MVPDs are reporting skyrocketing streaming usage and internet video consumption due to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, said Leichtman Research Group Thursday. Comcast's peak traffic rose 32% at the end of March vs. the beginning of the month, with a 38% increase in online video consumption. Its linear video consumption grew four hours to 64 hours weekly, and VOD hit record highs, up 25%. AT&T reported core network traffic rose 25% April 2 vs. a similar day at the end of February. Snapchat reported that time spent on video and voice calling grew by more than 50% late February-late March.

Artificial intelligence companies are seeking ways to bridge gaps between consumers and information sources and doctors and patients during the health crisis. UneeQ went live Monday with "Sophie," a “digital human” tasked with answering questions via smartphone or computer. When COVID-19 began to spread globally, information about the virus was “overwhelming,” said Tyler Merritt, vice president-platform development. Sophie's data comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She's “statically programmed” to say a vaccine isn’t yet available for COVID-19. When a question is asked, she looks into the CDC database and “tries to find a match,” Merritt said. UneeQ is working with IBM. Medsphere Systems added a telehealth component to the ChartLogic electronic health record. Clinicians can launch video rooms, said the company.

U.S. telcos could take a hit from COVID-19, S&P Global reported Wednesday. Telcos have “historically been quite resistant to macroeconomic contractions,” but risks remain, the debt ratings firm said. The pandemic forced wireless carriers to close stores, “which will reduce gross postpaid subscriber additions and upgrade rates, but also lower churn,” S&P said: “Supply chain impacts could also result in lower equipment revenue for the carriers, but bolster profitability.” Wireline faces more affects, “especially among companies with greater exposure to small and midsize businesses (SMBs),” S&P said: “In a recession, we would expect many SMB customers to close locations and even go out of business.”

Having suspended oral arguments in March and April due to the pandemic, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Wednesday it's suspending oral argument for cases on its calendar for May 5-8. Even without oral argument, it's "nonetheless affording these cases equal jurisprudential rigor and attention."

The FTC should issue comprehensive guidelines for companies like Zoom that provide online conferencing services, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., wrote the agency Wednesday. Best practices should protect online safety during the pandemic and beyond, Markey said. Urging a “thorough investigation” of Zoom, he said services like Cisco WebEx, Microsoft Teams and Slack should have guidance. Zoom said it's making changes (see 2004070053) and didn't comment now. The agency merely confirmed receiving the letter.

Coronavirus prompted organizers of an annual technology conference in Aspen, Colorado, to reconsider the event's focus. The Technology Policy Institute event is slated for Aug. 16-18. TPI President Scott Wallsten said on a TechFreedom podcast released Wednesday that he hopes the event, which would be the 11th, occurs. "We're still planning on having" the gathering, he said. "None of us know what the future will be with the coronavirus." TPI is "reworking it now to have it be more of a lessons-learned from the coronavirus," Wallsten said: "What we’ve learned from tech and tech policy from this experience. Because we're going to have an awful lot to discuss." TPI will announce its final plans for the summer conference later, Wallsten emailed us.

FCBA moved more events online only, due to COVID-19 (see 2003090062): "CLEs that were planned in April and May will be held, as planned, but will be done entirely via the web." Online "events will help bring our members who live outside Washington closer than ever," President Josh Turner wrote in the group’s April newsletter, released Tuesday. "From a financial standpoint, I want to reassure you the organization is in good shape." Upcoming CLEs are on robocalls, citizens broadband radio service and 5G, 911 reliability and small cells.

As COVID-19 disrupts American's lives, retailers are adjusting, noted analytics firm Chatmeter Tuesday. Grocery stores dealt with panic buying and stock depletion and now face e-commerce challenges. They're being forced into heavier participation in online ordering and delivery, where it’s important to ensure customers are getting accurate information and positive engagement, said CEO Collin Holmes. Consumer trust relies on accessible and accurate online business listings, said Holmes, saying $10.3 billion in e-commerce revenue is estimated to be lost yearly due to inaccurate search listings. Shoppers have to be able to quickly find accurate information such as special hours, emergency closures, phone number and address, he said: One of 10 grocers surveyed said it responds to customer reviews. That leaves businesses open to misinformation, he said. Holmes pushed voice search as a way for grocers to help shoppers. Some 82% of consumers globally use voice search to find local information, he said.

TV viewing in the top 25 markets grew 13% from the week of March 9 to the week of March 16 and 33% from the week of March 18, 2019, said Comscore Tuesday. Much higher ratings for local stations during the COVID-19 pandemic are being driven by a broader demographic representation of viewers than is typically observed during news segments, said the research firm: Viewing for the 18-34 segment is up 38% year on year -- 35% for those 35-54 -- through March 22. Seattle and New York had lower than average week-over-week increases vs. the national average when comparing the week of March 16, 2020, with the previous week; the regions were hit “early and hardest” by the coronavirus, Comscore noted. During the week of March 16, viewing increases were most dramatic in San Francisco, Dallas and some Midwest metropolitan areas.

The Society for Information Display postponed Display Week 2020 to the week of Aug. 3 and is moving the show to the San Jose Convention Center, emailed Nanosys Director-Marketing Jeff Yurek Tuesday. SID’s website Tuesday still showed Display Week June 7-12 at San Francisco’s Moscone Center. “As exhibitors, we were asked in advance about a potential move to August by the show organizers as part of a survey,” said Yurek. “I personally think it is a good move and will result in a higher quality show.” SID didn’t comment.