"Comfort shows" are television series that viewers often turn to for familiarity, relaxation, and emotional comfort. These shows typically have characters and storylines that viewers feel a strong connection to, and they may evoke feelings of nostalgia or provide a sense of escape from daily stressors. Comfort shows can vary widely in genre and content, but they generally have a comforting and soothing effect on viewers, making them popular choices for rewatching or binge-watching during times of uncertainty or stress.
While this is mostly for streaming traditional television, I think it gives insights into entertainment habits that creators can capitalize on.
Discussion (2)
It’s very likely that streaming Twitch of your favorite creator is “comfort streaming”. I notice my friends doing this, almost having it as a background activity rather than actively listening.
I legitimately stream sitcoms as I work for background noise, so naturally those shows would be my most “streamed” shows.
But I’d never watch those shows with full attention, which I think is an important distinction. I would imagine most creators would aim to be something worth paying attention to as a priority.