For me, I see it as a combination of doing things to keep people who the Govt need to keep home somewhat entertained so that they won't totally revolt against the restrictions. And allowing many hundreds and even thousands of people who would otherwise have no work (and need to be supported by Govt schemes) to have at least some work in as safe an environment as possible.
You do see the virtual audiences on zoom screens, or cardboard cut outs in their seats. Hear the small applause obviously from crew or contestants not the usual big audience. Hear radio programmes being produced remotely as all on zoom (or similar) - BBC's comedy programmes like the News Quiz, The Unbelievable Truth etc. See guests on talk shows either very spread out or being interviewed on zoom - Graham Norton, The Last Leg, The Late Late Show. Contestants on game shows with perspex panels in between them (even if households) - Only Connect, Would I Lie to you, Mock The Week, etc. And dramas like the soaps, Casualty etc doing their version of COVID-safe episodes and plot lines too.
When you add them all up, that is thousands. Not all involved are physically present anyway, lots of the editing etc and pre-planning can be done remotely, and I did hear that the crews are much reduced when physically present. Apart from ppe, sanitising, social distancing, ventilation, shorter sessions etc that would be part of making that work "COVID secure".