BRAND CONNECTIONS As SmithGeiger Founder Seth Geiger pointed out in an interview with TVNewsCheck, digital platforms, including social media, mobile and online video, are critical for reaching not just younger audiences but those at work or on the go, as stay-at-home orders are lifted. “It’s great to see people flocking back to TV, to get their news updates from their local TV station,” said Rodney Thompson, senior strategist at The Weather Company, who’s tracked viewing trends throughout the lockdown. “It has become a primary destination for trusted information during the pandemic.” He characterized the recent developments as a “resurgence in linear TV,” but still believes that young people especially will revert back to old habits in terms of getting information once the pandemic eases. For example, prior to the outbreak, 70% of people aged 18-34 got their weather data from a mobile weather app. However, broadcasters still have time to engage with them, as major metropolises like New York City are only just now beginning the early stages of “reopening.”