The Evolution Of In-Home Entertainment During The Pandemic

The global pandemic has transformed many aspects of people’s lives as we adapt to a new normal. It has upended people's everyday routine as they were forced to give up some of their most deeply ingrained habits such as spending an hour at the gym, going out for a movie, or going to coffee shops for a mid-day break.  From working remotely to socializing virtually, the world has witnessed a digital transformation like never before. It has further brought innumerable changes and evolution within mankind and the most vital transformation it has brought is in the content consumption pattern. The Content consumption patterns have seen a dynamic change, especially in the media and entertainment industry. 

The pandemic has made people skeptical of seeking entertainment outside their homes due to which indoor content consumption has risen notably as consumers have sought greater variety via at-home entertainment options. The time that they would have otherwise spent on going to concerts or at a mall, is now being spent on the couch consuming content on OTT platforms. The advent of OTT technology has marked a clear shift in India’s media consumption patterns by offering a wide diversity of content while creating an immersive and engaging experience for consumers. According to a report by PwC, India is one of the fastest-growing OTT markets at 28.6% CAGR. The new at-home environment has further led to the rise of new direct-to-consumer apps local ‘bite-sized’ entertainment platforms, and user-generated content (UGC) formats. Moreover, the time spent on audio streaming channels has risen by 30% this year. 

In this pandemic phase, we have witnessed families investing in soundbars to spend quality time together. People are looking for immersive technologies to recreate the theatre-like experience from the comfort and safety of their homes, thereby creating a need for technologically superior soundbars. In today’s digitally disrupted world, audio brands are focussing their efforts on building soundbars with innovative technology that complements the dynamic demands of customers for in-home entertainment. Brands are innovating technology that empowers listeners to experience and shape new perspectives and realities of sound. With audio solutions that capture and amplify real-life, and transform every moment into a beyond-natural audio experience.

To keep innovating in the home entertainment space, there are various technologies in the market that integrates the 3D home audio experience. Some soundbars have the capability of harnessing the power of a multi-speaker home cinema system along with the latest virtualization technology to create a 3D sound experience.

Irrespective of what content is being consumed, people are investing in building a home theatre to enhance their listening pleasure which has created a huge opportunity for the soundbar market in India. It will be interesting to see new improved technologies that would create an even more immersive experience for consumers.