Understanding connected video customers across the streaming universe
The video landscape is changing. The percentage of households in the US that have waved goodbye to linear cable has grown from one in five households in 2019 to one in three households in 2021, according to Comscore OTT Intelligence.1
Perhaps some of these viewers have set their intentions on reading more books. Maybe they’ve really gotten into podcasts lately. It’s all possible. But one thing is certain: video content is still very much a part of the average American’s life.
More and more of our everyday experiences and interactions have moved online, and watching our favorite TV shows and movies is no different. As of June 2021, there are 84 million households in the United States watching Internet-based streaming content, according to Comscore OTT Intelligence.2 This is an increase of 14.7 million homes since January 2020. This shift in how viewers consume video has made it more difficult than ever for advertisers to keep up with demands.
To better understand today’s viewers, Amazon Ads teamed up with Ipsos to survey 2,000 Americans between the ages 18-64, to learn more about the different types of viewers who watch video content, the behaviors and beliefs that define them, and how advertisers can best reach them. Through this survey, we uncovered three distinct audience segments of modern video consumers based on how respondents reported that they engage with video content, brands, and advertising. We call these audience segments Social Streamers, Immersive Explorers, and Video Voyagers.
Let’s meet today’s connected video customers.
Social Streamers: Affluent, educated, and seriously connected
Social streamers represent 28% of general consumers in the United States (who are defined as all adults between the ages of 18 and 64 who were surveyed), and 42% of Amazon connected video customers (respondents who reported watching ad-supported Amazon streaming TV content at least once per month) surveyed.3
While Social Streamers are younger than general consumers on average, they are a highly educated and affluent group of video viewers. Of this group, 51% have attained a bachelor’s degree or higher (compared to 44% of general consumers), and they self-reported an average household income of $72,200 USD, $4,000 more than general consumers.4
Social Streamers watch streaming video to stay up to date on the world around them and connect with others. They like to keep up with the latest trends (31% vs. 17% of general consumers) and always want to be the first to try new products and services (28% vs. 14% of general consumers). They are nearly twice as likely as general consumers to consider themselves opinion leaders (28% vs. 15% of general consumers), and they are, accordingly, more than twice as likely to share their experiences on social media (26% vs. 12% of general consumers) and convince others to try new things as well (28% vs. 16% of general consumers).5
Watch on the go
Stream video when they are out of home compared to 10% of general consumers
Influential consumers
Good at convincing others to try new things compared to 16% of general consumers
Connected to trends
Keep up with trends compared to 17% of general consumers
Social Streamers report being big fans of music content, comedy-dramas, and action and adventure video content. Compared to Immersive Explorers, Video Voyagers, and general consumers, this audience segment is the most likely to watch livestreaming on a daily basis (23% vs. 9% of general consumers).6
Immersive Explorers: Viewers plugged into all things gaming and technology
Immersive Explorers represent 16% of adult consumers in the United States and 32% of Amazon connected video customers surveyed.7
More than two-thirds of Immersive Explorers are between the ages 18 and 34, making them a younger audience segment than social streamers and video voyagers, as well as the general consumers surveyed. They have the heaviest ratio of men to women (74% vs. 50% of general consumers) and the most likely to be full-time students (14% vs. 5% of general consumers).8
Immersive Explorers are an innovative and driven audience segment. They consider themselves to be open-minded, curious, and tech-savvy—making it no surprise that they are excited about technology and put a lot of energy into researching the products they intend to buy. This group is also more likely than general consumers to own gaming consoles (88% vs. 47%), smart TVs (71% vs. 60%), streaming devices (55% vs. 42%), desktop computers (53% vs. 44%), and smart home devices (42% vs. 34%).9
Streaming services fuel Immersive Explorers’ sense of exploration by allowing them to discover new perspectives and cultures, in addition to unwinding at the end of a long day.
Plugged into technology
Consider themselves tech-savvy compared to 16% of general consumers
Gamers at heart
Play video games every day compared to 36% of general consumers
SVOD enthusiasts
Use an SVOD service at least monthly compared to 81% of general consumers
Among the audience segments we uncovered, Immersive Explorers are the most likely to stream music, watch streaming video content, and play video games daily. This segment enjoys science fiction and fantasy, gaming content, and action and adventure video content. Compared to the other audience segments we uncovered, this audience segment has the highest concentration of users of monthly subscription-based (92% vs. 81% of general consumers10) and ad-supported streaming services (96% vs. 78% of general consumers).11
Video Voyagers: Video lovers seeking their next escape
Video Voyagers represents 30% of adult consumers in the United States and 24% of Amazon connected video customers surveyed.12
Video Voyagers have both the highest ratio of women to men (62% vs. 50% of general consumers) and the highest age-range among the audience segments we uncovered in our research, with 63% being over the age of 45 (compared to 41% of general consumers). These video viewers self-describe as responsible and respectful, and they are the most likely segment to have already checked off many of life’s important milestones. In fact, 12% have retired from the workforce(compared to 7% of general consumers) and nearly three-quarters currently have empty nests.13
Video agnostic
Still have cable in addition to streaming services compared to 10% of general consumers
Living room streamers
Stream video in the living room most often compared to 54% of general consumers
Big screen preferred
Own and use a smart TV at least once a month compared to 57% of general consumers
Video Voyagers stream video on demand to unwind, escape and indulge themselves during their newfound free time. While more and more consumers are turning to their smartphones and mobile devices to entertain themselves, video voyagers are more likely than Social Streamers, Immersive Explorers and general consumers to subscribe to cable (61% vs. 54% of general consumers), watch video in the living room (62% vs. 54% of general consumers), and subscribe to cable (61% vs. 54% of general consumers14). That said, they do make use of subscription and ad-supporting video streaming services like most modern viewers. When the TV is on, video voyagers are likely watching a drama of some sort, whether it be a comedy-drama or a crime drama.15
How to discover these audience segments
From Amazon Freevee to Fire TV to Twitch and beyond, Amazon Ads brings the best of today’s streaming video together to help advertisers meet viewers where they’re watching their favorite content.
Read the full report (English only) to learn how Social Streamers, Immersive Explorers, and Video Voyagers are reflected in Amazon’s ad-supported streaming video universe and what that means for brands and advertisers.
Learn more about video marketing and video advertising trends.
1-2 Comscore OTT Intelligence, US, 2021.
3-15 Amazon Ads Across the Streaming Universe study, US, 2021.