OPENING (AND CLOSING)
With a resurgence in cases in the US, the Harris Poll COVID-19 tracker saw that American attitudes towards lockdowns are shifting. Fielded right before the July 4th weekend (6/26-6/29/20), wave 18 of the report also took a deep dive into the hardest-hit states (Linkedin; 7/1/20). The report also looked at how Americans are celebrating Independence Day and how the coronavirus is changing summer travel. Finally, the article features partnerships with Yahoo Finance (looking at work, spending and investing response to the coronavirus) and Adage (brand behavior amid social unrest).
For a regularly updated state-by-state summary of what’s “open for business” (and what’s closing), check out resources by the TVB, NBC, and the New York Times.
OTT CHURN
While OTT viewership and available content are increasing, research company Parks Associates found that churn, or the rate at which subscribers have been cancelling their OTT service, is on the rise as well (Mediapost, 7/1). According to the research, the churn rate was 41% in 1Q20, up from 35% in 1Q19. In part, believed to be due to stay-at-home orders as well as new services, some of which include promotional offers such as Disney+ and AppleTV+.
TV TIME SPENT
According to Inscape, four broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, AND FOX), three news networks (FNC, CNN, and MSNBC), HGTV, Food, and TBS, ranked among the top 10 live linear TV networks, based on share duration for June 2020 (NEXTTV; 7/6). Inscape, a TV data company, gets its insights from a panel of over 15 million smart TVs. On a program level, early morning came out on top, with GMA and Today show holding the top two spots. At #3 was MTV’s Ridiculousness (also the top reality show for June.)
SOCIAL MEDIA
The Drum (7/7) spoke with Aline Santos, Unilever’s EVP global marketing and chief diversity & inclusion officer. The marketer spoke to why brands need to engage with social media networks like Facebook; not boycott them. However, they’ve pulled advertising from social platforms in the US due to the “toxic conversation that is going on” in social media.
HOMETOWN GIVEAWAY
Wheel of Fortune is spreading good fortune this summer. Each weeknight from July 13-August 14, the Sony Pictures Television show will give away $1,000 to a viewer and donate an additional $1,000 to a food bank in the winner’s hometown as part of its “$1K A Day Summer Giveaway” activation (Cynopsis, 7/7). Wheel of Fortune will be airing both new episodes and reruns throughout the summer.
