Keith Shaw

Any content provider or Web site with a video strategy should be encouraged by the latest research from Taylor Nelson Sofres (sponsored by AOL and Google), which says about 75% of online video viewers are watching more video than they did a year ago, with more than 50% expecting to watch even more video next year.

Even better news for advertisers – almost two-thirds of those surveyed said they preferred keeping ads on video Web sites if it meant that content would remain free.

Short-form video remains more popular than things like full-length movies or concerts, with more people watching content like jokes/funny videos (64% in the past month) and news/current events (59%) than the longer content (only 24% watched a full-length movie, and 14% viewed a concert). Still, almost one-third (29%) watched a full-length TV show, so perhaps the "small screen" has an advantage over the "big screen" when discussing online video (an even smaller screen). Other types of content that draw viewers include amateur video (55%), movie trailers (50%), music videos (45%), and short clips from TV (36%).

Certainly, the increase in viewership of online videos can translate to longer periods of time visited on a Web site (which always helps), and the good news about advertising means that users are willing to give up some time to watch an ad in exchange for a free viewing experience (just like TV).

Speaking of video, we don't have any clips of people getting kneed in the groin, but we do have a ton of videos from last week's DEMOfall 2007 show. Click here to view every demonstrator's video, as well as behind-the-scenes videos produced by Cathy Brooks, as well as Chris Shipley's keynote, the young innovator's panel and a couple of videos from yours truly.

October 02, 2007