A new 22-page report details how the coronavirus has changed livestream viewer habits on YouTube, Twitch, and other platforms. Here are the 4 key takeaways.

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A new 22-page report details how the coronavirus has changed livestream viewer habits on YouTube, Twitch, and other platforms. Here are the 4 key takeaways.
Kids at aquarium

Steve Helber/Associated Press

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Many consumers tuned into live streams of animals and wildlife last month, according to a new report from the social-video analytics firm Tubular Labs.

  • As consumers spend time at home in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, many are tuning into livestreams on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook.
  • Tubular Labs, a social-video analytics firm, put together a 22-page report on livestreaming behavior during March.
  • The company saw a significant uptick in livestream viewership, noting that real-time news, music, gaming, and animal content were particularly popular last month.
  • Here are four key takeaways from Tubular's report.
  • Click here for more BI Prime stories.

Interest in livestreamed video jumped in March as consumers around the world turned to social media while sheltering in place, according to new data from the social-video analytics firm Tubular Labs.

The number of minutes that consumers spent watching livestreams on YouTube rose 19% between March 12 and 25. Views of live videos on Facebook also jumped during the same two-week window in March, with the number of people watching a video in real time (or replaying a livestream after it ended) increasing by 37%. Watch time for livestreams on Twitch rose 16% during the same period.

A recent spike in live videos has led some marketers and influencers to lean into the real-time format as in-person events and sponsored content have shut down during the coronavirus pandemic.

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"We're seeing increased viewership, increased conversation, and increased time spent with influencers in a live capacity," said Vickie Segar, founder of the influencer-marketing firm Village. "We haven't started buys on [livestreams], but it is in our plans."

The gaming-focused app Twitch - which helped popularize livestreaming - set a viewership record in the first quarter, logging 3 billion hours of watch time. TikTokkers have also been focusing on the format as a way to continue to grow their audiences.

"Last night, I saw five people live at the same time, which is very rare," said Jack Innanen, a Canadian TikTok creator with 1.9 million followers who is currently self-quarantined. "I do plan on doing that, just to honestly pass the time. I'm just making more content in general. That's all I can do right now."

In its new 22-page report, Tubular Labs looked into what types of live content are drawing in audiences in recent weeks. Real-time news, music, gaming, and animal livestreams all saw significant growth in viewership last month.

Here are four key takeaways from Tubular's report:

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