50-Plus Percent of U.S. Internet Users are Watching Video Online

DULLES, September 5: According to a new AP-AOL Video survey,
54 percent of all U.S. Internet users have watched or downloaded a video clip
or a full-length program from the Internet, with news being the most popular
genre.

Further, 32 percent of online video users say they watch
more online video today than they did one year ago. Some 71 percent said they
preferred the free download model, with an ad placed before a video, while 23
percent said they would rather pay for content in order to be able to watch it
commercial free.

News was the most commonly viewed content online (72
percent), followed by television and movie clips (59 percent), music videos (48
percent), sports highlights (44 percent), amateur videos (43 percent) and
concert highlights (23 percent.) Full-length movies and TV shows made up just
22 percent of content downloaded, while it was just 17 percent for live
sporting events.

"There's no question that online video usage is growing
faster than most predicted, particularly as more diverse, appealing and high
quality branded video content is being made available on the Web," said
Kevin Conroy, the EVP of AOL. "As more and more Web users adopt broadband,
demand for online video of all types, including news, music videos and
concerts, TV and movies, sports highlights, and user generated video mash-ups
will continue to grow at a very fast pace."

Those most likely to watch video online at least once a week
include men (48 percent vs. 32 percent of women), adults aged 18-34 (48 percent)
and urbanites (46 percent).

Women over age 45 are more likely to watch more video today
than they were one year ago as compared to men of the same age (32 percent vs.
20 percent). At the same time, online video users under age 35 are more likely
to watch more video today than those over the age 35 (38 percent vs. 28
percent). More than half (54 percent) of online video viewers prefer to watch
their videos on their computer monitor, while 37 percent say they would rather
watch online videos on a television connected to their computer. About 7
percent prefer to watch videos on a portable device; this number goes up to 13
percent of the 18-29 set. One in ten online video users say that now that they
can watch video online, they watch less television. Eighty-seven percent of
online video viewers say their television viewing habits remain unchanged by
the proliferation of online video.