Industry

Binge watching on a PC all the rage during outbreak

A model takes notes on Galaxy Book Flex Alpha with the S Pen while watching a video. [SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS]

As more people work from home and take online classes amid the coronavirus outbreak, the use of personal computers (PCs) has dramatically increased. Data show that they are spending more time on their PCs watching TV shows during their leisure time, especially sports shows.

The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) released a report on Tuesday which analyzed how the spread of Covid-19 from January to April affected TV-watching habits on smartphones and PCs. The report found that watching TV shows using smartphones and PCs increased by 23.3 percent and 67.3 percent, respectively, over the same period a year earlier.

"The use of smartphones and PCs naturally increased due to social distancing, telecommuting, and opening of schools online," the KCC wrote. "Naturally, the time spent on watching TV shows using smartphones and PCs increased as well."

The monthly average viewing time on PCs was 123.31 minutes, up 67.3 percent from the same period last year. The total was 122.86 minutes, up 83.9 percent, in February when the number of coronavirus patients started to grow, followed by 141.60 minutes, up 81.9 percent, in March and 141.36 minutes, up 59.7 percent, in April.

Those in their 50s and teenagers who were not major PC users before the coronavirus crisis increased 196.8 percent and 134.2 percent, respectively.

On a monthly average, PC users mostly watched entertainment programs (54.33 minutes), followed by sports (28.87 minutes), drama and movies (22.58 minutes) and news (9.08 minutes). " Among sports fans, monthly average viewing time increased by about 20 minutes (213.8 percent)," the KCC wrote. "The number of viewers watching sports highlights increased, and the 2020 KBO League exhibition game broadcast in April seems to have played a significant role."

During January to April period, the monthly average viewing time using smartphones increased 23.34 percent compared to the same period last year to 155.46 minutes. Compared to the same month last year, the time increased 13.2 percent to 145.91 minutes in February, 33.2 percent to 171.21 minutes in March, and 67.8 percent to 181 minutes in April.

By age, the average teenager spent 243.47 minutes, a 43 percent increase on year. Users in their 20s spent 177.20 minutes, a 6 percent increase, users in their 40s spent 150.71 minutes, a 28.8 percent increase, and users in their 50s spent 149.18 minutes, a 24.8 percent increase.

By program types, entertainment programs (68.94 minutes) were the most-watched type on smartphones. The second most-watched programs were news programs (43 minutes), followed by dramas and movies (24.37 minutes), information (9.39 minutes) and sports (7.77 minutes).

"People watching a lot of news on smartphones reflects the increased desire for information," the KCC wrote. "On the other hand, people watched more sports and entertainment programs with their PCs.”

BY KIM KYOUNG-JIN [kim.yeonah@joongang.co.kr]