The following are the most critical entertainment patterns for 2022. Also included are examples of what is driving each trend forward. These are the top trends to keep an eye on, whether you work in the entertainment industry or just want to have some fun.
The Rise of Social Video
Facebook is attempting to usurp the social media video throne with Facebook Watch. (The one that YouTube has had for years.) It appears to be working, with 1.25 billion monthly viewers. However, despite its impressive numbers, Facebook is far from fashionable.
On the other hand, TikTok is a rocketship. The largest emerging video-based social network has over 800 million monthly active users at the time of publishing. And those users aren’t afraid to spend money to increase their following. (One telltale sign is the emergence of TikTok-related goods and services, such as TikTok editor and TikTok lights.) Meanwhile, Facebook is extending its social video drive.
Meanwhile, Facebook is expanding its viral video drive to its other channels. Instagram’s IGTV, which debuted in 2018, has now been incorporated into the main app. Although it hasn’t taken off as quickly as their Stories feature, there are some promising signs.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson, two soccer stars, recently created a mini-series that aired exclusively on IGTV. Some episodes received over a million views on their own.
Whatever platform emerges as the winner, one thing is sure: social video is a massive trend. Video streaming and download speeds will increase as 5G coverage increases through 2022 and beyond. We believe that social video use will increase as well.
The Internet of Things (IoT) Has Entered the Mainstream
Right now, there are a lot of entertainment developments in the gaming industry. In November 2020, both the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 were announced. Gaming technology based on virtual reality and augmented reality is progressing. Esports is gaining popularity. And mobile gaming has never been more popular.
Cloud gaming, on the other hand, could be the most significant gaming development in 2022. There are approximately 3 billion gamers on the planet. And only a tiny percentage of them have the required hardware to play the most recent and challenging games.
Cloud gaming solves this issue by delivering video game content to your computer from remote servers.
That way, the heavy lifting isn’t done by your machine (or phone or smart TV). Nvidia’s GeForce Now, Google’s Stadia, Sony’s PlayStation Now, and Xbox’s Project xCloud are among the significant offerings (now integrated into Game Pass).
Cloud gaming, like any modern technology, can face some challenges. However, it seems that someone with a decent Internet connection would play the best games in the future.
Podcasting Moves Into the Mainstream
One hundred twenty million people are expected to listen to podcasts at least once a month by 2022. And that’s all in the United States. The number is expected to rise to 164 million by 2023. Every day, new amateur podcasts emerge.
In reality, there are now over 1.5 million podcasts available to listen to. However, the industry is becoming much more technical. Branded podcasts show that the format can be used for advertisement as well as entertainment.
New(ish) Sports Emerge
Fitness has become a “meta movement” that has influenced many aspects of our lives. Garage gyms, Zwift, and Peloton, are available on the premises. But things are more interesting outside the house: Axe throwing has become common among those who don’t mind a little hazard.
Bikepacking is another choice if you want to go on an adventure in the great outdoors. (That is, backpacking on a bicycle.) Who doesn’t want to play a fun game of pickleball? These events aren’t exactly new, but they’re becoming more common every year. They’re on the verge of breaking into the mainstream in 2022.
Fans directly fund artists
Why has direct fan support been one of the most common entertainment phenomena in recent years? About 48.3 million American households have “cut the cord,” according to emarketer.com (removed or rejected traditional cable TV).
New Streaming Services Are Launched
By 2025, revenue from video streaming (SVoD) is anticipated to exceed $85 billion per year. As a result, it’s no wonder that many media firms want a piece of the action. To contend with Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video, over-the-top (OTT) streaming services have been springing up left and right. With its short form bid, Quibi failed miserably.
However, in the streaming world, the concept of a specifically established niche has proven to be effective. Crunchyroll, a dedicated anime service, has seen a significant increase in search traffic. Which now has more than 3 million paying customers.
What’s next?
At the same time, Disney is promoting its Disney+ service by promoting its extensive back catalog. It also has many new programming, such as The Mandalorian, which is their flagship show. In November of this year, Disney+ made its debut. It had already reached 50 million subscribers just five months later. Since then, the figure has risen to 73.7 million.
