Observed Signal · Apr 24, 2020 · Market Research & Intelligence · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Streaming Services Grow Sharply Amid COVID-19 Crisis
A German analysis of streaming usage during the COVID-19 lockdown shows Netflix adding 15.8 million paying subscribers, with other services also posting strong gains. JustWatch.com documents double-digit growth in Germany since March 18, 2020: Sky Go & Sky Ticket up 190%, Joyn/Maxdome up 148%, and Amazon Prime Video up 144%. Disney+ is reported to have reached roughly 20% of Netflix’s volume after about four weeks. The surge is attributed to more time spent at home and increased demand for on-demand video. The data highlight a rapid shift toward streaming as a primary entertainment channel during the pandemic, based on JustWatch’s analysis, with Netflix remaining the leading service in the period studied.
Significant, but not industry-shifting, streaming growth observed during COVID-19 in Germany.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Netflix added 15.8 million paying subscribers.
- Sky Go & Sky Ticket grew 190% in Germany since March 18, 2020.
- Joyn/Maxdome grew 148% in Germany since March 18, 2020.
- Amazon Prime Video grew 144% in Germany since March 18, 2020.
- Disney+ captured ~20% of Netflix's volume after about four weeks.
Connected Companies & Entities
2 Entities mappedRelated Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Ben Affleck's AI Knowledge Goes Viral
Ben Affleck, the actor who sold his AI filmmaking startup to Netflix for a reported $587 million, has gone viral for demonstrating deep understanding of AI technology in recent interviews. He discussed machine learning, neural networks, and even admitted to writing Python scripts. Affleck detailed his journey from analog to digital film, his use of AI in visual effects, and his creation of a proprietary dataset for ethical AI filmmaking. He also visited OpenAI and used his celebrity status to access emerging tech. Affleck addressed AI's potential, expressing concerns about its effect on education and learned helplessness rather than existential threats. He used AI in his movie 'Animals' and emphasized the additive nature of AI in filmmaking.
Netflix Orders New Bridgerton Spinoff About Violet
Netflix has ordered a new Bridgerton spinoff series focusing on the matriarch Violet Bridgerton and her romance with Viscount Edmund Bridgerton. The announcement was made via the official Bridgerton Instagram account. Shonda Rhimes will executive produce, co-write, and showrun alongside Nicholas Nardini. The series does not yet have a title. Existing seasons 1-4 of Bridgerton and the first spinoff 'Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story' are currently streaming on Netflix. Season 5, centered on Francesca Bridgerton and Michaela Stirling, is in production.
OAAA Launches Programmatic Center of Excellence for DOOH
AI is pushing advertising back into physical spaces due to declining trust in online content, the rise of AI answer engines that bypass websites, and the growth of agentic AI. Out-of-home (OOH) and digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising are gaining renewed relevance, with US OOH revenue up 10.7% YoY to $3.16B in Q2 and DOOH up 18.5%, representing nearly 40% of category revenue. To guide this evolution, the OAAA has launched a Programmatic & Automation Center of Excellence led by COO Patrick Dolan, focusing on standardization, workflow automation, agentic AI, reporting/attribution, and omnichannel/retail media integration. The initiative aims to automate both programmatic and static OOH processes, addressing friction points. However, this trend raises concerns about consumer opt-out options and the over-commercialization of public spaces, as noted by Ezra Klein.
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