Writer's Strike to Have a Lasting Impact on Gen Y Online Video Consumption?

For some of us, it's been hard lately - with the writer's strike looming, keeping our precious TV shows at bay. What are we to do? Spend quality time with our families? Go outside and get some fresh air? Homework? Oh the horror!


Gen Y will still want to unwind, even if their favorite show isn't on the air. They are already quite familiar with online video, but for most it hasn't gotten to the point where it is replacing a significant amount of their television watching "time budget".

However, when they're sitting at home with nothing but reruns, where do you expect them to turn? Their YouTube sessions may get just a little bit longer. They might spend more time seeking out new venues for the familiar video content that they have grown accustomed to using to fill their downtime, to relax and to take them away from their everyday lives.

Ironically, one of the issues which the strike is about - compensation for online media - may grow even more prominent as boredom forces users online to seek out content, driving higher demand for the medium.

Will the strike have a lasting effect on online vs traditional video consumption? Surely it will, but to what extent? Will it be enough to give rise to new players online or to have media outlets rethink the importance of online delivery? Unless the strike goes on for a long time to come, it might not single-handedly cause this shift, but it is likely to play a significant role in quickening the process.