NEW NEWS ABOUT MEDIA USAGE IN MARCH

Estimates are beginning to emerge about the impact of COVID-19 on media consumption. The bottom line is that people are listening, watching and reading more than they were prior to the crisis.

Today we have several items about changes in use of various media that concern radio and its related digital platforms. Keep in mind that the sample and conclusions vary from source to source.

Fred Jacobs announced Tuesday on his blog [link] that his company, Jacobs Media, is now recruiting stations to participate in the Coronavirus Survey. The goal of the survey is to learn how the COVID-19 is affecting radio listening, the stations and their listeners.

PRPD is partnering with Jacobs on the Coronavirus Survey on behalf of public radio stations. The Coronavirus Survey will have a quick turnaround. The survey will be "in the field" next Monday, March 30 though Thursday April 2.  Results will be shared with participating stations in less than a week.

Abby Goldstein, President and Executive Director of PRPD, is asking that stations sign up before the end of this week. Registration for the survey is here.

Goldstein says people with questions can contact her at agoldstein@prpd.org. Or they can contact Fred Jacobs at Fred@jacobsmedia.com, or Paul Jacobs at Paul@jacobsmedia.com.

To read our coverage of the Coronavirus Survey click here.

• TRITON DIGITAL: LISTENING TO RADIO NEWS VIA STREAMING AUDIO IS RISING

Comparing the periods of March 6-12 to March 13-19, data from Triton’s Webcast Metrics streaming measurement service showed a 14% increase in the share of streaming attributable to News/Talk formatted radio stations.

• COMSCORE: IN-HOME DIGITAL DATA USAGE GREW FOR MANY DEVICES

According to Comscrore [link] all digital devices went up by double digits in March compared to February.

• COMSCORE: VIEWING OF CABLE TV NEWS CHANNELS HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY

Also according to Conscore [link], viewership of seven cable TV news channels was much higher during the week of March 16 – 20 was way up in almost every day-part.

 

• PODTRAC: PODCAST'S LISTENING GROWTH IS DECLINING

According to Podtrac, the growth in listening to podcasts has leveled off.

• INSIDE RADIO READER SURVEY

Are you curious about the affect of COVID-19 on radio’s mover and shakers? Thanks to Inside Radio [link] now you can know the answers.

Keep in mind that according to Inside Radio’s advertising department says [link] that the publication’s readers are “Group Owners, Regional Managers, General Managers, Sales Managers, Program Directors, On-Air Talent, Brokers, Consultants and The Top Players in Radio!”

The survey said that 78% of Inside Radio readers have required most employees to work from home. 21% of survey respondents said their employers encouraged employees to work from home.

From the “more than I needed to know” department, you will learn that 69% of Inside Radio readers went out of the house to buy groceries in the previous week.