Covid-19: YouTube viewership in S’pore soars 30 per cent, with watchtime for fitness videos tripling

SINGAPORE — Singaporeans have spent significantly more time watching videos on YouTube this year as a way to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic and improve themselves.

The Google subsidiary said in a press release on Tuesday (Dec 1) regarding its latest list of trending videos that watchtime in Singapore grew by over 30 per cent over the last year as people here went online to “stay informed and productive at home”.

The video-sharing platform found that with more Singaporeans staying at home because of the coronavirus, their video consumption habits shifted towards self-improvement videos as ways to meaningfully occupy time.

This included exercise videos — a category that saw a tripling in watchtime — such as YouTuber April Han’s no-equipment arm workout.

Cooking videos, which included a step-by-step guide on how to make a one-pan egg toast from the Meliniskitchen channel, were also popular among Singapore viewers.

The two videos were ranked sixth and ninth respectively on Singapore’s top 10 trending YouTube non-music videos.

Topping this chart was Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s address to the nation on the Covid-19 crisis.

Streamed live on CNA’s YouTube channel on April 3 — days before the circuit breaker to restrict movement and activities was imposed to stem the spread of Covid-19 — the video has since been viewed more than 1,711,400 times.

YouTube said that Singapore content creators continued to “charm audiences with content that resonates” with the channel called Sneaky Sushii taking the fourth spot on the Top 10 Creators in Singapore list.

“(The channel) opened up the conversation on various social issues, including the undervaluation of creative work in Singapore, by challenging the popular opinion and encouraging debate,” YouTube said.

The top three creators for subscribers based in Singapore were: American YouTuber Mr Beast, Australia-based Chloe Ting and Malaysian comedian Mrnigelng, who gained popularity for his "Uncle Roger" skits.

Among the fastest growing channels is one operated by Singapore-based YouTuber Ghib Ojisan.

The Japanese vlogger first caught the attention of Singaporeans after chronicling his visit to Yishun, a neighbourhood that has gained a reputation among Singaporeans as a "twilight zone" where strange things happen.

Korean pop, however, continues to dominate music video charts with South Korean girl group Blackpink featuring heavily on it.

Aside from the group's How You Like That music video, which took the top spot, the quartet also managed to clinch the third, fourth and sixth spots.

Singapore: Top Trending YouTube Videos (non-music)

1. CNA: [LIVE HD] Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong addresses nation on Covid-19 situation

2. Ryan Sylvia: We Got A Divorce

3. Mrnigelng: Uncle Roger DISGUSTED by this Egg Fried Rice Video (BBC Food)

4. Mr. TFue: 60 Days Build Millionaire Underground Swimming Pool House

5. Jianhao Tan: 17 Types of Students in an Online Class

6. April Han: Slim Arms in 30 DAYs! | 8 Min Beginner Friendly Standing Workout ( No Equipment )

7. Ladies First: The Truth Behind My Leaked Tape

8. Prime Minister's Office, Singapore: PM Lee Hsien Loong on the Covid-19 situation in Singapore

on 12 March 2020

9. 메리니즈부엌Meliniskitchen: [초간단] 원팬토스트 만들기 | How to make one pan egg toast

10. Jebbey Family: This YouTuber Copied My WHOLE Video!

Singapore: Top Trending YouTube Videos (music)

1. BlackPink: BlackPink - 'How You Like That' M/V

2. Big Hit Labels: BTS (방탄소년단) 'Dynamite' Official MV

3. BlackPink: BlackPink - 'Ice Cream (with Selena Gomez)' M/V

4. BlackPink: BlackPink - 'How You Like That' DANCE PERFORMANCE VIDEO

5. JYP Entertainment: ITZY "WANNABE" M/V

6. BlackPink: BlackPink – ‘Lovesick Girls’ M/V

7. GEM鄧紫棋: G.E.M.鄧紫棋【很久以後 Long After】MV （電影《可不可以，你也剛好喜歡我》主題

曲)

8. Big Hit Labels: BTS (방탄소년단) 'ON' Kinetic Manifesto Film : Come Prima

9. JustinBieberVEVO: Justin Bieber - Yummy (Official Video)

10. JYP Entertainment: TWICE "MORE & MORE" M/V

Top 10 Creators in Singapore

1. Mr Beast

2. Chloe Ting

3. mrnigelng

4. Sneaky Sushii

5. Spice N’ Pans

6. Dream

7. ZHC

8. Nino’s Home

9. 李子柒 Liziqi

10. Jebbey Family

Top 10 Breakout Creators in Singapore

1. Chloe Ting

2. Mrnigelng

3. Sneaky Sushii

4. Dream

5. Nino’s Home

6. MrBeast Gaming

7. Pamela Reif

8. Ghib Ojisan

9. Sugu Pavithra

10. Yeolo