R. Hirschmann
Research expert covering Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia
Online video and entertainment in Singapore - statistics & facts
Online video and entertainment have been steadily overtaking broadcast entertainment media consumption among viewers in Singapore. The COVID-19 pandemic appeared to have boosted the growth of digital media; with frequent lockdowns and the closure of leisure facilities, more people turned to in-home entertainment to pass the time. The launch of the 5G network in Singapore has also impacted the online video and entertainment segment, solidifying digital media’s dominance.
Such is the popularity of streaming services that a large share of Singaporeans was willing to pay for at least one streaming service. In the over-the-top (OTT) television market, Netflix, HBO, Disney+, and other global subscription video-on-demand (SVoD) giants have to compete for subscribers alongside Asian SVoD providers such as Viu, which offers mainly Korean content.
The launch of a 5G network in Singapore would further improve mobile streaming quality. Gamers in the country have already rated the gaming experience on a 5G network favorably. Improvements in the 5G network would lead to a better experience for mobile video streaming, especially since many Singaporeans watch video content on their smartphones.
Digitalization has changed the way Singaporeans consume entertainment media
Digital media, with its broad range of international offerings, convenience, and accessibility, brought the world to viewers and listeners. Unlike traditional broadcast media, online media gives the consumer the flexibility to curate and choose the content they prefer to consume, be it a podcast of their choice or watching a television series at their own pace. This novel way of consuming entertainment media is one of the reasons for its popularity, with a large share of people in Singapore consuming online media at least once a week.Such is the popularity of streaming services that a large share of Singaporeans was willing to pay for at least one streaming service. In the over-the-top (OTT) television market, Netflix, HBO, Disney+, and other global subscription video-on-demand (SVoD) giants have to compete for subscribers alongside Asian SVoD providers such as Viu, which offers mainly Korean content.
5G as a game changer for online video and entertainment
Over-the-top (OTT) video, online video gaming, as well as music and audio streaming, all rely on the internet to transmit video and audio content. The quality of the video and audio streaming, therefore, is highly reliant on the devices used to consume it, as well as the internet speeds used to transmit the content. Singaporeans already enjoy one of the fastest broadband speeds globally, which allows for high-quality streaming at home. However, its mobile download speeds were nowhere near that of the leading countries for mobile internet speeds. This thus leads to a marked decrease in video streaming quality when viewing online video content on a smartphone.The launch of a 5G network in Singapore would further improve mobile streaming quality. Gamers in the country have already rated the gaming experience on a 5G network favorably. Improvements in the 5G network would lead to a better experience for mobile video streaming, especially since many Singaporeans watch video content on their smartphones.
