Online Video Becomes a Force on the Web

08/10/2009

If one had to pinpoint the area of the Internet that has developed the most within a short period of time, it would probably have to be online video. After all, it was not that long ago when there was very little video content offered on the Web and when it was users would typically have to download the content first or download media players specifically to play streaming clips. Over the past few years this has become a thing of the past and online video is now offered wherever you look on the Net.

Today the status of online video is in no way similar to what it originally was only a few short years ago. Now thanks to pioneers such as YouTube and other premium sites such as Web Portals, the Internet is now filled to the brim with online video content, and most of it is provided to the user for free.

Paul Verna, a senior analyst for eMarketer has recently composed a report that strives to look at this situation a bit closer: Video Content: A Premium Opportunity. This report projects that the current 144 million individuals who view online video will grow to roughly 188 million by the year 2013. This means that by 2013 roughly 85 percent of all Internet users could be viewing these videos regularly. In other words, almost 60 percent of the United States population will download or view streaming video at least once a month.

According to Mr. Verna one of the best things about online video is that it is so easy to share with other users and on other web sites, social networks, blogs, and emails. This provides a lot of opportunity for e-marketers and those who distribute content as every video they produce has an opportunity to go viral.

In the past, online video consisted purely of short, user generated videos that appealed mainly to the college crowd. These days however there are countless videos produced by people of all ages and interests and veering a wide variety of topics, from comedy videos produced by teenagers to professional news sources.

Knowledge Networks Inc. has also produced a thought provoking report concerning the increase in individuals who watch full length television shows on the Web. This report determined that from 2006 to 2008 individuals who watched these TV programs has at least doubled in every age group. Over 28 percent of the 13 to 17 age group alone is estimated to watch full length TV shows regularly.

Because most of this online video content is funded by ads, this new information can help online video marketers to better devise a strategy to use them to their full potential. As these videos continue to grow in maturity it will be easier for them to develop monetization models. Even videos produced by amateurs such as humor, news, and coverage of sporting events provide an opportunity for advertisers according to Paul Verna. Even professional content such as mainstream feature films is being offered either for free, or with a paid subscription or direct download fee.

For more insight visit Online Video Marketing Solutions