 |
| ▲ In this file photo taken on June 12, 2022, people buy tickets at electronic ticket booths in a movie theater in Seoul. (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- A recent survey has revealed that more audiences prefer going to theaters rather than waiting for the latest movie releases to appear on online streaming services (OTT).
According to a consumer behavior survey released by research firm Consumer Insight on the 12th, responses regarding the preferred method of watching newly released movies showed that 37% prefer to watch in theaters, slightly surpassing the 33% who prefer to watch on OTT platforms.
However, the survey also indicated a decline in the frequency of watching movies in theaters compared to 3-4 years ago, with 61% reporting a decrease, significantly outnumbering the 16% who reported an increase.
Consumer Insight explained, "Despite the trend of OTT movie viewing, more people prefer to visit theaters to watch the latest movies."
When asked about the reasons for watching movies in theaters (multiple responses allowed), the top response at 63% was due to "large screens and sound quality." This was followed by responses citing "immersive environment" and "being able to see the latest movies first" at 41% each.
Reasons for choosing OTT or other non-theater methods for movie viewing included "being able to watch movies anytime, anywhere" (70%), "expensive theater tickets" (39%), and "lack of time to visit theaters" (28%).
In terms of genres, movies with visual elements like science fiction, action, and fantasy were preferred in theaters, while animations, comedies, romance/melodramas, romantic comedies, and dramas were more commonly watched on OTT platforms.
Regarding the "Hold Back" system, which delays the distribution of movies to other platforms like IPTV or OTT after their theatrical release, the majority (71%) responded that they were either unaware or had just heard of it.
When asked about their opinions on the Hold Back system after its purpose was explained, the most common response was "neutral" (43%), although the negative opinions (37%) outweighed the positive ones (21%).
This survey was conducted from the 22nd to the 25th of last month, targeting 1,064 men and women aged 20 to 64 nationwide.
(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved
