• by Wayne Friedman , June 29, 2020

During the stay-at-home orders due to COVID-19, Netflix rose to become the number one TV brand for consumers when asked what TV channels they “must keep,” according to a new study.

The subscription video-on-demand service was followed by the four major U.S. broadcast networks -- ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox -- according to Solutions Research Group. Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, ESPN, PBS, CNN, Discovery, HBO, Disney+, Food Network and History complete the top 15. 

A year ago, ABC was the top TV brand, followed by Netflix. 

In addition to Netflix, other channels rising on the list include PBS, CNN, and Discovery. TV brands that declined year-to-year include AMC, CW, HBO. 

The top brands for younger adult viewers ages 18-34 were Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, ABC, Fox, CBS, ESPN, Disney+, Cartoon Network, and NBC.

The study from the Toronto-based group -- its 13th annual “Must Keep TV” report -- was based on 1,400 interviews of U.S. people age 12 years and older on May 22 to May 26, which looked at 79 TV brands.

Netflix entered the study’s annual list in 2017 as the fourth top TV brand.