Coronavirus: New data shows big jump in video streaming during lockdown

We've seen the creative ways people are spending their time in lockdown but for many of us, binge-watching TV seems to be the way to go.

New data from Vodafone shows a big jump in streaming on sites like YouTube and Netflix.

But don't worry bosses, people are spending much longer on work calls as well.

For some people, Netflix is one reason you stay up way too late. Now it seems the lockdown is fuelling that bad habit with streaming up 20 percent.

"Streaming online has to be near the top of the list I think for lots of us," Paul Spain, chief executive of Gorilla Technology, says.

Pre-lockdown most people were hitting 'play' from 3pm onwards. But fast forward two weeks and the average Netflix session is hitting earlier at 11am.

"With so many people caught at home, very much the large majority of the population, then everybody's looking for things to do," Spain says.

YouTube is more popular at the moment too. Viewing is also up 20 percent starting from 9am and remaining high throughout the entire day.

If you're not binge-watching Tiger King or delving into bad American Idol auditions your productivity levels may be better than some.

Working from home has become the new norm and as a result, phone calls have surged by 60 percent during lockdown.

"The only face-to-face is video streaming and the next best thing is phone calls so that's why we're seeing that huge increase," Spain says.

Aucklanders are the chattiest. Their phone call minutes are up 44 percent while those in Christchurch are spending 34 percent more time on the phone. Kaikoura locals, however, have seen their calling minutes on weekdays down by 7 percent.

The lockdown may be temporary but Spain predicts working from home could be a permanent request for some.

"Who doesn't like a 10-second commute from the breakfast table to the office?" he asks.

And it could mean no pause on Netflix either.