Americans who watch online video continues to grow at a rapid pace across all demographics, far outpacing the adoption rates of many other Internet activities, according to a new report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
More than half (62%) of Internet users have watched content on video sharing sites, up from 33 percent in 2006. The majority (89%) of Internet users 18-29 say they watch content on video sharing sites, and 36 percent do so on an average day.
Over time, online video has become more deeply integrated into daily life, and has started to move into the spaces that are generally reserved for traditional television viewing. Overall, 19 percent of Internet users say the use video sharing sites on a typical day. In comparison, just 8 percent of Internet users reported use of the sites on a typical day in 2006.
“Broadband connectivity has helped to set the stage for high-quality viewing experiences and broaden the appeal of online video content,” Pew said.
“Fully 63% of American adults now have high speed connections running to their homes. Among broadband users, 69% watch video on sharing sites, and 23% do so on a typical day.”
While much of the content on video sharing sites is user-generated, there is also a growing amount of professional content on YouTube and Hulu. Efforts to attract viewers to these sites are paying off, as 35 percent of Internet users have viewed a television show or movie online. In comparison, just 16 percent of Internet users said they had watched or downloaded movies or TV shows in 2007.
“As Internet users become accustomed to regular on-demand video viewing online, many are choosing to watch from the comfort of their couch,” Pew said.
“Among those who watch TV shows or movies online, 23% say they have connected their computer to a television screen so they could view video from the Internet on their TV. That amounts to roughly 8% of all Internet users.”
