According to a recent study conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, the number of U.S. online users who watch videos online increased 45% from late 2006 to late 2007. In 2006, about 33% of Web users said they visited a video sharing site, compared to 48% who said the same in late 2007.
A number of factors are noted in the study, including the spread of broadband connections. In late 2007, 45% of U.S. households indicated that they had broadband connections. In late 2007, this figure jumped to 54%.
Another key factor driving this increase in online video viewers is the increasing amounts of various content made available on these video sharing sites. In addition to random user-generated clips, professional content is becoming more prevalent on video sites, as well as university lectures and interviews, among many other categories of video content.
Fifty-three percent of males indicated that they visit video sharing sites in December 2007, compared to 40% in December 2006, while 43% of females said they visited video sharing sites in 2007, compared to 27% in 2006.
All age ranges saw an increase in online video viewership, though younger Web users (ages 18-29) are more likely than their older counterparts to visit these video sites. In December 2007, 70% indicated that they had visited one of these sites, which was an increase from the 55% response in 2006. Fifty-one percent of those between the ages of 30-49 visited these video sites in 2007, compared to 35% in 2006.
Still, only some of these video site visitors are actually “active” users of these online destinations, and they are younger.
With the Writers Guild of America’s strike, and the consequent staleness of traditional television, online video sites might see a boost in the number of eyeballs they attract in the coming months, until the strike is settled.
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