One Billion Web Videophiles by 2013: Study

More than 1 billion Web users will be scanning video clips in five years, according to a new study by ABI Research.

ABI sees increased broadband penetration and high connection speeds to a growing percentage of worldwide Web users as the prime factors that will boost online video viewing.

As the means of delivering Web video continue to evolve from reliance in broadband networks to cache content networks, such as peer-to-peer networks, and hybrid networks, ABI expects that ease of movement will improve easy access to video online.

ABI Analyst Cesar Bachelet points out that, beyond big content providers such as NBC Universal or portals like Yahoo, user-generated sites such as YouTube and Dailymotion will look to corner their share of the growing market as Web video content proliferates.

The plentitude of online video could put pressure on traditional pay-TV providers, according to Bachelet, who recommends that they avoid reacting defensively.

PC-based services can be an ideal complement to content providers who also own broadband infrastructure.

“They can offer access to content via this increasingly popular alternative platform. They can offer content beyond that available through traditional channels, and they can reach a new set of subscribers,” Bachelet said in a statement.

The study, “Over-the-top Internet video strategies for carriers,” is available at abiresearch.com.

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