has recently published its latest forecast for subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services such as Netflix and Apple TV+. The forecast took account of the expected impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and although the longer term impact clearly remains uncertain, early evidence suggests that a boost to SVOD usage globally can be expected. 

As a result the forecast for global subscriptions was increased by 5% in comparison to the pre-pandemic model. The projection is now 949 million paid subscriptions globally by the end of 2020, suggesting an increase of 47 million compared to earlier forecasts.

Longer term, the forecast predicts that paid SVOD subscriptions will grow by 621 million between 2019 and 2025, reaching 1.43 billion, according to Strategy Analytics’  Global SVOD Forecast, by Service (2010 – 2025).

Currently, China and the U.S. combined account for nearly two-thirds (65%) of paid SVOD subscriptions globally, however, as these markets mature and approach market saturation and paid subscriptions, particularly in Southeast Asia grow, their share of global SVOD subscriptions will fall to 55% in 2025, notes the research group

“One significant factor affecting future SVOD growth is the impact of the Coronavirus in both the short and long term,” says Michael Goodman, Director, TV & Media Strategies. “In the near term the coronavirus will actually boost SVOD subscriptions, as well as viewing of these services, as an ever growing number of consumers adopt social distancing or are forced into quarantine. In the mid-to-long term much depends on the length of the pandemic and resulting economic damage. As businesses shut down and individuals are laid off consumers are going to have to make hard decisions about how they spend their money and as wonderful as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and other SVOD services may be, they are not essential services.”

On a related note, As Americans brace for spending weeks (or months) inside as the coronavirus pandemic spreads, they’re subscribing to additional streaming services, with Disney+ proving to be far and away the most popular choice — and Apple TV+ less so, reports Forbes. Apple saw only a 10% rise in new subscribers compared to the week before, the lowest of any of the major streaming services, the report adds.