Over half of U.S. internet users watch videos online: survey
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 | 5:10 PM ET
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Fifty-seven per cent of adult Americans have downloaded videos from the internet, and 19 per cent do it every day, says a new report.
Among broadband users who have high-speed connections at both home and work, the numbers are even higher. Seventy-four per cent watch or download videos online, the study found.
The survey was the first major report about online video watching by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, a non-profit research group.
The results were based on telephone interviews with 2,200 Americans in February and March, conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International.
Respondents were asked about 10 different types of online video content.
The most popular category was news, with 37 per cent saying they had watched or downloaded news videos online. Younger adults said they preferred comedy and humour.
Overall, the comedy category came in second at 31 per cent, and music and educational videos tied for third at 22 per cent.
| Type of online video content | Percentage of adult internet users who watch or download |
| News | 37% |
| Comedy | 31% |
| Music | 22% |
| Educational | 22% |
| Animation or Cartoons | 19% |
| Movies/TV shows | 16% |
| Political | 15% |
| Sports | 14% |
| Commercials |
13% |
| Adult | 6% |
Professionally produced video content was about three times as popular as amateur content. The survey found that young adults (aged 18-29) were the most avid video viewers; 76 per cent had viewed videos online. They were also the most likely to take part in interactive features.
“Younger users are the most eager and active contributors to the online video sphere; they are more likely than older users to watch, upload, rate, comment upon and share the video they find,” said Mary Madden, lead author of the report.
Sharing of video content was also covered by the survey. "Fully 57 per cent of online video viewers share links to the videos they find online with others," the report said.
Online video portals like YouTube have gained in popularity, partly because they provide free content. "At the moment, few online video viewers are paying for any of the video they watch; just 7 per cent say they have paid to access or download video online," the report said
"The growing adoption of broadband combined with a dramatic push by content providers to promote online video has helped to pave the way for mainstream audiences to embrace online viewing."
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