Online Video & Entertainment

With over 4.5 billion internet users worldwide, engaging in online videos and entertainment remains one of the most popular activities among users. Modern internet generations are increasingly attracted to visual content. Both long and short videos are getting millions, sometimes billions of views.

From the children’s song “Baby Shark”, to the reggaeton hit “Despacito”, and Korean singer Psy’s “Gangnam Style”, YouTube has seen several records in recent years. Apart from entertainment purposes, online videos offer tutorials, educational content, presentations, product reviews, and vlogs.

Market size

Billions of users

Weekly time spent with online video according to internet users worldwide as of August 2020, by age group

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Further details: Visit original statistic Weekly time spent with online video according to internet users worldwide as of August 2020, by age group

Although online video and entertainment are popular among all generations, young people tend to spend hours every week on viewing digital content. Global users spent over 23 hours engaging with the YouTube mobile app, with users in South Korea spending around 40 hours per month on the popular video platform via mobile. Leading platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo attract a growing number of users.

Online video in the United States
Mobile video worldwide
YouTube penetration in selected countries and territories

Market segments

Who watches what?

Most popular video content type worldwide in 3rd quarter 2023, by weekly usage reach

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Further details: Visit original statistic Most popular video content type worldwide in 3rd quarter 2023, by weekly usage reach

Popular types of video content include news, sports, as well as watching gamers live stream their playing sessions. However, the content that viewers spent the most time on, were music videos. At the end of 2022, online videos reached 93 percent of the global digital population. Regarding device usage, different tastes are visible in different countries.

Types of online video content
Mobile video in the United States
Most used device for digital videos in the United States

Industry leaders

Platforms for all tastes

Worldwide advertising revenues of YouTube as of 4th quarter 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

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Further details: Visit original statistic Worldwide advertising revenues of YouTube as of 4th quarter 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Leaders within the online video and entertainment industry include YouTube and Vimeo, as well as TikTok, and vary in genres and themes. While YouTube’s audience can choose between a free version with advertisements and an ad-free premium subscription, Vimeo offers a completely ad-free and free of charge video sharing experience. Vimeo generates revenue by offering software as a service, video editing, and creating tools. By contrast, TikTok is focused on shorter videos and is free for the user.

YouTube
Video streaming
TikTok

Industry trends

Children set the rules

Most popular children-themed YouTube channels as of September 2023, by number of subscribers (in millions)

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Further details: Visit original statistic Most popular children-themed YouTube channels as of September 2023, by number of subscribers (in millions)

Online video entertainment has become especially popular among children. Easily accessed and re-clicked, some YouTube videos have generated millions of views. ChuChu TV Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs has almost 63 million subscribers and is by far, the most subscribed to YouTube channel for children. Moreover, children are among the top-earning YouTube creators. Eleven-year-old Ryan Kaji ranked in the top ten, with earnings of nearly 30 million U.S. dollars in 2021.

Highest-earning YouTube creators
Generation X social networking activities

Special focus

The TikTok sensation

Number of TikTok downloads from 1st quarter 2018 to 4th quarter 2023 (in millions)

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Further details: Visit original statistic Number of TikTok downloads from 1st quarter 2018 to 4th quarter 2023 (in millions)

Another platform that is especially popular among teenagers and young adults is TikTok. The number of daily active users peaked in the first quarter of 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and people were spending more time at home, and in need of entertainment. With social media challenges, food content, dance videos, and influencer collaborations, TikTok attracts millions of users each day. Channels like Charli D’Amelio’s and Khaby Lame generate millions of views.

TikTok
Most followed TikTok creators
Global TikTok users in 2022

State of the industry

  • Online video market in China
  • Mobile video in the United States
  • Mobile video market in the United Kingdom (UK)
  • TikTok
  • TikTok in Latin America
  • YouTube
  • Online video content creators
  • Live streaming

Industry Definition

Statista offers a broad range of statistics on the online video and entertainment market. In this section, users can find key industry data on online video usage, ranging from online video penetration rates and the global number of digital video viewers to country-specific viewer demographics and information on the devices most commonly used to watch video content online.

The platform contains up-to-date information on the most popular online video platforms and video-on-demand (VoD) services worldwide. It provides subscriber counts for leading digital video channels and complements these figures with data on music streaming services and other relevant forms of audio entertainment.

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