Go to main content

MTM SPECIAL COVID ANALYSIS REVEALS GREATER APPETITE FOR OTT CONTENT AND HIGHER LEVELS OF PERCEIVED USAGE

Media Technology Monitor releases its special report on OTT services during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ottawa – July 28, 2020 – The Media Technology Monitor (MTM), a research product of CBC/Radio-Canada, today announced the release of its latest OTTs in COVID Report. With Anglophones altering their daily activities during the time of a global pandemic, the report takes a deep dive into how they engage with Over-the-top streaming services (OTTs) providing trend information on Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Crave, Apple TV+ and much more. The MTM Spring 2020 survey is based on 4,000 Canadians.  

Key findings from the Anglophones, OTTs and COVID-19 Report include the following: 

  • Almost 4 in 5 Anglophones (77%) now subscribe or have access to at least one OTT service.
  • Netflix remains the most popular OTT service by a large margin with two-thirds of Anglophones (67%) subscribing or having access to it. During the pandemic, Netflix also reported the highest level of daily use among its subscribers (66%), ahead of Amazon Prime Video (45%), Disney+ (42%), Crave (41%) and Apple TV+ (29%).
  • With more time on their hands, 1 in 4 Anglophone OTT subscribers reported opting in for additional OTT services to have more content to watch while in quarantine.  
  • After launching in late 2019, Disney+ and Apple TV+ have already found some notable success. 20% of English households subscribe or have access to Disney+, while 8% of households subscribe or have access to Apple TV+. 
  • 2 in 5 OTT subscribers share their accounts with multiple households, the most commonly shared services are Netflix followed by Disney+.

The MTM also released its Change in Media Habits During COVID report focusing on the changes that Canadians have made in their use of media technology during the pandemic. To access it, visit the MTM website. To access the reports  visit the MTM website. For more information, please contact us by email at mtm.otm@radio-canada.ca, or call: 1-855-898-4999.

About the MTM
The Media Technology Monitor (MTM©) is Canada’s premier research product in the area of technology ownership and use. Based on 12,000 telephone interviews annually (including a cell phone–only sample), the MTM has spoken with over 140,000 Canadians (equally split between Anglophones and Francophones) over the past decade, making it the most accurate and comprehensive media technology tracking survey of its kind.

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic and Chinese, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.

Discover

3 days ago

Canadian Comedian and Actor Bruce McCulloch to Guest Star in Season Two of Arctic Comedy North of North

APTN, CBC and Netflix announced that the global hit Arctic-set comedy series NORTH OF NORTH will include Canadian actor and comedian Bruce McCulloch, and acclaimed singer-songwriter, director, documentarian and Inuk activist Elisapie. The Canadian Screen Award-winning original comedy series will premiere on APTN, CBC and Netflix this fall.
August 13th at 14:05

Tenth anniversary rebroadcast of The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration concert on August 22

Relive the night Canada stood still for the live broadcast of The Tragically Hip’s 2016 Man Machine Poem concert from Kingston, Ont., re-broadcasting and streaming commercial-free on Saturday, August 22 on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio and CBC Music’s YouTube page. 
August 5th at 9:50

CBC sets Fall 2026 premiere dates

CBC today announced streaming and broadcast premiere dates for its fall 2026 slate of new and returning programming on CBC Gem and CBC TV, including more than 20 original series and specials from Canadian creators, producers, and storytellers reflecting people, places and perspectives from across the country.
July 28th at 9:53

A Brand New Season of The New Wave of Standup Launches August 7, 2026 on CBC Gem

Showcasing 14 notable rising stars from Canada's epic comedy scene
July 24th at 11:54

New to CBC Gem in August 2026

New titles joining CBC Gem in August include the exclusive Canadian premieres of travelogue Richard E. Grant’s Very Modern Odyssey, New Zealand buddy-cop crime series Bust Up, and gripping UK vacation drama Two Weeks in August, plus concert special The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration and new CBC Kids series Iyanu, Butterfly Academy and Maddie & Triggs.