So what web sites rule in terms of viewership when it comes to web video? Is it the major television networks with their exclusive programming? The sports web sites with their on-demand viewing options? Is it the average Joe video sharing sites? Or is it something else?
Well, according to the latest figures (September 2008) from Compete.com, here is where all the eyeballs are going online to watch web video:
- Google/YouTube = 55.4% of viewers
Yahoo = 7% of viewers
Time Warner = 4% of viewers
NBC = 3.9% of viewers
FOX = 3.9% of viewers
Microsoft = 3.3% of viewers
Veoh = 2.9% of viewers
ABC = 2.8% of viewers
AOL = 2.8% of viewers
CBS = 2.0% of viewers
Facebook = 1.5% of viewers
Break.com = 1.5% of viewers
Viacom = 1.5% of viewers
HULU = 1.2% of viewers
Megavideo = 1.0% of viewers
Metacafe = 0.9% of viewers
Jokeroo = 0.9% of viewers
Heavy = 0.9% of viewers
Crackle = 0.9% of viewers
Dailymotion = 0.8% of viewers
Obviously, YouTube is the runaway champion. Interestingly enough, they are also currently the one without a viable business model. But that is slowly changing.
It’s also worth pointing out that they were the early adopter in web video…everyone else simply followed. That’s an important (and potentially lucrative) lesson to understand…if…no one in your market is currently using web video. Or to put it another way, it’s an opportunity for you to enjoy the spoils for your market by becoming the early adopter.