Netflix, Zee5 See Over 200 Percent Increase in Interest in India During Lockdown: JustWatch

It doesn't take an expert to say this - if we're going to be sitting at home all the time, we're going to watch more TV. Streaming services such as Disney+ Hotstar and Netflix have benefited massively from global lockdowns as users look for entertainment while at home. According to new data from content aggregation service JustWatch based on usage of its platform, popular streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video have seen an uptick in interest the world over.

Even specifically in India, all the key streaming services have seen a big increase in interest on the JustWatch platform. Zee5 is the biggest gainer, with an increase of 259 percent in the period between March 24 and April 24. During the same period in India, Netflix saw a 204 percent increase, while Amazon Prime Video (189 percent), AltBalaji (174 percent), JioCinema (161 percent), and Disney+ Hotstar (149 percent) all saw significant boost as well. Similar data from JustWatch for the US shows even larger gains for the global platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+.

Netflix accounted for 21 percent of interest on JustWatch during the first month of the lockdown

While the data shared is specifically for JustWatch, it's safe to assume that overall use of streaming services and their popularity has increased similarly on a global scale. As people all over the world are forced to shelter in their homes to stay safe from the coronavirus pandemic, streaming services have given people quick and easy access to TV shows and movies to keep themselves occupied. Streaming services could be one of the biggest gainers as the world moves towards spending more time at home and social distancing over the long term.

Even though Zee5 got the biggest boost, Netflix continued to reign supreme among all streaming services in India, based on consumer interest on JustWatch. According to the content aggregation service, Netflix accounted for 21 percent of total searches. Disney+ Hotstar, which now combines the catalogues of Disney+ with Hotstar's excellent India-specific content, came in second with 18 percent, followed by Prime Video with 16 percent. JustWatch lets users search for content and provides tailored recommendations, linking users to the right streaming service where the content is available. It is a great service if you want to find where a particular movie or TV series is streaming in India and around the world.

Which is the bestselling Vivo smartphone in India? Why has Vivo not been making premium phones? We interviewed Vivo's director of brand strategy Nipun Marya to find out, and to talk about the company's strategy in India going forward. We discussed this on Orbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts or RSS, download the episode, or just hit the play button below.