July 22, 2021, 10:19 am | Read time: 3 minutes
TECHBOOK asked users of streaming services which devices they use to watch their series and movies and how often. The surprising result: Despite its widespread use, the TV ranks only second to last.
Streaming services such as Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ are now an integral part of the German media landscape. Netflix has over ten million users in Germany, while Amazon Prime Video has more than 14 million. TECHBOOK commissioned a survey on streaming behavior, leading to intriguing insights.
In the onsite survey on BILD.de, 114 out of 167 respondents reported using streaming services–equivalent to 68 percent. TECHBOOK also wanted to know which of the following four devices is most popular for streaming and how often they are used. The options were TV, laptop, smartphone, and tablet.
The key survey results in our TECHBOOK Streaming Talk:
Laptop leads, TV only in 3rd place
The major streaming services can be easily accessed on any of the four devices. There are specific apps for smartphones and tablets. On laptops, you can watch via the browser. Smart TVs also have either pre-installed apps or ones available for download. Alternatively, you can connect a streaming stick to stream on the TV. But which device is leading in streaming usage? In absolute numbers, the picture is as follows:
- Laptop (55.3 percent)
- Smartphone (50.9 percent)
- TV (45.6 percent)
- Tablet (38.6 percent)
Here is the detailed breakdown:
An interesting result, which shows that the dominance of the TV in German households for streaming is apparently crumbling. In a previous TECHBOOK survey, we found that TVs were by far the most popular entertainment electronics. They also lead in prevalence with a coverage rate of 96.5 percent.
Also interesting: The TV is the most important entertainment device
Streaming seems to be becoming more mobile. This is mainly indicated by the high percentage of smartphone usage. Smartphones, at 50.9 percent, even surpass TVs. While you can certainly stream at home on a smartphone, it is the only truly mobile device on the list. Tablets and laptops are portable and perfect for a longer train ride. However, in the park, on the subway, or at the bus stop, you’re more likely to have your smartphone handy, making it very easy to stream on the go.
Shocking! Media Usage Reaches 13 Hours Daily
Who Actually Needs a Laptop These Days?
Respondents use multiple devices for streaming
Most survey participants use at least two of the devices mentioned above. Accordingly, the combination of laptop and smartphone (27.2 percent) is the most frequently used. This is followed by the use of smartphone and TV at 26.3 percent, and in third place, the combination of laptop and TV at 23.7 percent.
At least 13.2 percent of all surveyed streamers use all four devices. Out of all possible 14 combinations, streaming solely via the tablet is the least common at 7.9 percent. For comparison: Users who stream only on the laptop rank fifth at 18.4 percent.
Regular use of streaming devices
All surveyed users of streaming services use their specified devices very regularly. In terms of daily/almost daily use and usage several times a week, the smartphone leads. 58.6 percent of smartphone streamers watch daily or almost daily on their device. This is followed by the TV at 55.8 percent, the laptop at 52.4 percent, and finally the tablet at 40.9 percent. Even more frequently, 86.2 percent of those who reported streaming on their smartphone watch series and movies on their mobile phone several times a week.
Frequency of use in relation to usage per device in percent: