Romance content has been a safe and frequently commissioned choice for subscription video on-demand (SVoD) platforms. In terms of its share of catalogue, Romance was the dominant genre on SVoDs in eight countries at the end of 2019, including China, where it accounted for 29% of national SVoD catalogues. Year-end also saw Romance content occupying the second and third highest volume of content hours on SVoD platforms in a further 10 markets.
As the overall volume of content on SVoDs has increased since the outbreak of COVID–19 to capitalize on isolated audiences’ need for entertainment, so Romance’s role within the SVoD services‘ offer has grown. In sixteen markets tracked by Ampere – including Germany, Spain and Italy – Romance accounted for the highest percentage of the content volume increase since the beginning of 2020, appealing to the genre’s core audiences as they are impacted by the health crisis.
Ampere’s Consumer Survey for Q1 2020 reveals that those keenest in Romance movies and TV shows are in the 18-24 and 25-34 age brackets. Romance consumers also over-index compared to average consumers among those in part-time employment and full or part-time education. Strong levels of interest can also be seen in unemployed respondents and full-time homemakers. SVoD platforms are providing consumers whose education and livelihood are impacted by the virus, as well as those whose status causes them to spend more time at home, with the kind of escapism that is hoped will translate into continued and increased SVoD usage in the future.
Source:Ampere Analysis
