Three in ten consumers say they stream video content more than they did a year ago in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, according to new research from YouGov Omnibus.

The study based on data collected from 1,002 respondents in Saudi Arabia and 1,114 respondents in the UAE between 14 and 21 December 2017 shows just how rapidly media trends are shifting in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Consumers are also increasingly using subscription services to watch video content. As many as three in ten (29%) across both countries say they watch video content on platforms that do not require payment and/or a subscription, while a quarter (26%) pay to watch video content via streaming services more than they did a year ago. Yet broadcast TV remains popular; nearly a third of consumers across both countries (30%) say they watch more live TV more than they did twelve months ago.

Commenting on the findings Head of Omnibus Research, Kerry McLaren, said: “There’s no question this survey shows online steaming is an exciting industry to be in right now in the Middle East. In particular, UAE consumers are favouring such services more and more over traditional means, and are prepared to pay for the privilege. While it looks like radio providers will need to diversify to maintain consumer engagement in future, traditional live TV is striking the right balance and shows no signs of slowing when it comes to consumer entertainment preferences.”

Data collected online by YouGov Omnibus is based on YouGov’s panel of more than five million people worldwide. Data is representative of the adult online population in both countries.