CHART OF THE WEEK

Mobile payments – frequency of usage

Join our market survey to understand how COVID-19 can affect your customers

How is COVID-19 going to affect your end customers and their interaction with your business? Venture Insights is running a series of National consumer surveys to determine how the virus is changing consumer attitudes to issues such as sports streaming, working from home, home broadband needs, discretionary spending and job security. Our survey capabilities can provide you with fast and valuable insights into the way the market is responding to the shock of the virus lockdown. If you are interested in joining our survey process and inserting questions into the survey click here to register your interest 

NZ mobile payments

Which payment app do you mainly use?

Venture Insights conducted a survey in February 2020 on the current usage of mobile banking and payment apps in New Zealand. The shift from physical to electronic payments has seen an ever-expanding range of payment methods replacing cash. From mobile banking and contactless cards to phone payments and bespoke apps, the payment landscape is undergoing a quiet revolution. The emergence of e-commerce and proximity payment and the increasing adoption of smartphones and high-speed mobile data network have further boosted the adoption of mobile payment. The global mobile payment market is expected to grow from US$926bn in 2018 to US$6882bn in 2026 at a CAGR of 29%. For a more detailed look at the result of the survey and its implications for the payments ecosystem in New Zealand, click to read our report.

Impact of COVID-19 on telecommunications industry

The telecommunications industry has rallied to soften the impact of COVID-19 on its customers. NBN Co has announced it will waive charges for additional capacity of up to 40% to RSPs for at least three months to help them support Australian residential and business nbn customers.  Telstra announced it would provide unlimited fixed data for no extra charge until 30 April, and boost mobile allowances to accomodate higher usage. Optus will boost postpaid mobile allowances by 20GB during April, while prepaid customers spending more than $40 will get an additional 10GB. Vodafone Australia is offering an additional 5GB and 3GB for postpaid and prepaid customers respectively over the next month. In New Zealand, Spark announced it would cut fixed broadband overage fees, boosted its hardship protections, and relaunched its subsidised broadband product Jump for people who do not currently have broadband at home.
It’s interesting that fixed broadband rather than mobile is emerging as central in the move to self-isolation and working from home, underlining its strength as a bit-hauling infrastructure.

Reaching sports audiences

Free-to-air broadcasters, pay-TV operators and OTT services all have a role to play in providing a platform for emerging sports and helping to engage with audience. Arsenal and Manchester United both stressed the importance for clubs to build direct relationships with their supporters—a necessary move if they wish to better-understand fans’ wants and needs. The industry needs to continue adapting to younger generations’ viewing preferences, particularly if it is to have a chance of combatting piracy. For a more detailed look at the importance of using different platforms to reach audiences, whether free or pay, broadcast or online, click to read a report from our UK research partner, Enders Analysis.

UK ITV FY 2019 results

H2 revenue growth across Studios, advertising and online, saw ITV come in ahead of guidance in 2019, with external revenues up 3% YoY. Advertising revenue was down 1.5% for the year after being down 5% at H1. Viewing share of a shrinking pie remained flat, holding onto 2018’s share. Information on the progress of BritBox was predictably scant while the addressable ad platform, Planet V, is taking shape. Looking forward, Covid-19 will likely affect all sectors including television—the breadth and severity is, of course, unpredictable with some initial reticence being shown through ad spend by travel brands. For a more detailed look at ITV’s viewing and financial performance, click to read a report from our UK research partner, Enders Analysis.

Telecoms investment crucial. Help required

With the possibility of students and workers facing the prospect of needing to work from home over the coming weeks, the importance of high-capacity, reliable and ubiquitous telecoms infrastructure has become more evident. Against a backdrop of significant investment in expanded coverage, 5G and full fibre networks, the pricing environment is likely to remain deflationary for some time. Help is required to secure infrastructure investment, deliver the economic upside from 5G, and level the playing field between sub-sectors. For a more detailed look at the importance of telecoms infrastructure in the current environment, click to read a report from our UK research partner, Enders Analysis.