Currys PC World: Lockdown’s affect on viewing habits in 2020

With a national lockdown confining many to their homes, the British public had to find ways to keep themselves entertained while staying safe indoors. Along with baking banana bread and picking up DIY projects, many people opted to spend their time getting lost in (and enthralled by) TV shows.

New research from Currys PC World has delved into how lockdown has impacted our TV habits and found out what people are watching, how often they’re watching it, and on what devices.

Currys PC World: How we watch TV has changed

With the advancement of technology, it’s no surprise that the nation’s TV habits have changed over time.
Even though the UK is watching less television now than 10 years ago, people are watching on a lot more devices and platforms.

No longer fighting for control of the TV, households can watch shows on a variety of devices, from TVs and laptops to smartphones and tablets. Not to mention the various platforms like broadcast TV and pay-TV (like Sky and Virgin) and subscription video on demand (SVOD).

However, Brits seem to stick to what they know, with 85% saying they prefer to watch TV on a television set. That said, not everyone feels that way.

The younger generation is embracing change and the freedom these devices give, with two in five 16-25-year-olds saying they’d rather watch on a non-TV device.

Currys PC World: The dependency on TV during lockdown

What we watch has significantly changed over time and lockdown has given this evolution a helping hand. In an attempt to keep themselves entertained, the average Brit watched 3,270 minutes of TV during lockdown.

During peak lockdown (April 2020), it’s no wonder that people watched 37 minutes more of SVOD content and 34 minutes more of live broadcast a day than they did at the same time the year before. But what was the top choice? During the height of the restrictions, people were desperate for a good laugh as one in five Brits said they watched more comedy than usual. Other genres that the nation was hooked on were the news and drama.

Currys PC World Research: In touch with reality – the changing taste in British television

Like anything, trends change and adapt with time, and television is no different. What dominated the nation’s TV screens in the 60s certainly doesn’t reflect what we binge-watch now, and the research conducted by Currys PC world reflects this.

Looking at the top-watched broadcasts in each decade from the 60s onwards, traditional family entertainment was in most demand. The Royal Variety Show raked in 32.3 million views in the 60s and The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show brought in 21.4 million views in the 70s.

But what is it that can’t people peel their eyes away from now? Reality TV is now a firm favourite amongst Brits, with shows like the Great British Bake Off and Gavin and Stacey. Bake Off topped the most-watched list on two different years in the 2010s while the latter’s Christmas Special brought in 17.9 million views in 2019.

Television has always been a go-to form of entertainment for many people across the decades, and during lockdown and lockdown 2.0 it was no different. While our viewing habits have changed, from how and what we watch our favourite shows, tuning into TV brought solace and a much-needed form of escapism to many during a difficult period.

For more information in regards to this research please read: https://techtalk.currys.co.uk/tv-gaming/tv/evolution-of-tv/

Edited by Patrick O’Brien

About the writer 

Julie Painter is a freelance copywriter who loves the written word. She has written for a plethora of digital publications, delving into the worlds of tech, housekeeping, and businesses.

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