Internet Video Growth Not Necessarily TV’s Loss, Say Analysts

7:00 am on February 23, 2008 | Category: Business, Television, Web Services

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Online video usage grew significantly during the recent writers’ strike in the U.S., according to a report by ComScore, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that traditional TV watching declined.

“With the writers’ strike keeping new TV episodes from reaching the airwaves, viewers have been seeking alternatives for fresh content,” said ComScore vice president, Erin Hunter, ComScore, in a statement during the writers strike. “It appears that online video is stepping in to help fill that void.”

Americans watched more than 10 billion online videos in December, up 7% from November, making the final month of 2007 the heaviest month of internet video consumption ever.

Some analysts, however, are questioning the significance of the writers’ strike in causing the one-month jump.
“The trend was heading that way anyway,” commented Horizon Media director, Brad Adgate. “But did the writers’ strike aid it, and how much did it aid it, I don’t know.”

Turner Broadcasting System researcher, Jack Wakshlag, meanwhile, says that people should avoid jumping to the conclusion that U.S. viewers are watching less TV, noting that average Americans have watched 34 hours per week of television this season, up 1% from the same period last year.

“Despite the strike, there is no evidence that people have turned away from television,” Wakshlag said. “If they’re watching more Internet, it’s not because they’re watching less television. They’re just not watching broadcast.”

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