DTI: Demand for online entertainment increases due to pandemic

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has observed an increased demand in the entertainment industry as consumers turn towards online movies and entertainment amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Trade Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba on Wednesday said Filipinos are shifting towards digital consumption for entertainment during the pandemic, such as online games, online movies, and online entertainment applications.

“We’re seeing increased demand from entertainment especially with our consumers turning more towards movies and content production,” she said during a House hearing.

“The patterns of interest in film production are more leaning towards anime and K-drama films and there is a rise of digital movie platforms, the subscription-based digital real-time and personalized platforms,” Aldaba added.

Citing a study by Google, Aldaba said such increased demand in entertainment does not necessarily because people are required to stay at home but there “might be potentially a bigger paradigm shift” to movie content consumption, production and distribution.

She also noted a declining trend for travel amid the pandemic.

For the tourism industry to survive amid the COVID-19 crisis, the DTI is urging Filipinos to “travel local and buy local.”

“Travel local and buy local ang policy namin for tourism,” Aldaba said.

The DTI earlier launched a national campaign “Buy Local, Go Lokal” to boost demand for Philippine-made products, particularly those from small businesses.

This is to help the economy recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

/MUF