It’s impossible to escape hearing about the COVID-19 pandemic if you tried. The virus has overtaken our airways and social media platforms to fill them with endless information, criticism, or memes. It’s the only thing most people can talk about these days- what’s going on with their community, how bored they are, how scared and nervous they are, the list is endless. For me, television and movies have always been an escape from life. I’ve always dived right into a show and focused my attention on that to forget whatever stress is occurring. The COVID-19 situation has been no different. Most of my days are spent watching endless television shows, trying to make myself feel better during such an uncertain time.
The pandemic has shattered each one of our versions of normalcy, which leads me to find anything I can to escape from the “new normal”. My prosumer media behavior has taken me down an escapism/nostalgic gratification route. I’ve been finding comfort during these difficult times in familiar, uplifting shows. Where you feel as if the characters are apart of you, and know that each one of these shows ends with a happy ending or positive outcomes. Nostalgic shows such as Friends, The Nanny, and Full House have been providing me the sense of safety I’ve been craving and an escape from every day worries. These shows also touch on the entertainment factor since they’re extremely captivating with their hilarious jokes and constant plot twists.
Since everyone is staying home, most people are spending their free time diving into one of our popular streaming platforms. I believe most people use TV for escape and entertainment. Disney + and Hulu provide shows/movies that remind us of better times. Those platforms should be advertised and taken advantage of right now. There should be promotions/sales for these streaming services to drive in more prospects as a mutual win for both the institutions and the consumer. There may never be a better time, if people aren’t watching tv on your streaming service while they are stuck inside for weeks, they never will.
Maniscalco-Media 